Northern Lehigh School District plans to continue with its hybrid learning model.

Superintendent Matthew J. Link addressed several questions sent in by residents during the school board’s virtual meeting on Monday.

One resident asked when the district will consider a five-day in-person school week.

Link said the district is following the guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Department of Health based on the county level of transmission per 100,000 residents.

“Lehigh County and Northampton County, which is a small fragment of our overall district footprint, are both still well within what is considered the moderate level of transmission,” Link said. “I believe Lehigh County is at about 45 people per (100,000) residents testing positive; the range is anywhere between 10 and 100, so we’re almost right in the middle of that range, and the recommended modality for the moderate level of transmission is to stay in the hybrid, or blended level.”

Another resident asked what the plan is for the second marking period since the district is closely approaching it.

Link said that the district has about three weeks until the second quarter.

“I think it’s a little bit early for us to say either way right now. I think we need to monitor it through the next week or two, but if nothing changes and seeing the success that we’ve had with mitigating the impact of COVID-19 within our buildings, if I had to make a recommendation to the school board this evening, I would recommend that we stay the course of what we’re currently doing,” he said. “I do believe it’s a little early to make the final decision on that moving into the second quarter yet.”

Link said the initial motion was for at least through the first marking period.

“And within the health and safety plan, you had granted me the authority to kind of make those decisions to adjust as we need to moving forward,” he said. “Of course I would do that with consultation from the Department of Health monitoring the local levels of transmission here and in communication with the school board.”

Director Michele Martineau asked, “Am I correct in my assumption that it’s still true that Northern Lehigh is clear thus far of any infections in our buildings while our neighboring sister schools have all had to close various classrooms or clubs for infection rates?”

Link said, “Northern Lehigh, and all of our partner school districts around the Lehigh Valley, are working very hard to do all they can to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 within the school, buildings.

“We have not yet had to do that. We have not had any exposure within our school buildings as of 8:01 p.m. on Oct. 12,” he said. “It’s a very dynamic situation, very fluid situation, we continue to monitor it and do all we can to put safeguards in place.

Link said the district is being strict with implementing safeguards.

“Our school nurses, our teachers, our building principals have been very helpful in communicating up to central office when they have questions. I have a direct line to the Department of Health and they usually respond to me in less than an hour when we have questions or concerns. We’ve been following their guidance as well.

He added that families have been doing what they need to do to monitor their children’s symptoms.

Martineau said she’s appreciative of that.

“I appreciate everybody in the community, the school, the administration, the parents, the kids for fighting the good fight and I hope it stays this way,” Martineau said.