Lehighton Area School District, Carbon Career & Technical Institute and Panther Valley have all made announcements about virtual classes in December.

Lehighton had not made a decision as of Thursday on whether it would have all students attend classes virtually after Thanksgiving break, as many area districts are doing, but it told parents to prepare for the possibility.

“The Lehighton Area School District understands that moving into a full remote learning model will require many of our families to make adjustments in relation to their current routine,” Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver wrote in a letter to parents Thursday. “Although a final decision has not been made as of today, we want to be proactive and inform our Lehighton families that the administration and staff are currently preparing for this transition. We would like everyone to be aware that this discussion and decision making process regarding the transition to a full remote learning platform, continues to be focused around the health and safety of our students and staff. We will continue to monitor and share School District information as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The district is considering moving to a remote learning model to from Dec. 1-Jan. 19.

Lehighton will be conducting a virtual learning day for all students, Pre-K-12, on Monday.

“The Lehighton Area School District will continue to monitor not only the school district data, but that of the entire Lehighton educational community,” Cleaver said. “Please understand that we are looking at every piece of data and reviewing all the recommendations being presented to us in an effort to make a “good faith” decision for everyone’s health and well-being during this difficult time.”

Panther Valley

Panther Valley School District will close school buildings for two weeks following the Thanksgiving holiday.

In a letter sent to families Thursday afternoon, Superintendent David McAndrew Jr. said the decision was made to minimize positive cases of COVID-19 in Carbon and Schuylkill counties.

“The objective of this nine school day fully remote learning period after Thanksgiving break is to avoid a surge of community transmission and increase the chances that in-person learning will remain an option,” McAndrew wrote.

Panther Valley is joining Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, and Palmerton, who have all decided to close their school buildings following the Thanksgiving holiday.

Rather than return to school Dec. 1 as scheduled, Panther Valley students will resume instruction online through at least Dec. 14. However if case numbers continue to rise in the area, schools could remain closed through the Christmas break, McAndrew wrote.

The winter break is scheduled for Dec. 24-Jan. 3.

The district is following the recommendation of the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Department of Education.

The decision to close schools temporarily is aimed at preventing contact between students who may have potentially been exposed over the thanksgiving holiday. The period will ensure that all students are quarantined for 14 days following the Thanksgiving holiday.

“We hope this time period serves as a “contact break” for us to keep everyone safe and possibly turn the tide of cases in our school community,” McAndrew wrote.

The Department of Education currently recommends that Carbon and Schuylkill county schools should be providing full remote learning only, because they meet the Department of Health’s criteria for ‘substantial’ spread of COVID-19.

Carbon County was upgraded from moderate to substantial spread earlier this month. Schuylkill has had substantial spread since mid-October.

On Thursday, the Department of Health reported 30 new cases in Carbon County and 54 in Schuylkill County. The number of new cases statewide was 7,126, the highest single day increase since the pandemic began.

CCTI

Carbon Career Technical and Institute joined many other area districts Thursday night when its joint operating committee unanimously approved a return to full virtual instruction starting Dec. 1.

The school is planning a return to hybrid instruction on Jan. 19.

“That’s the tentative plan at this point,” administrative director Dave Reinbold said. “We could meet again and discuss this in December or any time before Jan. 19 to see if we’re ready to come back or if we want to extend that.”

Tamaqua case

A Tamaqua Middle School student has tested positive for COVID-19, superintendent Ray Kinder announced Thursday.

The student has not been in school in one week. The student has been assigned to isolation and is recovering. It was determined that no additional individuals will need to quarantine.

Kinder said, “We continue to encourage you to follow all safety protocols. Individuals should not

attend group functions, interact without face coverings, nor engage in large gatherings. The spread of this virus is dependent upon people to interact and have unnecessary contact. It is up to us to eliminate that possibility.”

The district has not made any announcement about switching to virtual classes.

Chris Reber contributed to this report.