Lehighton Area School District’s board of directors voted unanimously Monday night to continue with its current instructional models of five-day in-person classes for elementary and middle school students; and a two-day in-person, three-day virtual schedule for high school students.

The decision came on the same day the state Department of Health and Gov. Tom Wolf said districts won’t be forced to go to online learning, but for those located in a county with substantial COVID-19 community spread, such as Carbon, they will have to sign an “attestation form” pledging to follow guidelines and outlining the safety measures they are taking.

“Everybody you talk to will tell you the kids learn a lot more in person than online,” Director Wayne Wentz said. “I have talked to many teachers and parents about this, and we have the best teachers. I know they can do this and parents still have the option of doing virtual for their child if they want to.”

Board member David Bradley said the decision as to which learning model is appropriate rests with local districts and the parents within it.

“We should make our decision based on what is best for the people we serve,” Bradley said. “We should not restrict them or change what we are doing until we are forced to based on cases within the district or additional guidelines by the state.”

Lehighton has had very few positive cases, four in the high school and one in the middle school, and there has been no evidence of any COVID-19 transmission within school buildings.

Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said Monday night that 44 students and six staff members in the district are currently under quarantine.

“I still believe that an in-person education is the most beneficial and best option for all of our students,” Cleaver said.

He cautioned, however, that by signing the attestation form, Lehighton could be forced to adjust its schedule with even just one case at a small building like the high school. Further cases could force a closure of a building for 3-7 days or up to two weeks with higher numbers.

“Our parents, students and staff has done a great job thus far to keep it possible for us to stay with the current models, but we do still have to be prepared for things to change at the drop of a hat,” director Nathan Foeller said.

Hand-in-hand with the education decision, sports will also go on as scheduled in the district, as of now.

“As a district, we have no plans at this time to make any changes regarding to sports other than complying with the new mask mandate for competitions and practices,” Cleaver said.

Before Monday’s vote, parents and community members urged the board to keep students in school.

“Up to this point, Lehighton’s plan has met our needs and kept our children safe,” said Ken Parliman, who lives in Lehighton but is also a principal in the Salisbury Township School District. “None of the cases have resulted in transmission within the buildings. There are districts going to full virtual learning, but there are other districts in neighboring counties with much higher case counts staying open. I think you have to do what is best for our students and families and continue to provide them with a choice.”

Lehighton had all students attend school virtually on Monday as a practice day in case the district did go in that direction over a longer period.

Though her elementary school child got through the day, Sarah Hall said it is “not the education she gets while in school.”

“It scares me that we would think of taking that in-person education away because of a recommendation from the state,” Hall said. “Until it is a major risk, we need to keep the students in school.”

Since before the school year started, the state Department of Health’s matrix has suggested districts in a county with substantial community COVID-19 transmission move to a full remote learning model. Several speakers, including resident Barbara Bowes on Monday focused in on the difference between a recommendation and law.

“It would be seriously detrimental, especially for our younger students, to go all virtual,” she said. “For K-5 in particular, the best type of learning is in-person. I don’t want to see their education for years to come marred by what is happening now.”

April Walker urged the board to make its decision based on science.

“I’m concerned for the kids who would fall through the cracks if things went all virtual,” she said. “The consistency of education is so important for our students. At what point do we start to question the Department of Health and its data and recommendations?”