The Pleasant Valley School District has extended full online learning through Jan. 8 for students at the high school, and added the middle school to this decision.

Classes at the high school moved to full online learning beginning Dec. 10, when several staff members and students tested positive for COVID-19, and many others had to quarantine because they were exposed to those who tested positive. Hybrid classes were supposed to resume on Jan. 4.

Now, both students at the high school and the middle school will return to the in-person, hybrid learning model on Jan. 11, said Superintendent Lee Lesisko.

Since the high school moved to full online, several cases of COVID-19 have cropped up in the other school buildings. The elementary school had to move to full online a day early when five staff members and two students tested positive for COVID-19, and 22 others had to quarantine because of exposure to them.

“I would rather have the kids in class two times a week than not at all,” Lesisko said, but staffing issues continue.

He said the school can’t open if there are not enough teachers to fill the classrooms, but teachers who are not sick, just quarantining, can continue to teach virtually.

At this time, Lesisko said students at the elementary and intermediate schools will return to in-person, hybrid classes on Jan. 4. This could change if too many staff test positive for COVID-19 between now and that date, he said.

Community spread is still high, and positive cases continue to grow. Data from contact tracing has shown that the virus is spreading through people coming into contact with it in the community, not in school, he said.

“Over the holiday break, please practice social distancing and wear a mask to stop the spread of COVID-19,” he said.

Lesisko said he’s very concerned that people will catch the virus over the holidays as they come in contact with family, friends and other people in the community.

He reminds families that when the holiday break is over, do not send children to school who have symptoms of COVID-19.