The target date for students in the Northern Lehigh School District to return to the hybrid model remains on track.

Superintendent Matthew J. Link discussed instructional learning with the school board on Monday.

Link said the target date for a return to the hybrid model for students continues to be Jan. 19.

He said the Monday before that is a professional development day, and that the district will be sending notification out to the community by the end of the day Wednesday just reminding them of that.

“We continue to track any recent cases; I had to send some notices out over the weekend, we’ll continue to track any recent cases between now and Wednesday,” Link said. “Our target’s going to be to continue to shoot for the 19th to return to the hybrid model.

“I just ask everybody to please understand that once we return to the hybrid model, we are still bound to follow the requirements in the attestation statement, which means that a given number of cases in any building could force a return to the fully remote model for that building for a short-term closure until we’re able to disinfect and do contact tracing.”

Director Bob Kern asked Link if in either Northampton or Lehigh counties, whether there have been any school districts that have decided with the discussion that was in the news of sending elementary students, specifically K-3, back to five days a week.

Link said the last time they met as a superintendents’ group was the morning the information was released.

“So, I do not have an answer for your question as far as if any other districts are looking to bring their elementary children back,” he said. “And I’m just going to point out that initially that may have been misinterpreted by some people that it’s not a recommendation to bring them back for five days a week; it’s a recommendation to return them to the blended model for districts that have been in the fully remote model.”

Kern said that while he understood that, he researched Montgomery and Bucks counties where 40% to 60% of elementary students are in full-time.

“I can’t say it enough or emphasize enough that those are essential years of skill building, and if there’s any chance that we could send our elementary students in earlier, I would be all for that.”

Director Robert Keegan said he has the same feelings as Kern, as he has a grandson in another school district and he goes five days a week.

“So, it’s happening elsewhere, and if we can possibly bring our youngest kids back, it’s critical, and I would support it.”

Board President Gary Fedorcha said he understood.

“It is something that is going to be looked at I’m sure in the coming week or so or weeks with the superintendents of the valley and we’ll wait to hear from that,” Fedorcha said.

Last month, the district transitioned to fully remote instruction after several individuals tested positive for COVID-19.

Peters Elementary School transitioned to fully remote as of Dec. 21, while Slatington Elementary has been in the fully remote model since Dec. 10.

Link said at that time that both Peters and Slatington Elementary schools are currently operating in the fully remote model.

The schools have since implemented a short-term transition to the fully remote model for the two weeks after winter break, Jan. 4-15.

Slatington Elementary School was the first building in the district to follow the fully remote instructional model after four employees tested positive for COVID-19.

Link said the district was notified of the first case the evening of Dec. 8, and learned of the other three cases throughout the morning of Dec. 9. Letters were sent to families the afternoon of Dec. 9.

Link also said the district was notified Dec. 9 of one positive COVID case of an employee at the district’s central office building.