The current number of COVID-19 cases among Jim Thorpe Area School District staff means that students will have to wait a little bit longer before they can return to the classroom.

School board members voted Wednesday night to continue full remote learning until Feb 1. That’s two weeks longer than was announced when the school district shifted from hybrid to full remote learning on Dec. 1.

School officials said that they don’t think a return would lead to a dramatic increase in spread, but they’re still concerned about the number of cases around Carbon County, and among staff.

“The stats are saying that students are getting a safe experience by coming to school - but bad things are happening around us. That’s what we’re wrestling with right now,” said John Rushefski, superintendent of Jim Thorpe Area School District.

Carbon County is still seeing ‘substantial spread’ according to state data. Guidelines from the Department of Education say that schools located in counties with substantial spread should be full remote, with only elementary students possibly attending part-time.

Sixteen staff members and three students tested positive for the virus since school went full remote Dec. 1. Even more are potentially going to be quarantined due to recent positive tests, one of which came from a wrestler.

“We have all the sudden run into a situation where many of our staff including some administrators are now under quarantine,” board president Scott Pompa said.

Paul Montemuro was the only board member who voted for returning next week. He said parents should have the option of letting their children return to school or continuing full virtual.

“I think a lot of parents want their kids back in school, they feel they aren’t getting enough attention to keep them focused.

Prior to going full remote on Dec. 1, the district allowed parents to choose whether they wanted to participate in hybrid learning or full remote through the district’s cyber program.

Under the hybrid model, students in grades 6-12 attended school two days a week, and online three days a week. Students in grades K-5 attended school in person four days per week with one day per week online.