Palmerton Superintendent Dr. Jodi Frankelli said there was an enthusiasm across the district on the first day of classes.

“It was great to be back and a great start to the year,” Frankelli said Monday night. “Everything seemed about as calm as things can be for a first day. A lot of hands go into it. We’re thankful for the teachers, students, administrators, bus drivers and everyone who plays a role in making each and every day successful.”

Palmerton capped off the day with a board meeting during which it hired three elementary teachers including Emily Turek at Parkside Elementary at a salary of $47,000, Krystallynn McCutchan at Towamensing Elementary at a salary of $48,000, and Cathy Eckman as a long-term substitute at S.S. Palmer at a salary of $47,000.

Three teaching jobs remain listed on Palmerton’s human resources website including a special education position at both the elementary and secondary levels, and a health/physical education teacher at the high school.

This year marks the most “normal” return to school for area districts since the fall of 2019 as most of the COVID-19 restrictions that had been in place have been tempered.

The U.S. Center For Disease Control streamlined its COVID-19 guidance earlier this month, much of which is reflected in districts’ 2022-23 health and safety plans.

Instead of quarantining following exposure to COVID-19, for example, the CDC now recommends, but doesn’t mandate, an individual wear a mask for 10 days.

Any distance limitations, such as the 3-6 feet between students, have also been eliminated.

Earlier this month, Frankelli told Palmerton’s board of directors that the district’s health and safety plan is nowhere near as lengthy as it was in 2020 or 2021.

“It continues to be trimmed, and this year is no exception,” Frankelli said.

Masks are optional again in the 2022-23 with the exception of symptomatic students in the nurse’s office or trainer’s room.

“Almost everything has loosened up,” Frankelli said at a board workshop. “There used to be a specific amount of feet in the plan when it came to social distancing. Now we are just acknowledging that it varies by school, classroom and location. There is nothing specific to it.”

Jim Thorpe and Lehighton school districts will begin classes on Sept. 6.