Jim Thorpe Area School District is preparing to take classes online while schools are closed due to coronavirus.

At a special board meeting Wednesday night, school board members authorized Superintendent John Rushefski to move forward with plans for online instruction.

State lawmakers voted on Wednesday to give school districts the option to take classes online, and Jim Thorpe plans to take advantage.

“There’s an option to do nothing, and that’s not something we were comfortable doing,” Rushefski said.

Schools statewide have been closed since March 16 to slow the spread of COVID-19.

On Wednesday, state lawmakers passed a bill waiving the minimum number of school days and hours of instruction for the 2019-20 school year, meaning students can advance if they had a passing grade when schools closed.

The state also gave districts three choices - to offer no online instruction, to offer enrichment or to continue with planned instruction.

Rushefski said it is his goal to continue with planned instruction using the district’s 1-to-1 technology program.

The district first needs approval from the Department of Education.

All students in the district are issued either an iPad or MacBook laptop. Rushefski said the hope is that the district can continue to hold classes using laptops.

He said he plans to meet with school administrators on Thursday to discuss specifics about the online learning program.

Of particular concern is how to help students who are enrolled in special education, English language learning or gifted courses.

“We need appropriate modifications so all learners can benefit from the continuity of learning and planned instruction online,” Rushefski said.

During Wednesday’s meeting, which most members attended via video conference, residents submitted public comment via email.

Several residents wanted to know what the district was doing about online instruction.

Rushefski said if Department of Education approves the district’s plan, he hopes to have students taking classes online by mid-April.

Plans for graduation are still undetermined.

“What will graduation look like? We will find out. We want to do our best to replicate the traditions of Jim Thorpe Area School District but we have to respect social distancing,” he said.