Elementary and middle school students would be returning on a full-time basis, while high school students would be on a rotating schedule under Lehighton Area School District’s proposed health and safety plan released Thursday.

Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said the amount of space at the elementary and middle schools allow for a five-day in-person schedule while still meeting 6-foot social distancing guidelines for classes.

“Our team has worked tirelessly this summer to put a comprehensive plan together,” Cleaver said. “We also met with Lehigh Valley Health Network specialists to receive their input. There is a strong focus on the return of face-to-face instruction, along with providing parents an option for 100 percent virtual learning alternative through our Lehighton Area Virtual Academy.”

High school students would attend on an every other day schedule. Students with last names A-K would attend one day, starting Sept. 8, and students with the last name L-Z would attend the next day. Siblings with different last names would attend on the same day, based on the older student’s last name.

“The group not in school would be expected to log on to Zoom and follow the instruction during the normal time slots,” Cleaver said. “High school special education, based on their individualized education programs, and English Language Learner students would attend in person all five days.”

At all levels, he added, families will have a choice between face-to-face and remote instruction through LAVA, but changes could only be made at natural marking period or semester breaks.

Students at all levels must wear face coverings while entering the building and during transition periods, but would have enough space to remove them in the classroom during instruction periods.

“Every educational setting we have allows for that 6 feet of separation,” Cleaver said.

Staff, however, will be required to wear masks at all times.

Lehighton plans on having one-way traffic patterns in hallways and will stagger class times to limit the numbers of students in the hallway at one time.

Students are asked to bring their own water bottles. Fountains will be closed.

Desks will all be facing the same direction and some classes will be held in gymnasiums, auditoriums and other large spaces.

“The cafeteria will not be utilized at the high school,” Cleaver said. “Lunch will be delivered to classrooms. Elementary and middle school students will eat in their cafeterias as well as overflow areas.”

Washing and sanitizing hands will be stressed, and heavy touch areas will be cleaned and disinfected regularly.

“We’re asking parents to monitor the health of their children before each school day,” Cleaver added.

Elementary classes will run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., middle school from 8:20 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and high school from 7:50 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cleaver said the schedule allows for elementary and middle school students to be transported to and from school at the same time.

“We’re still working to figure out how many students would need transportation and then we can work with George’s Transportation to figure out what a transportation would look like and cost for our district,” Cleaver said.

A survey, answered by 961 Lehighton parents, indicated 33 percent of parents would not need transportation for their children, while 72 percent preferred face-to-face instruction as opposed to remote learning.

“The virus has impacted all of us,” Cleaver said. “Nothing about this pandemic has been easy. We are confident the efforts put forth here can reduce the risk of potential exposure for students and staff.”

Lehighton has a board meeting scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m., when the plan will be recommended for approval.

Questions on the plan, which is posted on the district’s website, can be emailed to Back2school@lehighton.org.