Steel Valley School District ready to reopen, waiting for parents’ choice on hybrid or remote learning

Friday was the deadline for parents of students in the Steel Valley School District to decide if they will attend school in-person for two days a week or go the remote learning route.

“Parents have been receptive to the plan we’ve have created for students to go back to school,” said Bryan Macuga, the school district’s secondary campus principal.

Now they have to decide what their children will do, he said.

Earlier this month, the school board approved its reopening plan after consulting with staff, parents and others.

The district is offering a hybrid plan of remote and in-person instruction.

The student body of 1,300 will be divided into two groups, each attending school in district buildings on two different days per week, with a fifth day — Wednesday — closed for deep cleaning, Macuga said. The students will study from home the three days they are not physically in the school building.

Students will also have the option for all remote learning or to attend the Steel Valley cyber school.

The district is set up to go all remote learning or return fully to the classroom, Macuga said.

“This is a fluid situation with the pandemic,” he said.

The district and the students are set up for total remote education, as each student has an iPad.

“We’re ready to go and we’re very fortunate to have the technology,” Macuga said.

Highlights of the district’s health and safety plan include:

• Staff and students must wear masks in school. District will provide information to staff, students and families on proper use of reusable or disposable face coverings.

• A daily wellness questionnaire must be completed by staff and students as well as daily temperature screening for staff and students.

• Schools will keep the same group of students with the same staff members as much as possible.

• Distancing between students will be maximized.

• The district will evaluate bus routes to decrease student numbers and/or bus trip length.

• All bus riders must wear masks.

• There won’t be any field trips.

• Teachers will teach and reinforce good hygiene measures such as hand washing and face coverings. Hand sanitizer will be found throughout school buildings.

• Food will be served in the cafeteria where plexiglass barriers will be installed on lunch tables.

• There will be a safe distance established and/or a plexiglass barrier between the teacher’s desk/board and student desks.