Kiski Area School Board approves reopening plan

Kiski Area School District will start out the school year with two weeks of 100% remote instruction, followed by an optional hybrid plan. The first day of classes will be Aug. 31.

The district had long planned to start out the year online, suspecting much would still be uncertain by the time August came around. Superintendent Tim Scott announced the district’s intentions in late May.

Kiski Area’s full health and safety plan was introduced last week during a virtual information meeting of the board. At a virtual meeting Monday, board members officially approved the plan and authorized the administration to submit it to the state Department of Education.

All students will use distance learning from Monday, Aug. 31, to Friday, Sept. 11. After that, families can choose between a hybrid plan and a 100% distance learning plan.

“I know that we will be successful,” Scott said during the meeting. “I know that we will get through this. And I do know that things will get better.”

Under the hybrid plan, students with last names beginning with A-K will attend school in person on Mondays and Tuesdays, while students with last names L-Z will be in person Thursdays and Fridays. All students will use remote learning on Wednesdays and on days they’re not working from school buildings. The plan includes more considerations that are specific to individual buildings.

Scott said the district processed feedback from families to improve its virtual options and increase interactions between teachers and students.

“We’ve improved that component and we’ve done some things to standardize our distance learning method,” he said. “I think those will all be big improvements.”

Health and safety measures include the installation of hand sanitizing stations outside every classroom and office area, new sanitizing procedures and social distancing protocols. Students will have assigned seating on buses, they’ll be pre-screened before attending school and virtual learning will always be available.

The board also passed a resolution Monday to allow Scott to make changes to the plan as health guidelines are continuously updated.

At Monday’s meeting, several board members praised the district’s administration for formulating a flexible learning plan, and for having many of the details arranged as early as May — though some were disappointed it was necessary.

“I know that we’re doing what we have to do,” said board member Deborah Williamson. “I really feel bad because parents are going to be working and coming home and homeschooling their children … just navigating the systems can be frustrating.”

“I just think parents should be in control of their children, whether they come to school or not, and not the governor,” she added. “There’s some real issues here behind the scenes, and it’s not necessarily the disease.”

Ronald Coleman agreed that the shutdown has created a hardship for many people, especially young students and their families.

“But this district, leading by example, its administration and the teachers, I think we can get through it,” he said.

Board President Michelle Schmidt closed out the meeting expressing more confidence in the district.

“It’s going to be different … But we’re all up for it. I know we can handle it,” she said.