Hempfield school leaders must wait for state OK before moving to second phase of reopening

Hempfield Area school leaders are waiting on an OK from the state before they move into the second phase of their reopening plan that brings students back in a more traditional manner.

Students, who returned to classes Aug. 27, have been attending in a hybrid setting, meaning that students alternate between in-person and virtual learning. To move to a second phase of the plan, school officials must wait for the number of coronavirus cases to drop to 10 or fewer per 100,000 residents in Westmoreland County.

State guidance breaks case numbers in three groups — low, moderate and substantial — based on case numbers and positivity percentages in a county. Right now, Westmoreland County ranks as moderate, meaning there are between 10 and 100 cases per 100,000 people, or a 5% to 10% positivity rate.

In that category, schools are recommended to teach in a blended model or fully remote. The recommendation changes to a full in-person model or a blended model when there are 10 or fewer coronavirus cases per 100,000 people.

When the county reaches that ranking, Hempfield can move into phase two, meaning kindergarten students will be able to attend a full day of school rather than a half day, and students in grades six through 12 will attend school on a traditional schedule, reopening plans show.

“We get that that is a goal,” Superintendent Tammy Wolicki said of returning full-time. “We really have to look at it through the lens of can we maintain social distancing? We know, if we have a situation and we are not providing that 6 feet, it could increase the number of individuals to be quarantined and that we may need to close our schools for a period of time.”

Two covid-19 cases have been reported so far among students. The first was reported in a student golfer prior to the start of the year. The second was reported by a high school student last week. Both students, along with a handful of others who they came in contact with, were required to quarantine, but no school buildings were required to shutter.

Other than those two cases, school leaders have reported a fairly smooth start to the year.

“I have to say, we have wonderful students,” Wolicki said during a school board workshop this week, noting that students and staff have worn face coverings, which are required at all times, and have maintained social distancing to curb the spread of the virus.

All students in grades six through 12 and cyber students have Chromebooks. Wolicki noted officials are waiting on another shipment of Chromebooks that will be used in elementary schools. Elementary students, who are attending in-person classes five days a week, are using Chromebooks in schools.

Once the shipment arrives, they will be given touch screen devices.

School officials are working on surveys for kindergarten and elementary school parents to determine how many students will return to in-person classes from cyber programs. Around 400 students are currently attending the elementary cyber program.

Kindergarten students will be given the option to switch from cyber to a half-day in-person schedule. Once the district moves into phase two, they will have the option to switch from cyber to a full day of in-person classes. Elementary students, who were asked to commit to a full nine weeks in the cyber program, will have the option to return to in-person classes once the quarter ends.

Once those surveys are returned, staff will be adjusted accordingly.