Allegheny Valley School District to return to in-person instruction 4 days a week

Allegheny Valley School District students will be able to return to in-person learning four days a week beginning Monday, March 8.

The school board voted 7-1 in favor of bringing students in kindergarten through 12th grade back to school four days a week after impassioned arguments supporting the move from both parents and board members.

The board voted unanimously last month to return to a hybrid instructional model in which students are divided into two groups, with one attending in-person classes on Mondays and Thursdays and the other doing so on Tuesdays and Fridays.

All students learn remotely on Wednesdays — and that will continue after March 8.

Teachers have been in classrooms full time.

Tim Dexter, a parent of students in the district, opened Tuesday’s meeting by making an emotional plea to the school board. He said he could no longer see a reason to keep students home for three days a week.

“We are failing our children by not sending them to school. We are failing our children by keeping them isolated, by keeping them alone,” Dexter said. “Bigger schools than ours are opening.”

Allegheny Valley Superintendent Patrick Graczyk spoke in favor of the move.

“According to the Allegheny County Health Department officials that I communicate with often, it is rare the transmission of covid-19 occurs while at school,” Graczyk said.

They are two active covid cases among staff at Springdale Junior-Senior High School and two active student cases. Currently, there are five active student cases at Acmetonia Elementary.

So far this school year, there have been a total of 27 cases, including 13 staff members and 14 students.

The health department recommended the high school be closed Thursday and Friday for cleaning.

Parents still can choose to keep their children at home for full-time virtual learning, but the hybrid model will be abandoned March 8.

At least one school board member was not pleased with allowing students to have an option to attend.

“When are we going to rip the Band-Aid off and say that’s not an option, everybody comes back four days a week?” said board member Stephen Puskar. “When are we going to be comfortable saying we’re back in school? Until we force people’s hands, we’re going to get this back-and-forth, back-and-forth.”

Board members discussed putting added precautions in place to meet social distancing guidelines, such as using the gymnasium at Acmetonia Elementary for lunch breaks and ending the elementary school day earlier to allow for a more orderly and socially distanced dismissal.

High school students will be eating in the cafeteria, the Rachel Carson large instructional area and the library.

The board also voted in favor of allowing Springdale High School boys and girls basketball teams to participate in post-season playoffs and compete against schools with varying mask policies.

The Dynamos have been competing while wearing masks during the regular season.