New Kensington-Arnold School District students will return to school buildings Jan. 14, but the district will use a hybrid instruction model and break students into two groups.

The district closed schools and put all students in remote instruction beginning in November in response to substantial spread of covid-19 in the community and Westmoreland County.

The district started the school year with students either fully in schools or fully online.

“We’ve had a hybrid model as part of our instructional options all along, but always felt that providing the maximum amount of face-to-face instruction is best,” acting Superintendent Jon Banko said.

“There are still a lot of concerns surrounding operations during the pandemic, and, as an administrative team, we felt that we would best be able to manage safety concerns with fewer students. We know that we need to get kids into classrooms, in front of their teachers and around their peers, and we felt that this is the best option for considering all circumstances.”

Rather than bringing all students back as they were before Thanksgiving break, the district will use a “2-1-2” hybrid model, according to a notice from Banko.

Students will be broken into two groups, alphabetically by last name. Students in Group A will go to school Mondays and Tuesdays, those in Group B will go Thursdays and Fridays, and everyone will learn remotely on Wednesdays, Banko said.

Homeroom teachers will be reaching out to parents to determine which students want to return for face-to-face instruction and which will remain fully online.

Families that choose to remain online must remain online for the rest of the 2020-21 school year, unless all covid restrictions are lifted, Banko’s notice said.

“It is important to keep in mind the district’s instructional model could become more restrictive at any time based on significant increases in countywide transmission rates and/or directives from the governor’s office,” Banko wrote.

School board president Tim Beckes said district administration “will continue to evaluate options as circumstances dictate.”

“The board is committed to giving… students the best education possible under the safest conditions possible for our students, teachers and staff,” Beckes said. “The administration has recommended this is the best way to achieve these goals given our current situation.”

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