Derry Area OKs full-time return to secondary classrooms, cites rise in course failures

Students at Derry Area’s middle school and high school could return to classrooms full-time this month, according to a revised health and safety plan approved by the school board.

The board voted 5-2 Thursdayto provide in-person instruction for secondary students five days per week, beginning Oct. 12, or on the first available date thereafter.

Supporting the move were board members David Krinock, Nathan Doherty, Steve Kozar, Gerald Hughes and Dean Reed. Sean Kemmerer and Bill Feldbusch were opposed. Kevin Liberoni and Mark Maloy were absent.

Citing concern over a rise in course failures among older Derry Area students engaged either fully or partially in online learning, most board members voiced a preference for resuming full-time classroom instruction on Oct. 12, rather than an alternate date of Nov. 2.

Superintendent Eric Curry said the earlier date will allow teachers and staff time to prepare for having a greater number of students in the school buildings on a daily basis. He said families who want to will be able to choose either of two other options already being offered — full-time online instruction at home or a hybrid program where students report to school two days per week and receive online instruction on three days.

“This will give us a week to survey our families to see who wants to send their students back,” Curry said. “Although we’re doing the absolute best we can, nothing can replace face-to-face learning for the majority of our students.”

“There is a huge psychological and social aspect of getting kids back to school,” Doherty said.

Curry said the district has learned some students are engaging in online instruction while home alone, without in-person supervision.

The district reported 320 current course failures among students in grades 9-12, up from 83 in the first quarter of 2019-20.

“I’m very concerned with the failing rate we’ve started to see,” said Doherty. “I didn’t know so many students were struggling in that regard.”

The school board approved a one-year agreement with Edmentum Online Learning, to provide a course credit recovery program for failing students. A grant will cover the cost. The district expects to hire a staff member to oversee the program, which is slated to begin Oct. 26.

Kemmerer asked how secondary students are going to maintain social distancing and other covid-19 pandemic precautions with more students riding buses and attending school in-person at the same time.

“My concern is doing it safely and finding a date that supports that,” he said.

School officials said additional areas, including gyms, will be used to seat students for lunches, supplementing the cafeteria. Curry pointed out a number of older students drive to school on a regular basis, instead of riding buses.

“We are confident we can make it work,” Curry said.

Students at Grandview Elementary already have a choice from all three learning options — full-time online, full-time in the classroom or hybrid.

According to Curry, the decision to offer full-time classroom attendance for secondary students was based in part on guidance from local medical professionals and a low number of positive covid-19 cases among district residents over the preceding week.

There are 573 students enrolled at the high school, 467 at the middle school and 775 at Grandview. Up to 18% of the elementary students have chosen online learning, Curry said.

Neighboring Greater Latrobe School District shifted to full-time classroom instruction for its secondary students on Monday, replacing a similar hybrid program. Greater Latrobe students also may choose full-time online learning.