Hempfield schools working to launch elementary cyber program

More than 300 students are interested in joining an elementary cyberschool program for the coming school year, according to Hempfield Area officials.

The program, announced in May, adds kindergarten through fifth grades to an existing cyber program for older students. The elementary program was created to provide students with options when returning to school this fall.

Around July 20, there were 146 students interested in the program. By this week, that number jumped to 310 students, said Matthew Conner, assistant superintendent for secondary education, who noted those numbers might drop off following the approval of reopening plans that welcomes students back through a blended approach.

Parents will have until Friday to enroll their child in the program. Information sessions were offered to parents this week.

“We will be asking our parents at the elementary level to make a commitment for one nine weeks,” Conner said. “The reason for that, we need to look at staffing. … It will take a lot of legwork, a lot of juggling, but I’m confident we can do that.”

School board member Tony Bompiani applauded the program, which saves the district from having to pay tuition for students to attend charter cyberschools. In 2019-20, about $2.2 million was budgeted for students to attend outside cyber programs, the district previously reported.

“We are in a really tight situation budgetarily, as every school district is across this country. … Every child that goes to another cyber school is hurting the school district monetarily,” Bompiani said. “I’m not saying that child’s wrong or the parents are wrong. I’m just saying there’s a lot of projections out there that a lot of the children are going to go virtual. We have to take this under consideration.”

For those who are not choosing cyberschool as an option this fall, district officials are working on a plan to welcome students back to schools safely.

During a special meeting Monday, district officials discussed ways to handle coronavirus cases that may occur if classes begin through a blended approach starting Aug. 27. According to Lisa Maloney, supervisor of pupil services, designated areas will be reserved for students and staff who develop covid-19 symptoms while at school.

The “sick” areas will be separated from the nurse’s office. Students exhibiting coronavirus symptoms will be sent home.

Parents whose child may have been exposed will be notified once positive test results are received.

The district will be in contact with the Pennsylvania Department of Health regarding test results, and officials will determine when contact tracing needs to occur and who needs to be notified of a positive test result.

Presumptive cases, or cases where a person does not yet have test results, will not be announced.

School officials are scheduled to vote on reopening plans Aug. 10.