Clarion-Limestone School Board members decided Wednesday to forgo in-person instruction and stay with remote learning until Jan. 4.
The motion passed after a contentious argument and requires the board to meet again Dec. 29 to review the decision.
Additionally, Clarion-Limestone Superintendent Amy Glasl was empowered to bring students back to school as she sees appropriate.
Discussion preceding the vote was fraught with tension as board members argued what they believed to be the best course of action.
Board member Kathy Henry, who works as an intensive care unit nurse, described her experiences at her job dealing with COVID-19.
“I’m just going to ask that we, as a board, stay as a remote school district until the end of this nine weeks and evaluate along the way with what is happening out there in the environment,” Henry said.
Glasl also was in favor on continuing remote learning.
“Honestly, the safest, simplest, honest, liability-wise (approach) is to follow that recommendation,” Glasl said.
If a school district’s county, she said, is in the state’s substantial COVID-19 classification for two weeks, that district should be on remote.
“Why do you want to argue that and fight that?” Glasl said.
She said district administrators will do everything they can to ensure the district’s students are getting the best education they possibly can and will work diligently to solve issues as they arise.
But there were concerns among board members about whether students are getting the interaction and socialization they need, especially the younger, elementary school students.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, opinion was divided as to what is best for students. Many argued for a return to in-person learning, citing concerns about the quality of education their children are receiving online.
However, Rhonda Shook, a first-grade teacher at C-L, argued for staying online.
“I’m advocating that we just stay the course. COVID cases are growing substantially,” Shook said. “If we already made the decision to maintain full remote learning in the past and now the situation has become even more difficult, it’s counterintuitive to backtrack.”
The board went on to discuss the district’s phased reopening health and safety plan, which would include both online and in-person components.
There was much debate on how the plan would be implemented and how much education would be delivered synchronously.
Board member Nathaniel Parker, who gave a briefing on the plan, said the administration must decide what the best practices are to implement the plan.
Discussion also centered on how to better provide technology. such as laptops and wireless hot spots, to the students who need them.
Attestation
The board also approved an attestation statement requested by both the state Department of Education and state Department of Health.
Glasl said the attestation request from the Department of Education outlines the options the school district has – either offer in-person instruction and follow all updated orders and guidance from the state or continue with remote learning.
Glasl said since the district is currently remote, she chose the latter option. She said the decision could be changed at a later date.