Allentown School District sets dates to begin hybrid learning

Written by on March 12, 2021

Allentown School District sets dates to begin hybrid learning

By Ben Stemrich

March 12, 2021

The Allentown School District appears poised to begin hybrid-learning learning next month. It’s the last district in the Valley still completely virtual after being shuttered for a year. 

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The Allentown School Board is eyeing April 19 as the day elementary kids will come back on campus, part-time. 

April 26 is the day for middle and high school students to return. 

Superintendent Thomas Parker discussed the plan with the school board on March 11.

“We want to ensure that there’s safety for all of our staff, all of our students and the community while at the same time prioritizing and ensuring that we can bring our students back into the classroom and maintain some kind of normalcy at the earliest moment possible,” Parker says.  

Board member Phoebe Harris agrees it’s time. 

“It’s necessary you know, there’s always a little trepidation when it comes to sending your children back to school but I think we have a really good solid plan,” Harris says. 

The plan includes social distancing and mask mandates. But there are still concerns about safety. Board member Sara Jane Brace says the plan needs to address students who intentionally take their masks off at school. She says they must be removed from the hybrid program.

“You must be at virtual. Because in my opinion as an educator, it’s once and done. Our teachers’ lives are at risk and our students’ lives are at risk and I will not have that on my shoulders,” Brace says. 

The district is still ironing out some details about transportation and if uniforms will still be required.  

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