The plan for reopening schools in Northampton Area School District, unveiled to the board of education July 13, emphasizes four points: health and safety, teamwork, flexibility and options.

School directors were informed of details for the 2020-21 Continuity of Learning and Health and Safety Plans, presented by NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik and NASD Assistant Superintendent Robert Steckel.

Meanwhile, Steckel has been appointed NASD’s pandemic coordinator, acting as the point of contact for the district’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A survey was sent July 13 to district parents and guardians, asking them to determine if they will send their children to school, or not, this fall.

When students return to school Aug. 31 for the 2020-21 school year, they will be required to wear a face covering (except in classrooms where social distancing can be observed) and bring hand sanitizer and a water bottle.

The reopening plan is expected to be presented for a vote by school directors at the next meeting, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 10 in the cafeteria of Northampton Area Middle School.

The in-person school board meeting July 13 was the first in nearly four months. School directors last met in person March 23 in the administration building. Since then, school board meetings had been held online via the Google Meet format.

The middle school cafeteria makes social distancing, mandated by the coronavirus pandemic protocol, more feasible than the smaller meeting room in the administration building.

In the cafeteria, a long row of tables was set up for school directors, who were separated by plexiglass shields set on the table between each. Chairs for the audience were placed 6 feet apart.

A sign at the cafeteria entrance vestibule included a health checklist of questions for attendees, each of whom was required to wear a face mask. Each attendee at the July 13 meeting wore a mask.

School board meetings are expected to continue to be held at the middle school through Dec. 7, when the annual school board reorganization meeting is scheduled.

The briefing by Kovalchik and Steckel is the latest in the NASD administration’s effort to inform school directors, administrators, teachers, parents, students and district residents of the NASD plan to reopen schools.

Kovalchik sent emails to parents and guardians and posted a video July 9 about the reopening of the district. The video is available at youtube.com/watch?v=iJ7yUdWwWec&feature=emb_err_woyt.

Kovalchik also posted a video July 9 detailing plans for the Class of 2020 graduation ceremony, set for July 24 at Al Erdosy Stadium. The video can be viewed at youtube.com/watch?v=k1WKVM7Lxjw&feature=emb_err_woyt.

At the conclusion of the July 13 meeting, NASD school board President David Gogel said, “We’re in this all together. We must make the best of it. Hopefully, we will get through this.”

Kovalchik outlined the school reopening plan’s four points:

“Health and safety is our No. 1 concern. We’re not just going to open our doors to open our doors.

“No. 2 is teamwork. If we don’t have teamwork, it’s not going to work.

“Third is flexibility. If we’re not going to be flexible and adapt, it’s not going to work.

“No. 4 is options. If you’re uncomfortable sending your child to school, I understand that.”

Kovalchik distributed copies of the three-page Back to School Plan Summary to school directors. The plan was distributed to district parents and staff members.

The plan is divided into categories of green, yellow and red.

Even though Northampton County is in Pennsylvania’s green phase, contingency plans were devised for the yellow and red phases as well.

Kovalchik said the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s July 2 health and safety plan, on which the district plan is based, could be affected by possible new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, which possibly were to be issued July 15.

The state education department requires each school board to vote to approve a district health and safety plan for reopening.

“The plan is 95-percent complete, but we wanted to fine-tune it because of the ever-changing conditions of the COVID requirements,” Kovalchik said.

Parents and guardians will have one week to respond to the survey sent July 13. Responses will help determine class rosters.

If a decision is made for online instruction, parents can change their minds but must give a two-week notice to the district.

The NASD Green Academic Plan for Kindergarten through Grade 12 calls for face-to-face instruction for all core subjects and online learning for related arts or noncore electives.

Alternative academic options include Kids eLearning, full-time, short-term, online with courses taught by NASD teachers and Northampton Cyber Academy with courses taught by Pennsylvania-certified teachers.

Steckel outlined health and safety protocol for NASD.

“We’re going to have more frequent cleaning and sanitizing of high-contact areas,” Steckel said.

Parents and students are responsible for taking temperatures, monitoring symptoms and reporting suspected coronavirus cases and contacts.

Solid face coverings are required in classrooms when social distancing is not feasible and in all communal areas and hallways. One cloth mask will be provided by NASD.

Alternative lunch locations, including gyms and classrooms, will be used. Cold lunches only will be served to start the year.

On buses, students must wear face coverings and will be seated two per seat.