The East Penn Board of School Directors voted 8-1 to approve the administration’s District Fall 2020 Health and Safety Plan at the July 27 special meeting. Ziad Munson was the dissenting vote. His proposed amendments for adding language that provided a 3 percent COVID-19 test positivity rate as a benchmark for making decisions and treating clubs equally with sports in the document was defeated by his eight colleagues.

Before the vote, requests to address the board were granted to Lenya Ortiz, of Macungie, seeking detailed information on reopening, Jennifer Roth, of Macungie, who requested virtual and hybrid learning details as did Zionsville resident Paul Bashus.

East Penn parent Edwin Cruz was concerned about special needs student support and Macungie resident Xavier Faura expressed worries about learning-disabled students possibly regressing with online learning.

Lori Reiss, of Alburtis and Dana Musto asked if there were plans to ensure there were enough teachers and substitutes available. Musto also had questions about school nursing protocols.

Emmaus parent Amy Pfleiger requested Emmaus High School students who are enrolled at Lehigh Career and Technical Institute be included in the reopening plan.

The approved District Fall 2020 Health and Safety Plan is tied to the state’s red, yellow and green phase status at the time of the first day of school. According to Assistant Superintendent Laura Witman, a “soft opening” is anticipated for Aug. 31.

With Pennsylvania currently in the “green phase,” Assistant Superintendent Douglas Povilaitis explained this model for the low to no spread category is based on the newest data available where 6 feet of social distancing and hybrid learning, a mix of in-person and online classes, is recommended for all levels.

All elementary, middle school and high school students would wear face masks and practice proper social distancing while in the classroom. When asked by several board members if students would be wearing masks all day, they were reassured there would be “mask breaks” and other opportunities, including lunch, outdoor recess or physical education classes for students to be able to breathe freely.

Groups of students with last names starting with A-K and L-Z would alternate learning in-person and remotely during the week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Wednesday classes would alternate on a weekly basis. Accommodations would be made for children with different last names from the same family.

The fully remote educational option would be available as a choice for students and their families. If this option is chosen, K-12 learners are asked to commit for three weeks.

A downgrade to the “yellow phase” where there is a minimal-to-moderate spread of COVID-19, the hybrid learning option, would be employed at all levels based on community health and increased social distancing protocols. Again, the fully remote option would be available for students and families.

If the commonwealth reverts back to the “red phase,” schools will close for in-person instruction with digital or nondigital platforms utilized for remote learning. There would be provisions to continue student services such as school meal programs.

Povilaitis played a short video describing the differences between the various options. The remote option provides a blend of asynchronous and synchronous online learning with East Penn teachers and district curriculum, while hybrid is a combination of in-person and asynchronous learning with East Penn teachers and district curriculum.

The Virtual East Penn Academy, known as VEsPA, is the internal cyber program the East Penn School District manages for students who need an alternate to a traditional learning environment. While the district supports and monitors the pupils and, as district students, they receive East Penn diplomas, the program is 100 percent online with outside curriculum from multiple outside e-learning vendors employing certified Pennsylvania teachers.

The administration recommended signing up for the hybrid or the remote option handled by East Penn educators.

Board members also advised parents to avoid enrolling their kids in private online charter schools.

Povilaitis said the committee incorporated the recently updated guidelines available from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics into the plan. Medical personnel from the Lehigh Valley Health Network were also consulted.

A Family Fall 2020 Commitment Survey, along with detailed information on the reopening plan was to be available on the district’s website July 28. Video presentations will be posted to further explain the hybrid and remote choices for both elementary levels and secondary levels.

Families are asked to provide the district with the data needed to plan class sizes, bus routes and bus loads. Parents and guardians are encouraged to provide transportation for their children, if possible, to lighten the loads on the buses.

In other business, Campbell announced during the district update graduating seniors received their diplomas July 25 during a successful drive-by ceremony. The virtual commencement was held July 26.

In personnel matters, the collective bargaining agreement between East Penn administrative assistants, instructional assistants, staff assistants and health room nurse employees was authorized by the directors. The agreement maintains wages at the same level as 2019-2020 with no increase for the upcoming school year.

These employees are to receive a 55 cent hourly raise for 2021-2022.

The district was permitted by unanimous vote to hire a Borough of Emmaus police officer to act as the school resource officer at EHS.

The board accepted the resignation of Melinda Behrens as a Lower Macungie Middle School health room nurse effective mid-August.

The directors approved newly-hired kindergarten teachers Stacy Kusko and Lauren Pugliese and first grade teachers Sarah Rander and Allison Fisher for Willow Lane Elementary School. Behrens was approved to serve East Penn as a certified school nurse. All are effective for the upcoming school year.

President Ken Bacher announced there was an executive session held before the public meeting 7 p.m. on “negotiation and real estate.”

Gov. Tom Wolf’s order to limit indoor public gatherings to 25 participants derailed the members’ plans to meet in person. The meeting was conducted virtually on YouTube and Zoom.

The East Penn School Board meet regularly 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month. A regular board meeting is scheduled Aug. 10. The public can access documents through BoardDocs and the meeting’s format will be announced on the district website.