Ellwood school district to have three remote learning days to help with the holidays

In a letter addressed to the district, Shipley listed the district's reasoning for moving to remote learning.

He said the district currently has over 70 students that are out on quarantine due to community contacts.

By having the remote-learning days, this would allow a 14-day break, or "reset" before students return from break on Jan. 3.

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Shipley said the temporary move to remote learning would limit possible student and staff exposure to COVID and the flu prior to the holidays, would greatly reduce the required contact tracing that would need to be done, and will allow all district buildings and facilities to receive extensive cleaning.

He added when the district comes out of break, they will use a "test to stay" model for students that have been exposed to the virus.

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"Students that are identified as a close contact either from school or in the community would be offered a rapid test," Shipley said. "If the test is negative and the child does not have any symptoms, they may stay in school wearing a mask rather than quarantine for the required number of days."

Added Shipley: "This should greatly reduce the number of healthy students that are currently required to stay home."

Shipley said during the remote learning period, all school activities and sports will continue their normal schedule.

Students who use district transportation for outside schools and the Lawrence County Career and Technical Center (LCCTC) will continue to have busing on these days.

There will also be breakfast and lunch meals offered to every student on those three days with a method that will be similar to when the district did remote learning before. Details on that method will be provided the week of Dec. 13.

"I see many long-term benefits of this plan including improved in-person participation when we return," Shipley said. "It is my hope that we experience a healthy holiday season and winter of 2022."

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Nicholas Vercilla is a staff reporter for the Beaver County Times and Ellwood City Ledger. He can be reached at nvercilla@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ellwood City Ledger: Ellwood City Area School District to have remote learning days Dec. 20-22