Coudersport and Northern Potter area school districts both announced plans for remote learning for students Tuesday.
Coudersport High School will be transitioning to remote learning until Dec. 7, while Northern Potter is in limbo pending the results of numerous COVID-19 tests.
According to a letter from Coudersport Superintendent Drew Kyle, multiple “probable” coronavirus cases have been identified at Coudersport High School. Because of this, COVID protocols have been implemented, and Kyle said district officials have been working closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Officials will be contacting students who have been in close contact and arranging for quarantine. In addition, as an abundance of caution, the letter states high school will close and students will transition to remote learning until Dec. 7. All extracurricular activities are cancelled as of Tuesday.
Unless an update is provided, students can return to in-person instruction Dec. 7.
The elementary school will currently remain open “as long as data and COVID cases support that.”
On Tuesday, Northern Potter school officials were notified that two staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Those who have been in close contact with the staff members who tested positive will be quarantined for 14 days.
However, all other students were set to return to in-person instruction today.
The letter from Superintendent Nathan Jones also states that, “if the majority of pending COVID cases are positive, the district will not have the appropriate staffing to continue face-to-face teaching and learning for the week of Dec. 1.”
Jones stated that families and staff will be notified by Sunday as to the status of in-person education for the week of Dec. 1.
In the event that the schools transition to remote learning, Jones states that teachers will reach out to families on Dec. 1 to provide a remote learning plan for each student.
Meanwhile, “the decision to have face-to-face teaching and learning versus remote teaching and learning will be determined on a weekly basis.” Jones asks that any teacher, parent or student who is being tested for COVID-19 while the schools are remote learning should contact the school nurse, Mrs. Cizek at 848-7563 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays.
Services for special education students will be coordinated with teachers and related service providers. Transportation will be coordinated for supplemental and life skills students.
Jones explained that teachers will teach virtually from their classrooms, and students without internet access will be “taught virtually by their teacher in a designated location in our school buildings.”
For students who need a computer or don’t have computer access, parents should contact the student’s guidance counselor.
CTC students will be taught virtually by their Northern Potter teachers and transported to the CTC as usual.
Northern Potter athletes will continue to practice until further notice.
