Students in the South Butler County School District will return to school five days per week in the fall.

The school board at its virtual meeting Wednesday night abandoned the plan it approved last month that would see the students split into two groups, with one group attending classes on campus Monday and Tuesday and the second group Thursday and Friday.

The new plan that was approved models the popular version formed by the Bucks County Department of Health that is being used as a template by many districts across the state, said South Butler County Superintendent David Foley.

Other factors in changing plans, Foley said, include the recommendation that students return to school in the fall made by Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; a similar recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics; and the lack of a clear plan for returning to school from the state Department of Education.

More than 75 people attended the virtual meeting Wednesday night, where the new plan was approved 6-0.

Board members Matt Cimbala, William Gebhart and Dale Fennell did not attend the meeting.

The plan does not include taking students' temperatures when they board the bus or at the door when they enter school, but would include students and staff wearing masks.

Students with conditions that would preclude them from wearing masks would not be required to don a face covering, and those students would not be required to provide documentation of their condition.

Parent Nathan Davies, who has collected 824 signatures opposing the former plan on change.org, praised the board for coming up with an alternate plan.

He asked how classes like music and art would be carried out in the new plan and what recess would look like for younger students.

Foley said instead of students changing classrooms for music, art and other “specials,” teachers would change rooms.

Parent B.T. Gilligan asked the board what its plan will be for students or staff who test positive for COVID-19.

“That has the potential to take down an entire classroom or building,” he said.

Foley said more information will be forthcoming, but as of now a classroom or building would not be emptied in the case of a positive result.

“They would go and get tested and provide some reassurance they've come back negative, and we'd work from there,” Foley said of students or staff who develop symptoms.

Regarding Davies' question on recess, Foley said Kurt Reiser, the district's athletic director, has been working with teachers on how to properly clean playground equipment.

Foley said the five-day school week will remain the plan for students as long as Butler County remains in the green phase.

If the county moves to the yellow phase, the district will return to the former plan of students being divided and attending two days per week.

He reminded all in attendance that like the former plan, the new plan could change based on the virus and how it affects the county up until the start of school.

Foley said the plan's feasibility will be discussed again at the board's August meeting. “It's going to be based on whatever phase we're in,” he said.

The new plan will be available for viewing at southbutler.org.