The Allegheny-Clarion Valley School District will continue using its distance learning program through the end of the Christmas break, but will begin a phased return to in-person instruction Dec. 7.

The school board voted Tuesday to extend distance education through the break that runs from Dec. 23 to Jan. 1, but begin a phased school reopening Monday by bringing back the Clarion County Career Center students, Intermediate Unit classrooms and the varsity athletic program.

A Thursday post on the district website said parents should disregard phone calls they received from staff this week about returning to in-person instruction.

Junior/senior high school students are required to log on during the school day and follow their regular class schedule. Teachers will provide live instruction, support and oversight of their classrooms on Google Meets during the class period just like a normal day.

Students will be required to log in to their Google Meets during that same time every day. This counts as their attendance.

They are required to log into each of their teacher's Google Classrooms between 7:42 a.m. and 3:05 p.m., just as they would if they were learning in the building.

Students are also required to log into each of their Google Classrooms in the order in which they would if they were in the building.