As of now, students at Allegheny-Clarion Valley School District in Foxburg, Clarion County, will return to fall classes on the normal, five-day schedule.

The school board voted June 24 to approve a district health and safety plan to lay out what school will look like and which safety measures will be taken when classes return at summer's end.

A-C Valley includes Allegheny Township in Butler County as well as parts of Armstrong, Clarion and Venango counties.

Superintendent David McDeavitt said the district will use Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funds to add personnel to ramp up cleaning and sanitizing during the school day.

Teachers will use district-provided sanitizing spray to disinfect keyboards, desks and other high-touch surfaces in their classrooms in between sessions, the plan states.

Regarding masks, the plan approved in June recommended their use by teachers and older students because of the green status of the counties covered by the district.

But an executive order last week from Gov. Tom Wolf mandating the use of masks in all public spaces has necessitated a change in the plan, McDeavitt said.

“It is an executive order and we are going to follow their directive and do our part,” McDeavitt said. “We just think it's going to be difficult to have masks on all day long, especially with the kindergarten kids.”

He said if the counties served by the district move back to the yellow phase, students would attend school a few days a week and study at home on the other days.

Administrators are still working on that alternative plan.

The problem with such a blended attendance approach in A-C Valley, McDeavitt said, is that a significant portion of students do not have access to broadband internet service because of the rural nature of the district.

When public schools were closed statewide March 16, A-C Valley students without internet access were given hard copies of assignments and tests to work on at home.

The problem with using paper-and-pencil learning at home is expediency of assessment of students' work, McDeavitt said. If younger students' work is not corrected immediately, they could develop and continue bad habits, he said.

Those with internet access worked online in the spring using district curriculum.

“I've talked to local and state legislators about making a push to get broadband internet across the state of Pennsylvania,” McDeavitt said.

He said he wants to furnish students with Chromebooks in the upcoming school year to complete their studies in and out of school, much like most districts in the county.

Should classes be canceled again in the fall, McDeavitt said instruction will be changed from distance learning used in the spring to planned instruction.

He explained that distance learning prevented the district from teaching new material and necessitated deeper instruction of existing material.

In planned instruction, attendance will be taken each day and new concepts can be introduced.

“It's close to normal, but online,” McDeavitt said.

The district's health and safety plan can be commented on by parents, who may call the district after July 6 to offer feedback.

“Maybe they have some really good ideas or some concerns,” McDeavitt said.

He admits he worries that parents will be reluctant to send their children back to school.

“We want to try to get as many kids back as possible,” McDeavitt said. “As we learn more about this nasty virus, we will continue to evolve.”

Like other superintendents throughout the county, McDeavitt stressed the health and safety plan could change as COVID-19 plays out and state mandates change.

The entire plan is available for viewing at acvsd.org.