AASD votes to stay virtual

District waiting for faculty, staff to be vaccinated before changing model

The Altoona Area School District board voted 5-4 to stay with virtual learning for all students for now.

At its special meeting Thursday, board members voted in favor of sending all PreK-12th grade students back to school using a hybrid model two weeks after all teachers and staff have received the first round of vaccinations. Special education students will go back in-person five days per week at that time.

Voting in favor of waiting to start the hybrid model were board Vice President Dr. Frank Meloy, Mike Baker, Dave Francis, Rick Hoover and Ron Johnston. Votes against were from board President Sharon Bream, Eric Haugh, Kelly Irwin-Adams and Ed Kreuz.

Superintendent Dr. Charles Prijatelj took calls during the session for public comment from community members, mostly parents who favored students returning full time or in a hybrid format.

One mother of a first grader expressed her displeasure with virtual learning, claiming that it causes "psychological harm." She concluded her remarks with a plea to the school board: "Show us that you value education."

Students have been virtual since Dec. 1, and were to remain that way until Feb. 1 until the board made its ruling Thursday. At the beginning of the school year, PreK-5th grade students were in-person full time, while students in grades six through 12 were virtual. All students transitioned to a hybrid model Nov. 12.

AASD Community Relations Director Paula Foreman said it is not known when teachers will receive vaccinations. Teachers are being surveyed to see if they are willing to be vaccinated.

Mirror Staff Writer Andrew Mollenauer is at 814-946-7458.