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EAST PALESTINE -- Students in the East Palestine school district are on track to return to in-person learning next week after being on remote learning last month.
Superintendent Chris Neifer said during this week's board of education meeting that COVID-19 cases have not increased in the district and that the plan is to reopen all three buildings on Monday.
"Our numbers have gone in a very good direction at this point," he said.
The district closed the buildings in December in response to the number of staff and students affected by COVID. Since then, students have been on the Tier 3 remote learning plan.
Neifer said there are currently two staff members in quarantine as a result of the virus. Their exposure was from sources outside of the district, he said. He added that the one staff member who tested positive for the virus has completed their mandatory isolation and is ready to return to their position.
There are currently about a dozen students in quarantine.
In addition to the school buildings scheduled to reopen next week, Neifer said athletic events will also resume, and that practices are already being held for sports.
Neifer also said he has been in contact with the county health department regarding local infection rates.
"They do a great job of not only sharing information but answering any questions we might have," he said. "We will continue to monitor the data."
He went on to say that the district hasn't seen a "huge spike" in cases that were originally anticipated as a result of the Christmas and New Year's holidays, "but we are certainly monitoring it."
He said parents and guardians will continue to have the option to allow their children to do in-person learning or online learning through the Bulldog Academy.
Because students have not been able to have in-person learning for quite some time, Neifer said students will not have their regularly scheduled end of semester exams, and that grades for the first and second grading period will be weighted.
In other matters during the meeting, the board approved:
-- Supplemental contracts for Jim Young as high school boys track coach, Bonnie Sansenbaugher as high school girls track coach, Bill Sattler as high school baseball coach, and Clarence Andre as high school softball coach (board member Jen Andre abstained from the vote).
-- Lisa Kelso, Emily Henderson, Heather Stinson, and Emily Lisowski as long-term substitutes.
-- One open enrollment student.
Jen Andre was appointed board president for the 2020-21 year and board member Brian Moore was appointed vice-president.
Board meetings will be 6 p.m. the first Monday of each month in the elementary school library.