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WINGATE -- It's happening.
Just a week after students returned to their classrooms, Bald Eagle Area students will be switching to remote learning. On the district's Facebook page Monday, BEA superintendent Scott Graham announced that all school buildings will close due to an "uptick" in COVID-19 cases and quarantines throughout the district. Remote learning is scheduled to begin Wednesday and continue through Tuesday, Dec. 22.
Since students returned to in-person learning last week, multiple cases have been reported at the middle school and high school buildings. Two new cases were reported at Wingate Elementary, and three additional cases were confirmed Monday, Graham said in the district's Facebook post.
"I really hoped we could make it longer but the trend in cases made this decision necessary for the safety of our students and staff. I also took into account the increased number of parent requests to go virtual. There is no perfect solution here, but I feel this decision is the most prudent and necessary at this time. Students will be taking home their computers and materials today and tomorrow to prepare for remote instruction on Wednesday," Graham said in the post.
Graham explained the decision in the post.
"Today alone, we had three additional cases this morning. As a result of the increased amount of cases, the number of staff that are out, mainly due to quarantine or awaiting test results, and the impending snowstorm, (Tuesday) will be the last day of in-person learning. We will begin to go to remote learning on Wednesday, Dec. 16 and continue through Tuesday, Dec. 22," Graham said.
He also talked about the coming storm that is expected to dump anywhere from six to 10 inches on the Centre Region.
"If we get the snowstorm as predicted for Wednesday and Thursday, teachers will be working from home, so there may be limited livestreaming depending on what type of internet the teacher has. I will keep you posted throughout the week and let you know what is happening with instructional learning," Graham said.
According to Graham, the district is coordinating with Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology to see if students can attend courses virtually.
According to the district calendar, the holiday break is scheduled for Dec. 23-Jan. 1, so the earliest in-person classes could resume would be Jan. 4.
Graham told families that he would update them "as events warrant."
Bald Eagle Area, Bellefonte, Penns Valley, Philipsburg-Osceola and State College are the five school districts in Centre County. All five have dealt with cases of COVID-19 since school began in August. Every district has gone to remote learning or closed its doors at some point in the past four months.