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UNION TWP. &mdash; Northwest Area School Board started Wednesday&rsquo;s meeting with a plan &mdash; announced Tuesday &mdash; to bring all students back in hybrid mode.
				But after hearing written protests from more than 50 parents as well as one letter signed by more than 160, members switched gears and voted to have all students signed up for hybrid classes attend school four days a week beginning Feb. 1.
				The board also voted on a preliminary budget that raises property taxes up to 6%, though several people insisted that did not mean the increase would go that high. And it accepted the resignations of Board Member Michael Kreidler and Elementary Principal Cassidy Shults.
				Superintendent Joseph Long had posted a video Tuesday announcing plans to bring &ldquo;targeted students&rdquo; &mdash; those needing more personal instruction &mdash; not already in schools four days awake into the classroom Jan. 25, then bringing all students to hybrid mode Feb. 1, with one group in schools Monday and Tuesday while the other group attended live online, then the two groups switching Wednesday and Thursday. The plan included offering student live online learning four days a week.
				But the public comments section of the meeting included reading numerous emails from scores of parents calling for a return to in-class lessons at least four days a week. Parents complained children were losing ground, crying during online sessions, losing interest in school and shifting from earning high grades to failing.
				The board went into executive session believing the YouTube feed was muted when it wasn&rsquo;t, discovered the problem and muted the video. When they returned, Long announced a change. Students currently enrolled in the Northwest Area Virtual Academy &mdash; which offers recorded, asynchronous lessons &mdash; would remain in that mode. Those who were already taking lessons live online four days a week would also remain in that mode. But those who had signed up for the hybrid mode will be brought into the schools four days a week &mdash; Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday &mdash; eliminating the hybrid mode.
				Long noted Wednesdays are used for teachers to work on both live lessons and asynchronous classes, and for a more thorough cleaning of buildings. He also said the system would not work without parent support, and urged parents to do daily health assessments looking for COVID-19 symptoms. If a student has symptoms, he or she should be kept home and the district contacted.
				Regarding the budget, school boards have two choices in January under state law: Pass a resolution to stay within a state property tax increase limit or pass a preliminary budget that exceeds the limit. The limit can only be exceeded by either voter approval in the spring primary or state approval for a limited number of exceptions.
				Northwest Area opted to pass an early budget with a 6% increase, from 11.466 mills to 12.154 mills. A mill is a $1 tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value. But Long and others stressed the budgeting process is just beginning and the expectation is not to raise taxes that the full 6%.
				Long explained the move gives the district greater flexibility by keeping open all options, including seeking exceptions to exceed the limit.
				The board accepted the resignation of Kreidler, effective that same day, without comment. The board also voted to advertise for applications for a replacement. Under state law, the board has 30 days to agree on a replacement before the choice potentially goes to a Luzerne County judge.
				And the board accepted the resignation, also without comment, of Elementary Principal Cassidy Shults effective on or before Feb. 18, agreeing to advertise for applicants.

Northwest Area: 4 days in school