Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Students have been back in Warren County School District buildings for a week now, and they could stay there, if things go well.

Students have been back in Warren County School District buildings for a week now, and they could stay there, if things go well.

But, “the reality going forward is not all rainbows and unicorns,” Superintendent Amy Stewart said.

“COVID-19 is still present in our community,” Stewart said. “At this point, things are still manageable, and our staff numbers are still very good.”

On Friday, the district had only a handful of positive cases.

“At this moment, we have two staff members and two students in isolation,” Stewart said. Another four staff members were in quarantine.

“We do not track student quarantine numbers daily,” she said. But, “things continue to be busy with contact tracing.”

As long as the numbers stay in that vicinity, the district should be able to stay open for in-person instruction. And, there are things parents can do to help.

“The number one thing parents can do to help us keep schools open is to keep their children home when they are sick,” Stewart said.

Not just when they are really sick or when they have a fever.

“Have purposeful dialogue with your child every day about how they are feeling,” she said. “Ask your child if they feel different, even if it is something they normally wouldn’t complain about.”

“Most of the symptoms we are seeing with students are very minor, and by the time anyone realizes it is COVID, they have come into close contact with others causing them to have to quarantine,” she said. “Many parents are reporting to us that their child who tested positive never had a fever.”

But, there are usually some other symptoms. “They tell us the child had a headache, a stuffy nose, a sore throat, or maybe an upset stomach to name some of the common symptoms,” Stewart said. “I am not a medical expert, but our team is definitely seeing a pattern with what parents are telling us.”

The spread from a few positive students could result in a whole school having to shut down for a few days.

“There are state-dictated circumstances that can force short, two-day, closures as we work through the rest of winter and spring,” Stewart said. “If the right circumstances occur and the numbers exceed Pennsylvania Department of Education mandates, an individual school may have to close for two days.”

“It is dependent on a lot of different variables, and as everything has been with COVID-19, the guidance we receive continues to change,” she said. “Our schools are in the process of planning for these potential two-day closures, and information about them will be available through our normal communication channels.”

The pandemic has had, and will continue to have, negative impacts on education nationwide, Stewart said. Keeping the schools open, as long as they are not a source of spread of COVID-19, is better for education.

“Our curriculum maps are not going to be normal for a long time,” she said. “I can’t even believe I am saying this, but our primary goal right now is to do what we need to do to manage COVID and fight every day to do what we need to do to keep schools open.”

“If you look at the studies of what happened after the Katrina disaster, you will find it is going to take years to overcome the learning gaps created with this pandemic,” Stewart said.

Students still have options about how they will attend – in person, full virtual, or the blended option most had to go to from mid-December through late January.

“I know there has been frustration with the time we have had to be out of school, but we have been able to offer in-person learning when many others have not,” Stewart said. “Compared to others, we have been very fortunate.”

“Students, in general, are relieved to be back,” she said. “Learning in a virtual setting is just not everyone’s cup of tea. Some have loved it and will continue to make that choice, but most of our parents and students are choosing to be back in person.”

The students have more options than they had until last Tuesday.

The teachers have fewer. The district needs personnel in its buildings.

“It has been a mixed bag of emotions for teachers,” Stewart said. “They want to be back with their students, but some are really concerned about getting sick.”

“I think there will be less anxiety once we get them through the second dose of the vaccine for those who want it,” she said. “I am thankful we were able to schedule our second dose of the vaccine at the end of a week. We should be able to get everyone who wants the vaccine their dose without impacting our ability to have students in school.”

School personnel were in the current phase of the state’s vaccination plan when their initial doses were scheduled and administered. The phases have changed since then and educators and school personnel are now in Phase 1B. The state is currently in Phase 1A, but those who have received initial doses will have second doses reserved for them.