SANDPOINT — The Lake Pend Oreille School Board unanimously approved Superintendent Tom Albertson’s recommendation to continue distance learning for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year at the May 6 special meeting.

The last day of school has been rescheduled to May 29 for administration to collect over 1,600 Chromebooks from their students during the first week of June.

Albertson told the school board his recommendation to deny reentry was the hardest decision he’s made all year. “We were holding out hope that we could reconvene school a little bit at the end of this year,” He said. “I’ll say that I was one of the lone holdouts in our region because I was very hopeful.”

Every morning at 8 a.m. Region 1 superintendents held a virtual meeting with representatives from Panhandle Health District, Idaho State Board of Education and Governor Brad Little’s office to discuss logistics of reentry amid health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Idaho State Board of Education’s May 4 revised reentry criteria was the main reason Albertson recommended continuation of distance learning.

One criteria point ordered schools to follow the Idaho Rebounds program, also known as Gov. Brad Little’s four phase state reopening approach. Idaho is currently in stage one until May 15, which discourages any private or public gatherings. Phase two will allow private gatherings that follow the six-feet social distance recommendation of CDC. Neither phase could feasibly hold hundreds of students in any of Lake Pend Oreille’s school buildings.

Albertson also expressed concern with the school cafeteria, which would need to follow restaurant regulations of no more than six people per table and 10 feet between each table. Food service is handing out 500 lunches daily during the school’s grab-and-go program, but their services would be limited if they returned to school.

Because of these two concerns distance learning will continue in paper form packets and online instruction. However, phase one allows students who are looking for one-on-one help or small group tutoring sessions to meet with their teachers. Albertson said teachers will be reaching out directly to seniors that may be struggling with a particular class.

“Bringing in a small group of students for some tutoring is much different than opening school up,” Albertson said.

Students will be able to meet all graduation requirements regardless of an early end to the school year, he said. Albertson repeatedly told the school board there will be a graduation ceremony for the seniors. He has not submitted his final plans for Clark Fork High School or Sandpoint High School at this time. His first plan submitted to Panhandle Health District was denied with constructive feedback and Albertson is now looking at dates during phase four of the state reopening.

As for students continuing in the fall, Albertson urges parents not to panic. He said staff will be receiving guidance on instruction and working overtime to prepare their lesson plans with necessary adjustments.

“We will have a very calculated plan on how to gently fill in gaps that may of occurred because of what’s happened in the spring,” He said.

Aly De Angelus can be reached by email at adeangelus@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @AlyDailyBee.