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Northern Lehigh officials propose relabeling Act 80 days as planned virtual instructional days in draft 2526 calendar
Summary
District administrators proposed relabeling three Act 80 days as Planned Virtual Instructional Days (VIDs) in the draft 2526 calendar so they count toward required hours while preserving time for teacher data analysis and professional development; parents and board members raised questions about teacher availability and union/contract implications.
Northern Lehigh School District administrators presented a draft 2526 school-year calendar that would relabel three former Act 80 days as Planned Virtual Instructional Days (VIDs), allowing the district to account for required instructional hours while reserving scheduled time for teacher data analysis and professional development.
Administrator (S8) told the committee the change would let the district ‘‘hit not only 180 instructional days, but we also have enough buffer in the required number of hours per building level.’’ Under the proposal, Peters Elementary would have about 922.5 hours, Slatington Elementary roughly 981.67 hours, the middle school about 1,043.67 hours and the high school about 1,149.53 hours if the days are labeled as virtual instructional days.
The proposal notes that VIDs may be fully synchronous, fully asynchronous or a combination, and still count as a day and for hours even when asynchronous. Administrators said teachers would be in session on those days to do data work and that students would work asynchronously; the district is discussing expectations with association leadership and whether to include live-streamed office hours on VID dates.
During committee discussion, parent commenter Mrs. Frank (S17) said teachers and students could not be expected to simultaneously participate in professional development and provide responsive instruction, arguing “Teachers cannot be tasked with both simultaneously.” Administrator S8 responded that, as proposed, the day would be segmented — for example, time for data analysis, lunch, and an hour of office hours — rather than asking educators to perform both duties at the same time.
Board members asked about contract language and union discussions; S8 said the district has been in recent conversations with union leadership and that the contract is silent on Act 80 days. The administration said it will continue meetings with the association before the full board takes up the calendar and intends to place the draft calendar on the full board agenda for consideration at the upcoming Monday meeting.
Next steps: administrators plan further conversations with union leadership and association leadership between now and the board meeting; the administration will place the draft calendar on the full board agenda for possible approval or tabling.
