Just before midnight, Kerry Drake teased parents with elementary school age students by voting to approve two amendments to a motion that would send them back to in-person 100 percent learning. A few minutes later, the president of the Upper Perkiomen School Board voted against a similar motion.

            Drake's reversal, which raised the ire of multiple parents attending the virtual meeting, led to ratification of an action item approving a hybrid learning model for all its students during last week's workshop meeting. One parent called him a turncoat. The member cited science as the reason for his final decision.

            "I've spent my life looking at data," said Drake, a PhD chemist. "I go by the science. That's why I changed my mind."

            During a meeting that started on Oct. 22 and ended the following morning, the board voted 6-3 to approve the original action item recommended by administrators. Vice President Mike Elliot, Judy Maginnis, Dana Hipser, Keith McCarrick and Peg Pennepacker also approved the motion, which provides an option for all students to participate in two-days each of in-person and online learning beginning Nov. 30.

            Students throughout the district will retain the opportunity to continue participating in a 100 percent online learning model through the balance of the current school year. In July, the board voted to approve a full virtual instructional model for the initial nine weeks of the 2020-21 school year due to concerns over COVID-19. Kindergartners will continue to attend school 100 percent in person four days a week, according to Kimberly Bast, the district's director of curriculum and instruction.

            Raeann Hofkin, Stephen Cunningham and Melanie Cunningham voted against the item, which calls for maintaining a distance of at least six feet. Near the end of the five-hour, 37-minute meeting, the trio – along with McCarrick –  voted for three amendments in support of a proposal to transition all elementary school students back to full in-person learning.

            Drake cast the pivotal vote for the final two amendments that would have transitioned students in kindergarten through fifth grade from 100 percent virtual to five-day brick and mortar learning. The amendment included language that would permit students to practice social distancing between 4½ and six feet.

            Immediately after casting the vote, the board president stated that he would likely vote differently on the final motion if administrators could not guarantee the safety of students at a minimum distance below six feet, which is recommended by county and state officials.

            Superintendent Allyn Roche informed the members that administrators could not provide that guarantee before Drake voted to defeat the alternative motion in a separate vote.

            "If science and the state health department recommends six feet as the safe distance, I have to follow it," the board president said.

            Early in the meeting, Roche described the original motion as the best option administrators could deliver that protects the health and safety of students, staff and the community at large while following the district's health and safety standards. He said the shift from full virtual learning would foster a sense of normalcy by placing approximately half the student body on campus four days a week.  "Parents want their students back in some kind of in-person school," Roche said.

            Under the hybrid model, elementary and secondary students would be separated alphabetically. Those with last names between A and Le, assigned to the Blue Group, will attend brick and mortar schools on Monday and Tuesday. Everyone else, assigned to the Gold Group, would have in-person classes on Thursday and Friday. On Wednesday, everyone would participate in asynchronous learning with a live morning meeting from home.

            Roche described the hybrid model, which poses more COVID-19 related risk than 100 percent virtual learning but less than full in-person learning, as the most challenging model to implement. He said it calls for teachers to instruct virtual and in-person students simultaneously.

            Before the original action item could be brought to a vote, Hofkin announced her intent to oppose the hybrid model. She said the district would be trading one set of issues by shifting from full virtual to the partial brick and mortar instruction.

            Hofkin expressed a preference to returning to full in-person learning She said she would be willing to approve 100 percent in-person learning with student desks separated by only four feet and would be willing to approve any financial expense to make that happen.

            Administrators described distancing, busing and staffing issues as the biggest obstacles to implementing 100 percent in-person learning. Hofkin expressed optimism that they could be resolved. She implored administrators to get creative with using the space in the district's buildings.

            "We need to get kids back to class," Hofkin said. "COVID is not a death sentence. I'm not discounting the virus; I know it's going to be worse than the flu. But this is no way to live."

            McCarrick then offered the first of three amendments to the original motion, proposing that all elementary school students return to full-time in person learning while directing secondary students to move into hybrid status. He cited concerns over societal issues created by the pandemic but said he was not discounting the health and safety information presented by administrators. It failed by a 5-4 vote.

            Roche then interjected that the newly proposed course of action was completely opposite the administrative recommendation. He said the district lacked the necessary staff to proceed in this fashion.  "This is a set up for failure," the superintendent said.

            A second amendment, which proposed reducing the permitted distance between students to 4½ feet passed. A few minutes later, a third amendment targeting Feb. 2, 2021 as the date for middle and high school students passed similarly.

            In between the amendment votes, several members expressed their discomfort with the proposal. Elliot said allowing in-person learning without following the proper protocols worried him. Maginnis, a nurse at a school outside the district, argued that permitting 100 percent student return could put them in extreme danger due to the combined threat of the coronavirus and the flu.

            "We don't want to jump off the boat into the ocean without a life preserver," Maginnis said.