Gibraltar elementary school students could be going back to school as soon as December 7th and secondary students on January 11th after the school board met in a special session on Monday. Transitioning students from remote learning to in-person classes has been a topic of discussion the last four board meetings, three of which convened in special session. The 4-3 vote will allow parents of elementary school students to let their kids go back to class if the threshold limits in the district’s census tracts of Northport, Gibraltar, and Egg Harbor/Baileys Harbor were below 97 over a two week period. Beginning on January 11th, students in the secondary and the elementary would be allowed back in the buildings regardless of where the threshold limits sit. Gibraltar Superintendent Tina Van Meer said the administration team is committed to doing what the board wants, even if it goes against her recommendation.

School board member Angela Sherman saw her motion to remove all metrics but not allow kids back in the building until after January 11th defeated 4-3. With the holidays coming up, Sherman sought more of a compromise as the county’s COVID-19 cases rise.

School board president Stephen Seyfer, who also made the motion that got approved, felt they did compromise and can now honor the commitment they made to parents.

Gibraltar Area School District will now keep a close eye on the numbers between November 19th and December 2nd to see if elementary students will be welcomed back on December 7th. Students have not been in the building since Governor Tony Evers closed down schools in March. As of Tuesday morning, the district has one active case of COVID-19 and has 10 students and staff members in quarantine.

Audio from Gibraltar Area School Board meeting, which is available to view below