Amid COVID-19 surge, Provo elementary school students return to the classroom

PROVO, UT (KUTV) — Despite surging coronavirus cases in Utah County, elementary schools in Provo City School District are moving Monday to four days of in-person learning.

School officials briefly delayed this transition as the area became one of Utah's two newest coronavirus hot spots. That delay lasted a week because of the spike in COVID-19 cases in Provo and Orem, but is now moving forward.

The district, however, decided to postpone the same jump for secondary schools until the beginning of second term, during the last week of October.

Up until now, all schools within the district have been on a hybrid schedule of meeting two times a week in-person and at-home learning for the other three.

Now, primary schools will be inside buildings four days a week, with an early dismissal each day and Fridays being entirely remote.

District leaders say despite the climbing COVID-19 cases in Utah County, their numbers remain steadily low. They also cite the state Superintendent Sydnee Dickson, who recently explained Gov. Gary Herbert’s orange phase designation for Provo was directed at local communities and not toward school districts.