The idea of moving Seneca Valley School District's primary students to a blended learning model was a contentious topic at last week's school board meeting, and ultimately was not voted on.

On Monday, however, the district announced kindergarten through sixth-grade students would shift to its “cohort” model, while all secondary students will learn wholly remotely until 2021.

In a letter to parents, guardians and staff Monday, the district said because Butler County entered its second week of “substantial” COVID-19 transmission — and “due to significant increases we are seeing in the public data” — the learning model for all roughly 7,000 students will change until, tentatively, Jan. 4.

Tuesday is the last day of the blended learning model for Ryan Gloyer Middle School and Intermediate High School students, who have been in that model since Nov. 9. Senior High School students have already shifted to full-remote education, as the building had been closed through Nov. 13.

It is also the last day of full-time in-person education for students in the district's elementary schools as well as Haine and Evans City middle schools. Beginning Wednesday, students with last names beginning A through L will attend Mondays and Wednesdays, and those with last names starting with M through Z will go to school Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fridays will feature online livestreaming for all students.

Special education life skills students in all grades will attend four days a week in both the blended and online learning models, and the district will continue to transport Butler County Area Vocational Technical School students.

Athletics will continue in person — with “strict adherence to ... health and safety protocols” — but all sports that can move outside must do so, the district said. Other extracurriculars will only meet virtually.

This is a breaking news report — for more on the change, pick up Tuesday's Butler Eagle.