FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) — Franklin Area School District has announced that all students will finish out the month of December in remote learning.

According to a message from Superintendent Mark Loucks, beginning Monday, December 14, the Franklin Area School District will join the stand against COVID-19 by having all students learning remotely through December 23.

Loucks noted that the decision was made after Governor Tom Wolf’s press briefing on December 10, where the governor implored Pennsylvanians to take the next three weeks and stand united against the virus by adhering to existing mitigation orders due to COVID-19 being on the rise in all age groups, including school-age children and continuing to strain our health care systems.

Loucks related that any student with limited access to technology will be provided with instructional packets.

“As a school, this decision was a disappointing realization we concluded that needed to be made,” Loucks said.

“FASD has remained steadfast in our commitment to stay open and our teachers have worked hard to become effective virtual instructors, enabling our kids to be successful learners. Unfortunately, current Covid-19 numbers are trending in the wrong direction, making remote learning the most prudent, supportive position we can take in order to ensure our students and staff remain safe.”