Plum students who attended parent-sponsored dance may not return to class until December

Plum School District students who attended a non-district homecoming dance should quarantine for two weeks due to possible covid-19 exposure, and not return to school until December, according to a notice sent to district families Tuesday.

Officials had said a high school student with the virus attended a Class of 2021 Senior Parent Committee’s Homecoming Dance on Saturday at Five Pines Barn in Irwin.

As a result, the district, with preliminary guidance from the Allegheny County Health Department, originally requested all students who attended the event stay home on Tuesday.

The district received more guidance from the ACHD that day, and sent out an update to families.

“Students who attended the event will be permitted to return to school in person on Dec. 1, as long as he or she does not develop symptoms of Coronavirus,” Tuesday’s letter read. “Students may participate in classroom activities using the FLEX option via teachers’ Google classroom.

“ACHD is also encouraging parents of the students who attended the event to monitor their children for symptoms. Should your child experience any symptoms of covid-19, please contact your healthcare provider and notify your child’s school nurse.”

The notice also indicated that the since it was not a school-sponsored event, the district does not have a list of people who attended.

“Due to the participants attending this event, the ACHD is unable to provide contact tracing,” the letter read.

Allegheny County Spokeswoman Amie Downs said the health department is working with the district to address the situation.

“The health department will handle the case investigation and contact tracing for any cases in county residents that result from this event,” Downs said via email to the Tribune-Review. “The school district decided to ask everyone in attendance to quarantine for 14 days.

“This event underscores the need for county residents to limit the size of events and gatherings and to follow covid safety measures when around people who are not members of your household, especially if you are gathering indoors.”

The district had sent out a message to families on Monday informing them of the party situation. It is unclear how many students were impacted.

That day’s letter said school nurses were contacting more than 150 families of students who attended the event, as well as those students who attend other schools, including some in Ohio.

The event was briefly discussed at Tuesday night’s combined virtual school board workshop and voting meeting.

Parent John Anderson said he let his daughter go to the party for her mental health. He said all the online learning and lack of social connection with her classmates was having a negative impact.

“They need to have interaction,” Anderson said of the students.

He also said the district’s letter contained several things that were incorrect, but did not elaborate on what was wrong.

The school district is operating under a hybrid attendance model with students split into groups. The groups attend in-person classes two or three days a week and learn online on their off days.

The board voted Tuesday night to stay in the hybrid model until at least the end of January.

Superintendent Brendan Hyland said the weekend event could have an impact on more than just the people who attended.

“That potentially could cause an outbreak, and we have to be prepared for that,” Hyland said. “We know outbreaks could happen for other reasons.”

Board member Joe Tommarello did not condemn or condone people for going to the party, but did release a statement after the meeting.

“Students and parents have the right to do whatever they want outside of school hours, just as long as everyone can try to be careful,” he said. “We cannot let this virus scare us out of living our lives. People have the right to live their lives however they want. I just encourage folks to always follow appropriate guidelines.”

A phone call and email seeking comment from Five Pines Barn went unreturned on Tuesday.

District officials encourage parents to check their children for any covid-19 symptoms and to contact their health care provider and school nurse if any are found.

Parents with additional questions should call their child’s health care provider or the Allegheny County covid hotline at 888-856-2774.