Allegheny Valley School District reports 3 covid cases, 3 people who have been in close contact

As K-12 schools gear up to require masks Tuesday, the day will feel no different for students and teachers in Allegheny Valley School District. They’ve already been wearing masks.

Melissa Holler oversees the health and safety plan. Holler said the district has reported three positive covid-19 cases and three people who are known to be in close contact with someone who had covid.

There were two cases at Acmetonia Elementary School and one case at Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School.

Holler said students who tested positive have access to virtual learning while out of school.

The district required masks for the current school year after the school board approved its health and safety plan Aug. 17.

Students and staff are required to wear masks in all district buildings and school buses. Masks are not required for recess for students in K-6 or during activities such as playing an instrument.

Public relations director Jan Zastawniak said the school has had no issues of students not following pandemic protocols. She reiterated administrators take everything on a case-by-case basis, including if a student refuses to wear a mask.

“The district put in place the protocols it believed (will) keep our students and staff as safe as possible,” Zastawniak said. “If those protocols help keep the cases down, then those efforts are working.”

Zastawniak said the schools plan to have a covid tracker on its website to monitor positive cases throughout the school year.