Leechburg Area to discuss changes to back-to-school plan

Leechburg Area School District will discuss modifying its back-to-school plan Wednesday based on new recommendations from the state Department of Education, according to district officials.

The school board in June approved a back-to-school plan that gave students the option of returning to school for full-time, in-person instruction.

But the state Department of Education said Monday that school districts with a moderate level of covid-19 transmission in their communities should use a hybrid model in which students receive in-school and remote instruction, or they should go fully remote.

To be considered moderate, a district had to have an incidence rate of between 10 and 100 cases per 100,000 residents or a covid-19 test positivity rate of 5% to 10%.

Leechburg includes communities in Armstrong and Westmoreland counties. Armstrong had 36.8 cases per 100,000 residents, and Westmoreland’s incidence rate was 25.1 cases per 100,000 residents, based on state data collected between July 31 and Aug. 6.

Both counties had a test positivity rate that fell below the 5% threshold.

“The matrix (released Monday) changed the whole approach,” Superintendent Tiffany Nix said.

Leechburg Area School Board will meet Wednesday to discuss the back-to-school plan and could vote to modify it.

For the hybrid model, students would take in-person classes two days a week and work remotely the remaining three days. For full-time remote instruction, students would take online classes with an option of small, in-person group instruction on scheduled dates and times.

School Board President Neill Brady said he originally wanted full-time, in-person instruction, but that doesn’t seem possible because of the new recommendations.

“We will (have) a lot of discussion, I’m sure,” Brady said.

Nix said the district plans to re-evaluate learning options every nine weeks. Families will be held to a nine-week commitment for whichever option they choose.

District to provide face shields

If the board approves a hybrid model, students will be required to wear face masks or shields whenever 6 feet of social distancing isn’t possible.

The district will provide students and staffers with face shields.

“We’re doing the best we can to ensure that we are following all protocols of making it safe for all students and staff,” Nix said.

The district previously said school would start Aug. 26, but that also is subject to change.

“My guess is there is going to be some modification to the calendar to start a little bit later, just to give us a little bit more planning time and family planning time,” Nix said.

District asks parents to consider district cyber academy

Nix asked district parents to consider enrolling students in the Leechburg Area School District Cyber Academy as opposed to outside cyber charter schools.

Nix said the district is working to re-create the cyber academy so students can be taught by Leechburg Area teachers. In the past, Leechburg Area School District Cyber Academy students were taught by Seneca Valley School District teachers. The Leechburg Area School District Cyber Academy is free.

“Our cyber school is going to be taught completely by our teachers, so it is already built into our budget,” Nix said.

Leechburg Area School District Cyber Academy lessons will vary based on content and teacher preference.

“Every teacher is going to come up with a different approach based on their content and what they’re comfortable with doing,” Nix said.

Wednesday’s meeting will be held in person and livestreamed on YouTube. Because of social distancing guidelines, only nine members of the public will be allowed to attend in person.