Pivik Elementary in Plum to close for 2 weeks after a staffer tests positive for covid-19

Plum School District’s Pivik Elementary students will be learning remotely for at least two weeks after a staffer tested positive for covid-19.

District officials sent a letter to families Wednesday informing them of the discovery and subsequent changes.

The letter from Pivik Principal Kristen Gestrich states the staffer was in close contact with nine other staffers, and all 10 must be quarantined for 14 days as per Allegheny County Health Department guidelines.

The building will be deep cleaned during the closure.

Remote learning begins Thursday and is expected to last through at least Oct. 9.

District officials plan to resume in-person learning at Pivik Oct. 12.

Board President Mike Devine said Wednesday evening that the district officials reacted quickly once they learned about the positive test, and they are following county health department protocols.

“We are being extremely cautious,” Devine said.

Gestrich said students were told on Wednesday to take home all materials for learning, and are to log in via Google Classroom at their scheduled time for each class.

Parents were encouraged to contact their health care provider and their child’s school nurse should their children experience any symptoms of covid-19.

“We will keep our families informed with any new situation that arises to ensure the health, safety and welfare of our school community,” Gestrich wrote. “The health and safety of our students and staff remain our top priority.”

This is not the first positive covid-19 case in Plum. An employee tested positive for the virus on Sept. 5.

Three people had reportedly come into close contact with the worker, and all four were quarantined for 14 days.

Plum’s first day of classes was Sept. 2.

The district had initially planned for students to return to school on Aug. 19 but delayed the start of classes to give officials more time to monitor the spread and metrics associated with the coronavirus in the area prior to students returning to school.