Burrell School District to move to virtual learning after Thanksgiving, Christmas as coronavirus cases rise
Burrell School District will move to fully virtual learning for two weeks after Thanksgiving, and again for two weeks after Christmas, the school board decided Tuesday.
The move comes as coronavirus cases in the community continue to climb, including four cases within the district in the last two weeks.
The district informed families of two positive cases at the high school Friday. Since then two additional cases were reported — one at the high school and one at Stewart Elementary School.
Holiday travel and gatherings are expected to further ramp up the spread of the virus, which prompted the board to approve closing school buildings and moving to virtual instruction Dec. 1-14 and Jan. 4-15.
The decision was made after lengthy discussion by board member and consideration of comments from many community members.
The district’s will maintain its regularly-scheduled holiday breaks of Nov. 25-30, Dec. 24-Jan 1. and Jan. 18.
Previously, Burrell had one case they reported in November.
“Families who need to quarantine have been notified,” said Shannon Wagner, district superintendent in an email to parents on Friday. “Again, thank you for all you are doing each day to help us keep our schools healthy.”
School districts are not required to notify the public about specifics of a coronavirus case because of privacy concerns, said Maggi Mumma, deputy press secretary for the state Department of Health.
Messages left for school administrators for comment weren’t immediately returned Tuesday.
Wagner and school board members said in the past they are prepared to go all virtual if the need arises.
Westmoreland County coronavirus cases have been rising, with a 41% increase in new cases in November as of Tuesday. Burrell students still have the option to leave the physical classroom and switch to all virtual learning.
Since the school year started, Burrell has been offering families the choice to enroll their children for in-person or live virtual instruction as well as its cyber school, Burrell eAcademy, or another cyber school.
Last month, the percentage of Burrell students attending in person at the high school was 77%; Charles A. Huston Middle School, 76%, Stewart Elementary School 77%, and Bon Air Elementary 83%, according to Wagner.
To learn more about the district’s health and safety plan, visit the district’s website.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.