Greater Latrobe continues remote learning through Jan. 22

All Greater Latrobe students will continue to receive full-time remote instruction at least through Jan. 22, as district officials review covid-19 infection levels in Westmoreland County.

Whether the district changes that instructional model to include any in-person learning for students will depend on the school board’s decision at its meeting on Tuesday, according to Superintendent Georgia Teppert.

Teppert said in-person instruction is the best option for students, but concerns about continuing high rates of covid-19 infections and hospitalizations in the county prompted a recommendation Jan. 7 from the district’s new ad hoc health and safety committee to wait before considering any instructional change.

She said the health and safety panel will reconvene on Monday and will then have “a full two weeks of post-holiday covid-related data to assess in order to determine the extent, if any, of the post-holiday surge of covid-related illnesses.”

Any change in the instructional model approved by the school board Tuesday, based on the health and safety committee’s updated recommendation, would take effect beginning Jan. 25, “giving parents the time to plan accordingly,” Teppert said.

“We are aware that students benefit greatly from face-to-face instruction and social interaction while continuing to build positive relationships with their teachers,” Teppert said. She said Greater Latrobe will “continue to do the very best to provide the opportunity for brick-and-mortar instruction while keeping the health, safety and welfare of our entire school community as a priority.”

Greater Latrobe moved to full-time remote learning on Dec. 4, a decision based in large part on covid-19 infection rates in Westmoreland County remaining in the “substantial” range, as defined by state health officials.

County covid-19 infections remained at the substantial level for the week that ended Jan. 7, with 296.6 cases per 100,000 residents and a 15% positivity rate.

School board member Dr. Michael Zorch, a retired emergency room physician who chairs the health and safety committee, said district students “need to be back in school but, right now, we’re concerned about the whole community.”

He suggested that covid cases have “overwhelmed” the local hospital system.

According to information provided by the state Department of Health, as of Tuesday, there were 157 covid-19 patients hospitalized in the county, with 17 in the ICU and 13 on ventilators. According to the state, there are 22 ICU and 72 medical/surgical beds available in Westmoreland.

Zorch also cautioned that returning students to the classroom too soon, while county covid case levels remain high, could trigger a quick return back to remote lessons, placing student in a “yo-yo” pattern. District staff also could be put at risk of exposure to the virus, the committee warned.

“Hopefully, things will settle down” by Monday’s committee meeting, Zorch said.

Steven LoCascio, Paul McCommons and Merle Musick are other school board members assigned to the health and safety committee. The panel also includes four additional members of the local medical community along with Teppert, Assistant Superintendent Mike Porembka, Director of Pupil Services Laurie Golobish, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Technology Becki Pellis and Solicitor Ned Nakles.