Norwin closes high school, 1 elementary school because of covid spread

Norwin’s high school and Stewartsville Elementary will be closed Wednesday and Thursday and all athletics and activities have been canceled because of covid cases, the district said Tuesday.

The high school will be closed because of a seventh positive case, and Stewartsville Elementary will close because there was a third positive case, both occurring within a 14-day period, Superintendent Jeff Taylor said in a statement.

High school and Stewartsville students will receive remote instruction with synchronous learning Wednesday and Thursday.

No employees are permitted in the high school or Stewartsville buildings Wednesday.

Both buildings will be cleaned, sanitized and ventilated Thursday.

As long as all contact tracing has been completed, students will be permitted to return to school on Friday, Taylor said.

Taylor said he will notify students and their families Thursday if the closures must be extended.

Norwin’s closing of the two schools is in compliance with state guidelines because the state Department of Health has classified Westmoreland County as having a “substantial level” of covid transmission for the past two weeks. When Norwin offered students the opportunity to return to school full time last month, the district had to file a form with the state that it would follow the Education Department’s school closure matrix for responding to positive cases of covid.

Mike Burrell, Norwin athletic director, will provide athletic and activity information to coaches and sponsors.

A curbside meal pickup has been rescheduled to 9 to 10 a.m. Friday at Door No. 6 at the high school.