BVA votes to stick with hybrid plan

By Christine Haines

chaines@yourmvi.com

With Westmoreland County remaining in the substantial category for COVID-19 cases for the second week in a row, the Belle Vernon Area School Board has adopted a compromise position.

The state Department of Health and Pennsylvania Department of Education recommended that Westmoreland County districts go to full-time remote education because of the increased number of COVID cases in the county. 

While that was the official recommendation of district Superintendent Dr. Michele Dowell, the board didn’t agree.

School director Justin Kosanko said many of the Westmoreland County cases could be traced to three sources, none of which is close to the school district. Kosanko also pointed out that half the district is located in Fayette County.

“There were five new cases in Fayette County last week,” Kosanko said. “I will not support changing the plan. I support keeping the plan as it is. We’re safe. We know Belle Vernon. We weren’t elected to lead Westmoreland County; we were elected to lead Belle Vernon.”

“We’ve had four confirmed positive cases in the past two weeks in the Belle Vernon Area School District,” Director Dan Kovatch said. “We have had multiple sports teams quarantined. It’s not alphabet agencies in Harrisburg. It is the specific facts that are impacting the Belle Vernon Area School District.”

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