Charleroi Elementary Center closed today as Pa. COVID-19 cases reach high mark

By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com

The Charleroi Elementary Center will close today after a teacher and one student tested positive for COVID-19.
Superintendent Dr. Ed Zelich sent a letter out to parents Wednesday night to let them know elementary students would learn virtually today because of the positive cases, which required five other staff members to quarantine.
Under the district’s current learning model, students receive in-person instruction four days a week with a virtual learning day each Friday.
Students were not in school Tuesday because of parent-teacher conferences and were also off on Wednesday in observance of Veterans Day.
Zelich said the student has not been in school since Nov. 3, which means the district does not have to contact trace for the student’s case, according to the State Department of Health.
“Currently, we are short a total of six members of our teaching staff at the elementary center,” Zelich said.
The middle and high school, which currently has two positive student cases from within the same family, will remain open.
Those students have also not been on campus since Nov. 3.
“We cannot emphasize enough the importance of everyone in our school community doing their part to limit the spread of this virus,” Zelich said. “We implore everyone to follow the advice of the CDC.
“As we head toward the Thanksgiving holiday we ask that you please take all necessary precautions around the holidays to help limit the spread of this virus.”
Zelich said the district is working to secure substitute teachers to re-open the Elementary Center as quickly as possible.
“With six teachers in quarantine, it is impossible to hold in-person instruction,” Zelich said. “On such short notice there is no way to find enough substitute teachers to cover the needed classes and we do not want to create an unsafe environment with students doubled up in classrooms.
“I understand that parents may not be happy with getting this message this late in the evening, but we have to make sure our students and staff are safe. We are going to take this period to deep clean the school some more and work to fill this void.

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