Charleroi Area School District: In-person classes suspended for first-graders

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

As coronavirus cases rise across the state, the impact can be felt locally — especially for parents of school-aged children.

On Thursday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health announced 5,488 new cased of COVID-19, the highest daily increase since the pandemic took hold in March.

Since opening in various learning models, school districts across the Mon Valley have dealt with positive cases involving teachers, staff and students. 

Charleroi Area School District announced Wednesday that students in the elementary center would have to learn virtually for the remainder of the week after one teacher and one student tested positive for the virus. Four other teachers who came in contact with the staff member have to quarantine for 14 days.

Less than 24 hours later, Superintendent Dr. Ed Zelich announced that all in-person learning will be suspended for first-grade students through Nov. 23.

“Given the quarantine issues with first-grade teaching staff over the past several days and potential exposure at the school, and to maintain adequate staffing levels amongst our teachers, we are now forced to suspend in-person learning for first-grade students,” Zelich said. “All Charleroi Area School District first-grade students will move to a fully remote learning model through Google Classroom.”

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