California is latest district to go all virtual

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

Like many other Mon Valley school districts, California Area students will begin a 100% virtual learning model today.

Superintendent Dr. Laura Jacob made the announcement Friday.

Students in California went back to class in person three days a week Aug. 26, attending on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and learning remotely through Google Classroom on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Since then, Jacob has provided weekly updates to district parents regarding the state of community spread of the virus and state recommendations that accompany them.

Washington County was moved into the substantial rate of community spread last weekend.

Every week, the Pennsylvania Department of Health provides an analysis showing the seven-day rate of transmission for COVID-19 in each county.

A county’s coronavirus transmission rate and category can change from week to week, but state officials say school districts should consider changing their instructional models after two weeks in the substantial transmission category.

That requires that a county see more than 100 COVID cases per 100,000 residents or have more than a 10% positivity rate for a seven-day period.

As of Friday, the positivity rate in Washington was 12.1%

“This is the second week in the substantial category and in accordance with our COVID-19 Return to School Plan and under the guidance of the PDE and PA DOH we will change our instructional model to fully virtual for the next two weeks,” Jacob wrote in a letter to parents. “We know this is difficult, especially with the collaborative hard work families, students, staff and community members put forth to keep our students healthy while coming to school.”

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