Monessen, Charleroi return to remote learning
By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
Two area school districts will see their middle and high school programs return to a fully remote format today.
Both the Monessen and Charleroi Area school districts have been hit by enough cases of COVID-19 to trigger state guidelines forcing temporary building closures.
Monessen Superintendent Dr. Leanne Spazak confirmed Monday evening that three positive cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed among the students and staff at the high school/middle school building, which houses fewer than 500 students.
The three cases meet the threshold set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the state Department of Health requiring small schools to close for deep cleaning.
Spazak said the building will be closed entirely today, with staff reporting again starting Wednesday. Students will not return to the building until Feb. 16.
Charleroi Area High School and Middle School students will also return to remote learning after a recent spike in COVID-19 cases.
Superintendent Dr. Ed Zelich said the school was notified Monday that a student in the middle school tested positive for the virus, bringing the total number of cases in the building to four within the past 10 days.
Guidelines set by the Department of Education require the building to close based on a 14-day rolling period, which begins with the first positive case in each facility.
Students in the high school and middle school will switch to remote-only instruction today, lasting through Friday.
The students, staff and teachers are scheduled to return to the building Monday. However, any new cases may require remote learning to be extended.
A new 14-day rolling period will begin when students return to school.
There are no active COVID-19 cases at Charleroi Area Elementary Center, which means the building will remain open for the rest of the week, with all students expected to return Monday.
During the closure, athletic events and extracurricular activities scheduled at Charleroi Area High School and Middle School will be canceled. They will resume Feb. 15.
The district will continue to offer free meals for all students, with meal pick-up from 5 to 6 p.m. every Tuesday in the high school/middle school bus circle.
Bulk meals will be provided for the remainder of the week.
For special arrangements, call Food Service Director Rob Lenhart at 724-483-3509, ext. 3028, or email rlenhart@charleroisd.org.
