Changes continuing, but BVA is ready for students

By CHRISTINE HAINES

chaines@yourmvi.com

It’s been a summer of changes in the Belle Vernon Area School District — most notably in the area of administration — but acting interim Superintendent Jeanine Gregory said everything is ready for the start of school. 

“The first day of school for students is Aug. 30,” Gregory said.

Mask policy

The district is following the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control regarding mask-wearing in school buildings and on school grounds.

“Masks are optional but strongly recommended,” Gregory said.

The district has kept close tabs on the incidents of COVID-19 in the district, even over the summer months.

“We’ve had two cases in the marching band and we’re contact tracing,” Gregory said.

The district’s pandemic coordinator, nurse Vickie McCullough, gets regular updates regarding the pandemic and has the added duty of following the virus in two counties, since the district includes communities in both Westmoreland and Fayette counties.

Enrollment

The district has 2,388 students enrolled, and Gregory said the number is comparable to last school year with no major changes involving students either going to or returning from cyber charter school or private school options.

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