A staffer at Leechburg Middle/Senior High School has tested positive for coronavirus, according to Superintendent Tiffany Nix.
The district notified families of the positive case in a letter dated Thursday. The letter did not identify the infected individual.
Nix said the district has followed recommendations by the state’s health and education departments, and appropriate quarantining and isolation procedures have been undertaken for the staff member and exposed students to recover from home.
The only individuals who need to quarantine have been contacted directly by the district and state health department officials, Nix said in the letter. She said it’s important for students and staff to self-screen for covid-19 symptoms daily.
The district will remain open despite the positive case, the letter said. Other Alle-Kiski Valley school districts that have reported positive covid-19 cases include Deer Lakes, Highlands and Allegheny Valley.
Reached by email Monday, Nix said this is the only covid-19 case the district has had, and all the information she was able to provide was included in the letter.
Leechburg Area began its school year fully online before returning to full-time, in-person instruction on Oct. 5. The reopening plan requires students to wear masks during the school day and while riding on district buses.
Additional covid-19 mitigation practices include having people go one direction only in hallways, keeping students seated 3 to 6 feet apart, restricting outside visitors, sanitizing student desks after each class and the custodial staff performing nightly deep cleanings in buildings.
Nix said students and staffers who have covid-19 symptoms or who have been in close contact with a positive case should stay home and contact the school nurse immediately at 724-845-7701.
