Gateway School District to go remote from Nov. 23-Dec. 4

Gateway School District students at all buildings will move to a remote learning model from Nov. 23 through Dec. 4 because of the region’s spike in covid-19 cases, officials announced this week.

Superintendent William Short called the increase in confirmed illnesses “significant and alarming.”

Specific information on virtual schedules will be relayed by building principals.

Athletics will also be suspended during the two-week transfer to online learning.

Short said he was notified during a meeting with the state Department of Education (DEP) and the Allegheny County Department of Health that the region has been designated as “substantial” for covid-19 transmission.

If the county remains in the substantial category for two consecutive weeks, the DEP will recommend a full-remote learning model to be implemented.

Short foresees that being confirmed Friday during the county’s weekly report.

District families should be aware that during the virtual learning period:

• Forbes Road Area Vocational students will also be remote

• Grab-n-Go lunches will not be available Nov. 26 to 30.

• Activities and clubs can continue online

• All buildings will be sanitized

Short said future decisions regarding learning platforms will be quickly communicated with families as district officials monitor covid-19 data from the county, Monroeville and Pitcairn.

He stressed that mitigation strategies – social distancing and masks – will determine how the county fares in virus transmissions.

“It is imperative that we continue to follow all of the health and safety precautions to ensure Gateway School District can return to a learning platform that offers our children an in-person environment that we all know is critical to the well-being of learners,” he said.