Highlands closes Tarentum elementary school because of covid cases

Highlands School District has closed its elementary school in Tarentum because of covid cases.

The district said in a notice on its website that positive cases at Highlands Elementary School “have resulted in a significant number of required quarantines.”

District spokeswoman Jennifer Goldberg said there were three positive cases at the school, all among adults.

“There are many quarantines that have impacted staffing, instructional delivery and supervision,” she said.

Only the elementary school is affected.

“The district has made this decision out of an abundance of caution in hopes to minimize the potential for increased exposure at our elementary school,” the district said in its notice. “The health and safety of our students and staff continues to be our greatest priority, which is the reason for these proactive measures.”

All of the school’s students will learn remotely from Tuesday through Thursday, and all after-school activities are canceled. There is no school for students on Friday, which is a clerical day for teachers. Students are expected to return on Monday, the district said.

Goldberg said Highlands is still planning to move forward with four day, in-person instruction beginning Monday. The school board had approved that on March 15.

According to Goldberg, the district expects about 59% of high school students to participate in four day instruction, 75% of middle school students, 76% of elementary students and about 92% of early childhood center students.