Highlands may require proof of negative covid-19 test to return early after quarantine

Highlands School Board is considering a proposal that would require quarantined students and staff to provide proof of a negative test before returning to school after seven days.

“If no documentation is provided, they will adhere to the 10-day quarantine,” Superintendent Monique Mawhinney said during this week’s agenda meeting.

The board is expected to vote on the proposal when it meets at 7 p.m. Monday.

Requirements for quarantine and isolation are set by the state Department of Education, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Allegheny County Health Department.

Students, staff and faculty who come in close contact with someone who has covid-19 and who are not fully vaccinated would quarantine and contact their physician for testing.

Asymptomatic people who have tested positive for and recovered from covid-19 in the past three months, along with asymptomatic fully vaccinated people, would not need to quarantine or get tested.

Monday’s school board agenda meeting was held virtually because some board members are quarantined. Next week’s meeting is scheduled to be held in person.

Highlands’ covid-19 dashboard, posted on the district’s website, showed there were 24 cases confirmed throughout the district as of Monday. That included nine cases at the high school, 12 at the middle school and three at the early childhood center.

Since the start of school on Aug. 26, there have been 55 cases confirmed throughout the district.