Leechburg Area School District will go to online learning next week in response to a continued increase in covid-19 cases and a recent increase in students requesting to be taught at home.

In an email to district families on Monday, Superintendent Tiffany Nix outlined changes for all students in grades k-12.

Face-to-face instruction will continue Thursday and Friday, Dec. 17-18, but classes will switch over to online instruction beginning next Monday through Wednesday, Dec. 21-Dec. 23 .

Christmas break starts with an early dismissal Wednesday and continues through Sunday, Jan. 3.

At-home virtual instruction will continue for all students the week of Jan. 4.

Students are scheduled to return to campus for face-to-face instruction on Monday, Jan. 11. However, Wednesdays will remain online, at-home class days to allow for weekly campuswide deep cleanings.

Nix said the Jan. 11 date is subject to change based on covid-19 data.

Nix cited several reasons for the change: a high number of staff and students in quarantine because of close contact with people who have tested positive for covid-19, increasing “substantial” numbers of covid-19 cases in Armstrong and Westmoreland counties and a recent increase of families selecting virtual instruction over in-person learning on campus. More than 150 families have switched to online learning.

Four additional positive covid-19 cases, two staffers and two students, in the elementary and high schools, have been reported in the district since Dec. 8. They haven’t been in district buildings since Nov. 20.

“We want to do our part in protecting the families of both our staff and students going into our Christmas break,” Nix wrote.

School board president Neill Brady said the increase in positive cases was somewhat expected.

“We anticipated an increase in virtual instruction because of recent travel due to Thanksgiving, and we were prepared for it,” he said.

Brady said the custodial staff is working diligently, exceeding cleaning recommendations from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“(Positive cases) are still low compared to other schools, and from an administrative standpoint, the staff is spraying disinfectant in district rooms nightly, and deep cleans are twice a week.”

Brady acknowledged the covid decision-making process hasn’t been easy.

“We appreciate the flexibility of the parents with the decision-making,” Brady said.

Nix reminded parents pandemic conditions are fluid and apologized for the strain on families.

“Please remember that things can happen very quickly,” Nix wrote. “If we get two positive cases this week in one building, we could go virtual sooner. Thus far, our joint efforts in keeping covid-19 out has been relatively successful.”

District sports, activities, musical rehearsals and any meeting with more than 10 people are suspended until Monday, Jan. 4.

Nix said she has recently fielded many emails from parents concerning the recent changes.

District residents with coronavirus-related questions may contact Nix at tnix@leechburg.k12.pa.us.

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