Hempfield Area temporarily closes high school due to covid-19 cases

Hempfield Area High School students will complete classes remotely two days this week due to covid-19 cases, district leaders announced Monday.

According to a letter from Superintendent Tammy Wolicki, high school students will attend online classes Tuesday and Wednesday after additional students tested positive for the virus and were in school while infectious. In all, there are nine positive cases at the high school, according to an online tracker.

Closing the school will mitigate the spread of the virus while giving district officials time to conduct contact tracing, Wolicki said.

According to the letter, all extracurricular and athletic practices, games and events scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday are canceled.

Students who attend Central Westmoreland Career and Technical Center can attend classes at the school in-person or remotely those two days. Transportation will be provided using alternate routes that are posted on the high school website. Students with their own transportation can drive to and from the CWCTC.

High school students will return to in-person learning Thursday.

Over the past few weeks, several districts schools had to temporarily shutter to curb the spread of covid-19. West Hempfield elementary and middle schools, as well as West Point Elementary School were closed for several days last week due to covid cases.

In all, there are 10 active cases in the district, nine students and one staffer. In addition to the high school cases, there is one at Maxwell Elementary School.

Free breakfast and lunch will be available to high school students between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Technology support will be provided at the high school between those times. An appointment can be set up by calling the help desk at 724-850-2241.

Positive cases should be reported to the school nurse, principal or to Lisa Maloney, supervisor of pupil services.