State College Area schools to remain closed as district COVID-19 numbers rise
With four students and two employees testing positive for COVID-19, the State College Area School District will continue remote learning through next week.
Superintendent Bob O’Donnell announced the continued closure, which began Sept. 4, in a districtwide email sent Friday. The positive tests have administrators concerned that the “virus could be spreading beyond the Penn State student population.” O’Donnell said the school has completed its contact tracing with nurses in accordance with the state Department of Health protocols.
“Many of you are probably wondering, given our present situation, what is our path to get back into schools? We have asked the DOH to release data that we believe will help us to better understand the status of our community’s health, including beyond the college-age population,” O’Donnell told families. “Specifically, we’re seeking age-related data within ZIP codes. If given this information, we’ll be able to paint a more complete picture of the presence of the virus in the community. This could be key in deciding whether to return to schools or stay in remote instruction.”
The goal, O’Donnell said, is to continue to in-person learning “as quickly as possible” as long as its safe for staff and students.
In the meantime, we’ll continue to notify you on a weekly basis. There is no doubt that being fully remote is difficult for many of our students and families, and I am hearing your frustrations,” he said. “Please know, we greatly appreciate your patience as we struggle through this pandemic.”
One student at Young Scholars of Central Pennsylvania Charter School was confirmed to have had COVID-19. The Bald Eagle Area School District has reported two COVID-19 cases at Wingate Elementary, which will remain closed until the end of September.
No cases have been reported by Bellefonte, Penns Valley or Philisburg-Osceola Area school districts, but the football game, scheduled for Friday, between Penns Valley and P-O, has been canceled due to a positive COVID-19 case in a student at Clearfield Area School District.
Penns Valley played Clearfield last week.
