COVID-19 Update: December 14, 2020

4:30 pm • Monday, December 14, 2020

Neshannock Township School District received notification that a member of the elementary professional staff tested positive for COVID-19.  The individual is in quarantine and was in the building on Friday, December 11; therefore contact tracing has been conducted. A total of three individuals are currently in quarantine as a result of fitting the definition of close contacts.  Any contact tracing regarding potential non-school related exposure will be conducted by the Department of Health through cooperation and communication with the individual.

Given the rise of COVID-19 cases in our buildings, along with the current community health metrics, Neshannock Memorial Elementary School and Neshannock Jr./Sr. High School buildings has transitioned to full-virtual instruction, for all grade levels, effective Wednesday, December 9, 2020 through Thursday, January 14, 2021.  This previously announced action was approved by the NTSD Board of School Directors on Monday, December 7, 2020.

It is our goal to be able to return to in-person learning for students at all grade levels; however, we cannot do that without the help of our community.  If you, your child, or anyone in your household is in quarantine, it is absolutely imperative that you follow all guidelines. We urge our families to keep their children socially distanced as much as possible in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

We remain committed to keeping all stakeholders informed in order to ensure a safe, secure environment for all.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Julie Morrone or your child’s building principal:

Thank you for your continued patience, support, and commitment to mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

Dr. Terence P. Meehan
Superintendent, Neshannock Township School District



* One of the recovered cases, a non-teaching staff member, was an individual who spent time in both school buildings (25% at Memorial Elementary and 75% at Jr./Sr. High School).

** Recovered cases are those of individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 and have fulfilled their required isolation period.


Updated December 7, 2020

The “Responding to COVID-19 Cases:  Guidelines for Temporary Building Closures” has been updated and approved by the Board of School Directors to align with the current recommendations published by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Pennsylvania Department of Education.


Meals for the week of December 14-18, 2020 will be delivered on Monday, December 14.  Please request your delivery for the week by 9:15 am on Monday morning.

There will be no meal delivery during the holiday break, December 19 – January 3, 2021.  Meal delivery will resume on Monday, January 4, 2021.


What is Contact Tracing?

The Pennsylvania Department of Health collaborates with the District to conduct any contact tracing. Contact tracing is the process of identifying, notifying, and monitoring anyone who came in close contact with an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 while they were infectious (2 days before onset of symptoms until the end of the person’s isolation period). Close contact is defined as someone who was within six feet of an infected person for at least fifteen minutes.


Resources

Should your student or anyone in your family experience symptoms of COVID-19, please contact your healthcare provider and notify Mrs. Julie Morrone by email or by phone 724-658-5513, ext. 5117. Please visit our website to review our COVID-19 procedures, as well as the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website for more information regarding COVID-19, exposure, contact tracing, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Pennsylvania Department of Education Recommendations for Schools Following Identification of a Case of COVID-19


Cleaning Products and Procedures

Our maintenance department continues to sanitize and sterilize all classrooms, common areas, and school buses on a daily basis. Throughout the District we are using all Green Seal Certified products. In addition, one product has the Eco Logo designation which is USDA approved. The Green Seal certification is attained through strict analysis of the chemicals makeup and its use. This not only protects the students through the day, but also the teachers and custodians who come in contact with these products on a daily basis.

We are currently utilizing a disinfectant product that has seven capable solutions in one.  VitalOxide is used for the following:

  • EPA Registered hospital disinfectant cleaner
  • NSF Registered no rinse required food surface sanitizer
  • Mold and mildew killer
  • Allergen eliminator
  • Odor eliminator
  • HVAC antimicrobial control
  • Soft surface sanitizer
  • VitalOxide is one of the leading products in terms of safety and effectiveness.

We are also utilizing several Purell products including hand sanitizer, surface sanitizer, and disinfectant spray.

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