Kiski Area High School reports another coronavirus case

A student at Kiski Area High School tested positive for coronavirus, the school district said Friday. The high school will remain open.

According to a letter to district families, the Department of Health was contacted and is identifying close contacts of the student.

Kiski Area reported at least seven infections among students and staff since the beginning of the school year, but none have resulted in building closures or a return to fully remote learning.

“We will continue to look at all cases individually and base closures on information received and the recommendations from the Department of Health,” Friday’s letter reads. “It is important to consider if cases are community transmitted or school transmitted and if the positive covid-19 individuals were in the building while they were contagious.”

Two weeks ago, the district postponed its plans to offer four days of in-person instruction, due to rising community transmission of coronavirus in Westmoreland County. The state Department of Health and Department of Education recommend that schools in counties with substantial community transmission move to 100% remote learning, but the ultimate decision still lies with individual school districts.

While many districts in the county decided to temporarily close all buildings and return to remote learning amid the spike, Kiski Area maintained its hybrid model that offers two days a week of face-to-face learning. Superintendent Tim Scott has said this is because community transmission within the district itself is much lower than in the county as a whole.