Good Afternoon Chartiers Valley Families,
As we hear about the rising numbers of COVID-19 in our region and country, I am sure it causes alarm for many, including myself. The health, safety, and well-being of our students, staff, and community are at the forefront of our decisions.
Chartiers Valley School District has been fortunate in regards to COVID-19 positivity rates this school year due to some very specific key factors:
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Prior to the start of the school year, the District dedicated Michelle Opferman, Nursing Department Chair, as the District’s liaison with the Allegheny County Health Department for all COVID-19 matters. We implemented a model with clear processes and procedures regarding identification, communication, and contact tracing. This model includes collaboration with the Allegheny County Department of Health which assists with identifying positive cases within the CVSD community, contact tracing, data tracking, communication, and general guidance. Our model has proven so effective, in fact, that several area school districts have inquired about our COVID-19 procedures.
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Our students and staff continue to comply with precautionary procedures, like wearing PPE and practicing social distancing. The District has been successful in maintaining our face-to-face educational options because of this compliance.
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Our parents and community members have offered prompt and open communication with the District. Our community and parents notify us when there are positive cases potentially impacting the District, and students are kept home when they are ill. It is because of parent/guardian focus and proactive correspondence that we are able to mitigate as quickly as possible.
For the immediate moment, it may be reassuring to speak to our processes, procedures, progress, and future plans within the Chartiers Valley School District regarding COVID-19. We have learned many important tenets through this pandemic, and I am sure we will continue to learn.
The District’s positivity rate is reviewed daily. As of today, the District has 4 active cases, meaning these individuals are confirmed positive for COVID-19 and within their isolation period. These cases are being watched closely for a nexus, or connection, to other active cases. The District has encountered 22 positive cases since August 24, 2020. However, 13 out of the 22 cases have not required contact tracing for two reasons:
- the individuals were not on District property during their period of contagion (48 hours prior to onset of symptoms), and/or
- the individuals have not ever been on District property during the school year thus far.
When the District does have a positive case that requires contact tracing, close contacts are identified as defined as persons within six (6) feet for a continuous period of 15 minutes or more , the District takes the matter very seriously. The District communicates and collaborates with the Allegheny County Health Department to identify and verify those contacts. We would rather identify close contacts and require a brief quarantine for those individuals than close an entire school building. This method is supported by the Allegheny County Health Department.
That said, there may be a day when the District may need to close one or more school buildings due to elevated COVID-19 contagion rates within the CVSD community. As stated, the District collaborates with the Allegheny Health Department to identify the nexus or connection between positivity rates. If and when such connections are identified, it will then be determined what building(s) may need to close, and for how long. Instruction would then be provided remotely.
In the event we must close and shift to remote learning, the District will provide notification as soon as possible, so that families may plan accordingly. However, as I am sure you can understand, information can change rapidly as the District receives said information.
As we head towards the holidays we anticipate our positivity rate to increase. We will continue to closely monitor and evaluate District procedures for mitigating this crisis.
Your understanding, cooperation, and patience are greatly appreciated through this process!
Sincerely,
Johannah M. Vanatta, Ed.D.
Superintendent
