News

On Tuesday, November 17 we were informed of two new positive cases within the district, one student and one teacher. This brings our active cases to two in each building. After being notified, district administration contacted the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) for further guidance. After gathering factual information and conferring with the DOH, it was determined that several additional students would need to be quarantined at home for 14 days. Currently, we have nearly 100 students and 10 staff members on quarantine, and this list continues to grow on a daily basis. This has made continuing face-to-face instruction a significant challenge. Therefore, after a lengthy discussion at last night’s board meeting, the decision has been made to move to remote learning in both buildings starting on Thursday, November 19. We made this decision based on DOH guidelines, the surge in positive cases in Somerset County, and the current circumstances within our district mentioned above.

We are also pausing our school-based activities and sports for a period of two weeks. The closure will be re-evaluated and discussed at the next board meeting which is scheduled for December 8, 2020. Please know that we did our very best to remain open, and I thank all of you for your cooperation and understanding. I want all parents to know that we will be providing food services during our period of remote learning, therefore, if you have not yet completed the survey for food services, please do so as soon as possible regardless of need. We will communicate details in another message once we develop all the logistics. To allow teachers time to finalize preparation for tomorrow, we will be dismissing one hour early in both buildings on Wednesday, November 18. We will also be working to provide a Chromebook to those that were on the waiting list so your child can bring them home. Tomorrow’s activities will be limited to posted assignments with live synchronous learning starting on Friday, November 20.

Please take a moment to read Superintendent of Schools Thomas J. Kakabar's complete letter regarding the school closure.

During the morning of Monday, October 26, 2020, our district was made aware of a student that tested positive for COVID-19. This student does not attend either of our schools but does use our transportation. After being notified, district administration contacted the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) for further guidance. After gathering factual information and conferring with the DOH, it was determined that several students who rode with the student on Thursday, October 22, 2020, and were within six feet for fifteen minutes needed to be quarantined. Our bus cameras indicated that the student in question was wearing a face covering during the entire time while on our buses, and it was determined through the DOH that a school closure was not required. The district is and will continue with all COVID-19 health and safety protocols including extensive cleaning and disinfecting of district buildings and buses.

Please take a moment to read Superintendent Thomas J. Kakabar's complete letter regarding the positive COVID-19 case.

This correspondence is to remind everyone that the travel restrictions issued by Governor Wolf and the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) remain in place. With the holidays approaching, we felt it was necessary to remind all of you that the district will follow these recommendations. Therefore, we will require anyone who travels via air or visits any of the states on the travel advisory list to quarantine for 14 days after returning to Pennsylvania, regardless of testing. Please see the travel advisory flyer for a list of the states, how this impacts students, and employees. In addition, the list of states frequently changes. We recommend that you visit the Department of Health website to have the most recent updated list.

The Conemaugh Township Elementary School is a 2020 National Blue Ribbon School. U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos recognized 367 schools across the country as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2020 on September 24, 2020. In the state of Pennsylvania, only 14 schools received with this award. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. This is the second time the elementary has been recognized; earning this recognition more than once is extremely rare. The coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content. Now in its 38th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed almost 10,000 awards. The elementary school received this prestigious award in 2010 as well.