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Friday, October 23, 2020

McKeesport Superintendent: Keeping District Open During COVID Outbreak is Following Recommendation of County Health Department | gadflyonthewallblog

McKeesport Superintendent: Keeping District Open During COVID Outbreak is Following Recommendation of County Health Department | gadflyonthewallblog
McKeesport Superintendent: Keeping District Open During COVID Outbreak is Following Recommendation of County Health Department


McKeesport Area School District (MASD) has been rocked with nine positive cases of COVID-19 in a little more than a week.  

According to guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, affected schools should be closed for somewhere between 5 days and two weeks. 

Superintendent Dr. Mark Holtzman says the district ignored these guidelines on the recommendation of the Allegheny County Health Department. 

“The County Health Department is the local governmental agency responsible for the school districts in [the] County,” Holtzman said at last night’s school board open agenda meeting

“So their determination of what next steps to take is their primary responsibility. So at this particular time, they have recommended to us that we not follow the CDC guidelines because those guidelines have been created before the start of school and are outdated. So they’re currently working on new guidelines to direct schools.” 

The response was in answer to citizens comments.  

Greg Kristen and I went to the board meeting hoping CONTINUE READING: McKeesport Superintendent: Keeping District Open During COVID Outbreak is Following Recommendation of County Health Department | gadflyonthewallblog