amollenauer@altoonamirror.com
The Bellwood-Antis School District closed its middle and high schools at 3 p.m. Monday as the schools reached their COVID-19 case thresholds.
Students will learn virtually Tuesday and Wednesday and are scheduled to return to full time, in-person instruction Thursday.
Superintendent Thomas McInroy declined to say how many cases were confirmed in the district, but according to high school Principal Richard Schreier, the buildings’ threshold is two to four cases.
During the two-day closure, the impacted buildings will be “deep cleaned,” according to McInroy, and contact tracing will be completed for infected individuals.
All extracurricular activities are canceled during the closure.
kstephens@altoonamirror.com
HOLLIDAYSBURG Blair County Judge Timothy M. Sullivan has temporarily sealed a developing civil court case against the Bellwood-Antis School District and a former wrestling coach facing child sexual assault charges.
Sullivan, in an order signed Friday, said the seal will be subject to further review in the near future.
As of Friday, no lawsuit has been filed, but one is expected on behalf of an alleged assault victim and his father.
In a document the Altoona Mirror obtained before Sullivan rendered the order sealing the case, Indiana attorney Bryan S. Neiderhiser advised that a pending lawsuit will subject his clients to embarrassment and publicity due to the alleged unwanted sexual assaults by former school wrestling coach Ryan L. Blazier.
From Mirror staff reports
HARRISBURG Gov. Tom Wolf is dedicating $2.2 billion in federal stimulus funds to K-12 school districts and charter schools affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to support food programs, technological improvements and other education services.
“All schools have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and I commend school communities for rising to the challenge to combat the toll it has taken,” Wolf said. “This extra funding is critical to help schools meet the unique needs of educating students at this time while keeping school buildings safe when students return to the classroom.”
The federal relief is provided by the bipartisan Coronavirus Response and Relief Congress passed the Supplemental Appropriations Act’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund in December.
BELLWOOD Bellwood-Antis School District students will return to the classrooms on Monday.
School board members Tuesday agreed to a plan in which high school students will return to a hybrid schedule classes two days a week while middle school and elementary students will return to classes five days a week.
Board members will officially adopt the plan next Tuesday, retroactive to Monday. The board met Tuesday a committee of the whole session but could not take official action because the meeting was not advertised in advance as a voting session.
Board members agreed with the recommendations of the building principals.