Merion Elementary Closed Due To Positive Coronavirus Case

Max Bennett
Updated ·2 min read

MERION, PA — A Lower Merion School District elementary schools is moving to a fully virtual learning model after a member of that school community tested positive for the coronavirus.

Merion Elementary School Principal Toby J. Albanese said in a letter to families that the school will be going to fully remote learning until Friday, Nov. 6.

Albanese said the move comes after a staff member was confirmed to have a case of coronavirus Sunday.

"This closure affects all programming at the school, including any before- and after-school activities," he said in a letter to families. "For now, Merion students will NOT be able to attend Right At School at the District Administration Building. If they are able to attend later on in the closure, RAS staff will contact families."

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For now, the school is planning to welcome students back on Monday, Nov. 9.

He said the district will work with the Montgomery County office of Public Health to do contact tracing, as well as keeping any members of the school community who may be recommended for testing and/or quarantine.

According to Albanese, the county's public health office considers "close contacts" of the coronavirus as anyone who was within 6 feet of an affected individual for 15 minutes or more.

Anyone who lives in Montgomery County who will need to quarantine will hear directly from the county or Lower Merion School District's Student Health Services within the next 48 hours and will receive additional information regarding testing and quarantine.

During the closure, the school keep its Hybrid schedule.

"The A Cohort will log on and be ready for synchronous activity with teachers and staff at 9 a.m., and the B Cohort will do the same at 1 p.m.," Albanese said. "We've decided to continue with the current schedule given this shut-down is designed to be temporary, and services and specials can continue as they have."


This article originally appeared on the Ardmore-Merion-Wynnewood Patch