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TYRONE -- Rose Black has retained her position as president of the Tyrone Area School Board.
On Tuesday, the board held its regular/reorganizational session meeting. The board reelected William Lash as vice president, and David Fusco retained his position as employee relations contact for the district. The employee relations contact works to "create an opportunity for dialogue between local school directors and (Pennsylvania School Boards Association) on the many issues facing boards in their role as an employer," according to the district.
The board tabled a decision on payment of $166,800 to KCBA Architectural and Engineering of Hatfield for design and administration work on renovating the high school auditorium.
James Keiffer, senior project manager at KCBA, made a presentation to the board, saying the project would be to improve aesthetics and acoustics in the space. KCBA planned and designed the new Altoona Area High School building, according to its website.
In other business, the state ordered school districts to choose between a full-virtual learning model or in-person instruction with new guidelines last week. The Tyrone board chose to continue in-person instruction at an emergency meeting on Nov. 25.
In a Dec. 1 letter to parents, families and staff, Superintendent Leslie Estep said under the new guidelines for in-person instruction, the district is legally bound to follow the state Department of Education's recommendations on when to close a school.
As Blair County is considered to have "substantial transmission" of COVID-19 and Tyrone Area schools are considered "medium-sized," if more than four students or staff in one building test positive, the district must close that building, according to DOE information.
Estep said the district currently has six known positive cases (three students, three adults).