SLIPPERY ROCK — The Slippery Rock Area School District has had “zero COVID cases last week and today,” assistant superintendent Susan Miller told the board at its meeting Monday night.

“This is significant,” she said. “We’ve not had that since the beginning of the pandemic. We’re excited, and we’ll continue to monitor those cases that arise, but hopefully we’re on the other side.”

COVID-19 cases at the school have been trending downward, along with the county, she added.

Also, the board voted Monday to no longer require masks on school buses. Miller said the update to the district’s health and safety plan doesn’t change much for students, as the district has had optional masking in schools since late last year.

The vote meshes with the Centers for Disease Control guidelines.

The board also motioned to open competitive bidding for coverage of the district’s northern bus routes, as its contract with Campbell Bus Company expires at the end of this year.

Superintendent Alfonso Angelucci announced that the board was recognized with the D. Richard Wynn Distinguished School Board Award for the members’ dedication over the years. The board will be recognized at a banquet Thursday evening.

The board took time at the beginning of the meeting to watch a demonstration by elementary physical education teacher Chad Rosatelli, elementary music teacher Rebekah Motta and three of their students in tinikling, a traditional dance from the Philippines.

Students shifted poles on the ground in a rhythm while another student jumped over the poles in a dance. Rosatelli said the concept replaced his unit on jump-roping and additionally helped students learn the concept of rhythm.

The next district board meeting is March 14 at Moraine Elementary.