Two Butler County schools in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh faced issues Monday, one related to COVID-19 and another stemming from a power outage.

Diocesan officials announced that all students at St. Gregory Catholic School in Zelienople will attend classes at home this week, as seven staff members tested positive for COVID-19.

Jennifer Antkowiak, diocese spokeswoman, said Erin Rice, principal at St. Gregory, tried to fill the staff absences with substitute teachers, but was unable to get enough.

The school has done well during the pandemic, as it provided in-person classes for the past 18 months. “Although we seemed to have conquered the odds ... I am afraid that we are not invincible, and COVID has finally forced me to make some difficult decisions,” Rice said in a news release from the diocese.

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