/Schools across the state close their doors as COVID-19 infections spike

Schools across the state close their doors as COVID-19 infections spike

Mississippi News Nonprofit Schools and Districts are closing their doors and moving to online learning in preparation for the Thanksgiving break, as COVID-19 incidences spike. Teachers and students were infected with COVID-19 at record levels during the week of Nov. 9. Some educators worry that Thanksgiving celebrations could extend the virtual learning period. According to data provided by schools to Mississippi Department of Health, 1,546 students, teachers, and administrators tested positive for COVID-19 during the five-day period. 899 was the highest number of cases in a single week. This brings the total positive COVID-19 cases among students, teachers, and staff to 7,930 since school’s inception. READ MORE: How many students have been tested positive for COVID-19 at your school by teachers and students? After multiple cases at schools, Yazoo County School district switched to virtual learning. Superintendent Ken Barron stated that despite the low number of cases in the district, many teachers and staff were quarantined making it difficult to continue in-person education. Barron stated that about half of the staff at two of our schools were close contacts (to positive) and had to be quarantined. It is planned to resume normal operations on Monday following Thanksgiving. Since Monday, the district has been working virtually and then returning to in-person instruction for the four remaining days. Barron stated that by then, students and staff from all schools won’t have met in person in more than 20 days. It should be a good reset point. Barron said that if we see cases and exposes during Thanksgiving, we might get back to virtual quickly. The 7th grade at Madison Middle School, Madison County’s Germantown High School, and the 7th Grade at Madison Middle School also went virtual. Superintendent Charlotte Seals stated that the decision was made in accordance with state health guidelines. This included the guideline that states that if there are three or more simultaneous outbreaks or classes, groups, or buildings, it is advisable to consider moving to virtual. She stated that most cases could be traced back to activities off-campus, and that the school district had been practicing virtual learning since the summer. “Our first virtual learning day was held in October. She said that all of our schools had done that. Germantown High was the first to go online. “They knew how it worked,” Seals stated. She explained that Madison Middle School decided to transition only the 7th grade because they have different wings and don’t often mix. We must be flexible and able pivot. She said that we will do all we can to ensure we get every day of face to face instruction, whether it’s school-by-school or grade-by-grade. The Western Line School District had between 1 to 5 positive cases in the week of October 26-30. This included both students and teachers. According to data from the state department of public health, 50 students and employees were placed under quarantine. Superintendent Lawrence Hudson said that the district took precautionary measures in November and closed all schools for one week. Hudson stated that the district had received close contact reports from many teachers. Hudson stated that it is impossible to know whether the students have contracted the virus or not or if they are spreading it to other people. “So we decided to close it down. Because of the uncertainties surrounding staff and students who may or not have been infected, it allowed us to gather more information. Western Line students returned to school on Nov. 9 on a hybrid model. One week later, Riverside High School was closed by the district due to positive principal testing. Riverside High School is the only school that offers virtual-only learning. Hudson stated that his administration is trying to communicate as much as possible with teachers and staff about what’s going on in schools. They don’t notify everyone every time there is a positive case, but they notify those in close contact who need quarantine or who are in the vicinity of positive cases. “You were not at risk if you didn’t get a Western Line notification. These are the current circumstances, he stated, until the pandemic is under control. Here are some schools and school districts which have made the transition to temporary distance education. If you know of additional schools to add to the list, please email reporters Kate Royals at kroyals@mississippitoday.org or Aallyah Wright at aallyah@mississippitoday.org. To support this important work, you can make a regular donation to us today as part of the Spring Member Drive.