Last Friday, I announced we would stay on our 4-day a week schedule in secondary schools if our COVID numbers remained stable. I also explained that I was closely monitoring three schools. This week our quarantine numbers in secondary schools have significantly increased. While our total positive numbers in secondary schools have increased from 17-20, quarantines in middle and high school increased by 250 students. The six secondary schools represent 75% of our total quarantines.

We follow the Department of Public Health and CDC guidelines to determine “close contacts” who must quarantine for 14 days. A close contact is anyone who has been within 6 feet of someone who tests positive for more than 15 minutes. I know the 14-day quarantine may seem excessive; however, we have seen individuals become symptomatic and test positive in the last few days of their quarantine.

Due to the high number of students in quarantine, secondary schools will return to the hybrid schedule on November 30th and continue for the month of December. (PreK - 5 will continue 5-days a week) I will re-evaluate our numbers in December, and I hope we can return to the 4-day a week schedule in January.

In addition to our weekly COVID report, I am also including secondary schools quarantine and positive case data as a percentage of each school's total student population. I appreciate the support I’ve received from parents and employees as I’ve had to make these difficult decisions about our school schedule.