As COVID cases rise, schools prepping for distance learning

As COVID cases rise, schools prepping for distance learning

BY MATT MACKINDER
Clarkston News Editor

Clarkston Community Schools Superintendent Shawn Ryan has been closely monitoring COVID-19 cases in the district, and as the numbers increase, so, too, does the chance that schools may close with students and staff returning to distance learning.
Two schools are already shuttered.
Andersonville Elementary and Independence Elementary have been hardest hit with staff reductions due to quarantine, and both will transition to temporary distance learning for all students from Wednesday, Nov. 4 through Friday, Nov. 13.
“Late Friday evening, we were informed that the Oakland County Health Division increased its risk determination level to E — the highest level — noting that there are now 150 or more cases per million population in the county,” Ryan said. “On Oct. 26, the county was a Level C. We anticipated a change in risk determination to Level D (which calls for consideration of a ‘reduced density’ learning model, like our current secondary hybrid model), but did not expect that our risk determination would move from C to E in less than one week.
“Though this is one of many metrics we are following, it is concerning because of the rapid and steep decline it represents.”
Between Friday, October 30 and Monday, November 2, CCS was notified of 13 new positive COVID cases in district. While contact tracing is still in progress, it’s expected that this will bring the total number of quarantined and isolated staff and students to well over 500.
“We will update our public dashboard (clarkston.k12.mi.us/fall2020/covid-19) accordingly, so you can see where these cases have occurred,” Ryan said. “It is important to note that individuals who have not tested positive but are isolating due to symptoms, or those who are quarantining as a result of exposure to a positive case in their personal circle are not reflected in our school-associated case records.
“We currently have 18 positive cases and 135 individuals in quarantine across the district (as of October 31). With over 7,000 total students and almost 1,000 staff members, we’re still at fighting strength for overall day-to-day learning and building operations. However, if the cases continue to climb, our current modalities may not be sustainable.”
Ryan added that though strict mitigation protocols in place have prevented the transmission of the virus within district buildings, the ability to adequately staff many buildings declined with “remarkable speed” over the past several days.
“We are doing everything within our power to stay open,” said Ryan. “Still, the possibility that we could remain in our current learning modality through the end of the first semester (which ends on January 15) now appears unlikely as the contact tracing process reaches an unsustainable level.
“Due to the prevalence of the virus, the dramatic increase in active cases in our schools, and the significant challenges of maintaining the integrity of our day-to-day operations, I am recommending that you prepare your family for a possible transition back to temporary distance learning over the next several weeks, possibly with little notice.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.