With the recent surge in COVID-19 positive cases, some area schools have made adjustments and one town’s city hall was forced to close more than a week.
Meeker Town Clerk and Treasurer Mary Conner confirmed the Town Hall was closed for nearly two weeks. “We closed on Jan. 5 as a precaution, and then we were closed all last week,” she said on Monday afternoon.
Conner, who said she had tested negative for the virus, stated there were at least two people who had tested positive. One of those was Town Administrator Jeff Wilbourn.
Conner noted that while she was going back to work on Tuesday of this week, “I’m not sure when the doors will open. That’s a decision that has to be made above me,” she added.
The monthly Town Board meeting that was scheduled for Tuesday evening this week (Jan. 18) was canceled. Conner indicated the meeting is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 24, but she wasn’t completely sure of that yet.
“We had a deep cleaning of Town Hall. Jimmy, one of our employees, used chemicals are that are supposed to kill the COVID germs,” Conner explained.
White Rock School Supt. Alicia Ebers said about a quarter of her staff, including herself, were out due to the COVID and other illnesses. “But we’ve managed to stay in-person with the assistance of our support personnel, paraprofessionals and volunteers.”
Ebers said that 13 students were absent on Wednesday and that swelled to 27 by Thursday. She indicated the school would be deep cleaned over the long weekend with school out on Friday as normal with their fourday week and off Monday due to the holiday.
Davenport High School Principal Misty Emmons said, “We have not had to shut down. We are still in-person.”
Emmons added that Davenport held its homecoming Friday night but that Coyle canceled its game with the Bulldogs on Satuday.
Dale School Supt. Ky Wilkins said the district was shut down Thursday and Friday due to having staff that was sick. School Supt. Blake Moody at North Rock Creek reported his students were still attending in-person. The NRC basketball game scheduled for Friday night was canceled, however, due to COVID at Bethel. It was the second consecutive game
It was the second consecutive game that had to be canceled.
Chandler School Supt. Melody Toma stated, “We are still in-person. Our COVID cases are around two percent of our students and staff population,” she noted.
“We are not having staffing issues like other districts that are having to close. I attribute this to our parents doing an excellent job at keeping students home if they are showing any symptoms,” she said.
A source at Prague said it was school as usual there.
Stroud School Supt. Joe Van Tuyl commented, “We are close to business as usual. We do have elevated staff and student absences.”
McLoud, which is on a four-day school week Monday through Thursday each week, reportedly went to virtual last Wednesday and Thursday. The district was planning to go back to in-person on Tuesday and did, except for the high school, a source said.
“We have too many staff out. Teachers will report but no students at the high school. Some of us high school teachers will also fill in as subs at other campuses this week to help with the sub shortages,” the source said.
Jeff Kelly, superintendent at Agra, wrote to parents, “January 13 and 14 we are offering virtual days. As always, buses will run, meals will be served, teachers and staff will be here and students are welcome. This includes the After School program.”
Kelly also added the past few days there have been a nigh number of students, staff and teachers out sick. “As you all know, we are committed to being here for you.”
The superintendent did ask parents, due to the high number of staff and students who have been out, to please keep their students home, if possible, last Thursday and Friday, Jan. 13 and 14.
School Supt. Brian Keith at Carney reported, “We currently have one positive at the high school and three positive at the PK-8 level. We have had a large uptick of various illnesses over the last week,” Keith stated.
He further pointed out, “It seems the flu and strep throat are hitting us the hardest right now.”
Wellston School Supt. Mike Franz, whose district is still in-person, explained, “We want to keep our kids in school. We want them to be in their seats.”
He indicated the absences were minimal at Wellston.
Franz pointed to the figures on the district’s website which he said are consistently updated.
The figured as of last weekend showed two students at the elementary level, Pre-K through fifth grade had tested positive. There were 13 students who had tested positive for COVID in the Middle School and High School grades 6-12.
The district’s enrollment totals 549 students.
Meeker School Supt. Jeff Pruitt said, “We’ve had a few more absences than normal but we are in-person right now.”