BROOKLYN, MI - Two Columbia School District buildings have moved to remote learning this week after two staff members tested positive for COVID-19.
Columbia Central Jr./Sr. High School and the Options High School buildings have moved classes online for the week, Superintendent Pam Campbell said, “out of an abundance of caution.”
In addition to the staff members testing positive, Campbell said eight other staff currently are quarantining because of a COVID-19 exposure. The two individuals who tested positive will continue to quarantine for “the rest of the week,” she said.
“There are some related and unrelated cases of people who have to quarantine because they’ve been exposed,” Campbell said. “We wanted to make sure we had enough teachers that were healthy here and we really want to stop the spread, too.”
No students have tested positive for COVID-19 or are quarantining at this time, Campbell said.
Moving to remote learning allows staff members who are quarantining to teach online, Campbell said, noting that there is a shortage in the substitute teacher pool to draw from.
“We wanted to make sure we had enough coverage for our students to learn appropriately,” Campbell said. “I just want to make sure we are doing the right thing for our students and staff.”
As a result of the building closures, sports are canceled for the district through Friday evening, Campbell said.
The Columbia School District is providing a choice between face-to-face daily instruction and virtual learning from home for all grades this fall.
READ MORE:
This Michigan school is deploying Wi-Fi buses to families without internet
Remote or in-person? Jackson County schools offer a choice
Michigan Center schools move online after 2 employees test positive for coronavirus