COVID, sickness force local school districts to alter schedules
An increase in COVID-19 cases and other sicknesses are causing several local school districts to adjust their schedules.
In Carthage, the school district is going online for a few days:
“Our number of positive cases and quarantined students and staff continue to increase to the point we need to start AMI days tomorrow through Friday. I will send a more detailed post later.
One quick answer to your question . . . unless we have an outbreak of positive cases/quarantines, activities and/or games can still occur as with previous AMI/AMI-X days. Actually, we’ve had very few athletes/activity participants test positive or quarantined.
I will send a robo call later tonight. Sorry to do this but it is the right thing to do for our children, staff, and community.
-Mark”
In Miami, Oklahoma, they are taking similar action:
Miami Public Schools will move to distance learning for the remainder of the week of January 12-14, 2022. School will also remain closed on Monday, January 17, 2022, in observance of Martin Luther King Day. Monday will not include instruction.
Dear MPS Family, I am writing to inform you that Miami Public Schools will move to distance learning for the remainder of this week, January 12-14, 2022. This move comes as a result of staff and student absences due to illness. The number of staff quarantined or isolated due to illness has impacted our ability to staff our sites for in-person instruction appropriately. Teachers (unless ill) will be available by email and instruction will be provided in a virtual format. Please be sure students(s) are engaged in online learning during the regular school hours (8:15-3:25) unless their teachers provide other directions. Please contact your child(s) teachers through email. If you have other questions please contact your child(s) school site. Principals and secretaries will be available the remainder of the week. Monday is a holiday and no instruction will be required and offices will be closed.
As a courtesy to our families, if you have a student or family member that would need to be tested for COVID, we are offering free testing at 601 16th NW. This is located north of Nichols Upper Elementary. Please call for an appointment: 918-961-0087.
I apologize for any inconvenience this move may cause, and I continue to pray for the health and safety of our students, staff, and families!
Moving Forward Together,
Nick Highsmith
Superintendent of Schools”
In Joplin, they are seeing a rise in illness but no changes have been made:
“Many are curious whether Joplin Schools intend to close. Today we had approximately 16% of our students and 11% of our staff absent for various reasons. So far the District has been able to readjust classes and remain open. Because the number of COVID, flu and other illness is evolving, our plan could change. However, at this time, we plan to hold in-person learning and remain open tomorrow Wednesday, January 12, 2022.”
In Webb City there are no closures yet, but school officials are keeping their eyes on it:
“Cardinal Community:
Coming back from Christmas break we expected our COVID numbers to increase, however, those numbers have increased more than we originally anticipated. Currently, we have 103 students and staff members who have tested positive for COVID. We are also finding that many of our staff and students are suffering from other sicknesses that are not COVID-related.
On Monday, we had 662 students and 45 staff members that were out due to illness. Today, those numbers have increased to 806 students and 50 staff members. Our substitute teacher fill-rate was 68% today and we worry about the days to come.
Needless to say, we are monitoring the numbers and if the trend continues we may be forced to begin AMI days to help with the current situation. Please understand these plans could change and if they do we will notify everyone as soon as possible through our district notification systems.”