(1/11) As the Fairfield Area School District prepares to reopen the secondary grades to their pre-shutdown status, coronavirus cases teeter on the brink of pre-empting the effort.
Superintendent Michael Adamek reported at the January 11 school board meeting that 37 students who would have been in school had there not been the shutdown that had been implemented were recently reported to have potentially been exposed to COVID.
Of those 37 students, Adamek said 29 were potentially exposed, while eight displayed symptoms of the virus, and of the eight - three tested positive out of the three tested. Regarding staff, he said five had been potentially exposed … two demonstrated symptoms and one tested positive.
Had a total of five individuals tested positive, it would have triggered continued shut-down of in-school attendance of the secondary classes. At this point (January 11), the superintended stated the district will "stay the course." regarding re-opening plans.
He said the district is monitoring the situation to see if the numbers go up as the district prepares to reopen. High school Principal Brian McDowell added that two sports teams have been quarantined, but no further details have been provided.
In other COVID-related district business, the board approved hiring a temporary substitute-teacher for the 75 days remaining in the current school year, for an estimated $10,000. The salary will be paid out of COVID reimbursement funds.
On days that the substitute-teacher is not needed for instructional purposes, the individual will be employed in other programs within the district, "and not just sitting around."
Regarding sports, Principal Brian McDowell told the board that sports-team members are being allowed two attendance tickets each in order to reduce the numbers of spectators at the events, and only home-spectators are permitted to attend. The gyms are also cleared after each game and thoroughly disinfected.
In compliance with COVID restrictions, only 75-percent of the high school gym can be occupied at any given time. At the middle school, the percentage of occupants is reduced to 25-percent. Games are streamed by using cameras paid-for via COVID reimbursement funds.
In non-COVID related business, district Safety, Security and Loss Prevention Specialist Mike Weaver stated that the district has entered into signed memorandums of understanding (MOU) with Liberty Worship Center in Hamiltonban Township for using their grounds as a student-parent re-unification site … should there ever be an emergency to reach the degree that the district would have to be evacuated.
