Small school districts can face big challenges when COVID-19 cases spread. The Burke School District was forced to put in-person classes on hold this week when 20% of its staff tested positive for the coronavirus.
Superintendent Erik Person says even a handful of cases can make a huge impact on a school district like his.
“Among our staff right now we have eight active positive cases, and that’s on a staff of about 40 people, 22 teachers.”
Person says most of them should be recovered and returning to work by Monday. In the meantime, the district had to move to online learning.
“We invested some time and money bringing teachers in this summer and getting everyone district-wide on the same platform," he explains. "So that’s gone really, really well, but certainly not glitch free.”
The school board recently voted to require masks. Person says the board is also allowing families to select an at-home option.
“That wasn’t originally part of our plan, because we wanted to avoid teachers having to teach in that blended delivery model because that gets really tricky," he says. "But we’re kind of at that blended model already with the kids at home quarantining.”
Person hopes adding the at-home option will help thin out the more crowded classrooms. He adds the local hospital is planning mass COVID-19 testing next week.
The Burke School District is in Gregory County. As of Thursday, the Department of Health lists the county with 41 active cases and significant community spread.