The first week of classes ended with 15 active COVID-19 cases in the Alachua County Public Schools district. Active cases are defined as any case reported in the last two weeks, the incubation period for COVID-19.
It’s the week that seemed like it would never come. After weeks of revised plans and pushed back start dates, ACPS made it through the first week of school. Now, COVID-19 cases are up, and there is continued flux as students, teachers and parents adjust to new learning environments.
By the end of the school day Monday, a classroom was already in quarantine. Now, active cases around the district have slightly increased.
All children, whether in Digital Academy or Alachua eSchool, can now also get free meals starting Tuesday. Previously, Alachua eSchool students were not eligible for the National School Lunch Program. There were nine more distribution sites added across Alachua County.
ACPS reported a student COVID-19 case at Fort Clarke and Oakview Middle Schools. There is a staff case at Bishop Middle School. Active cases are also at Idylwild, Irby and Lake Forest Elementary Schools, according to ACPS’ COVID-19 tracker. There are no publicly reported cases in high schools or special learning centers.
There is also only one reported case of the virus in the district office, according to the tracker. At least nine staff members have also tested positive for COVID-19. However, the dashboard isn’t displaying the schools where the cases occurred.
One of the active student cases that was listed was not in school at all this week, said Jackie Johnson, ACPS spokesperson. She said two classrooms and a handful of other students are having to isolate, including the kids with the positive results.
Parents should keep their children home if they are sick, have tested positive or have had significant contact with a positive case, which the district defines as within 6 feet for 15 minutes during the last two weeks, she said.
Johnson said two of the positive student cases involved scenarios where families should not have sent their children to school. If students have had sustained contact with someone known to have a positive test, or are awaiting test results, they should not come to class.
On the second day of school, about 1,600 students switched over to brick-and-mortar learning from online. Schedulers are working to meet needs, but parents are encouraged to keep their students in place for at least nine weeks, said Jennifer Wise, the ACPS K-12 curriculum executive director, at a Tuesday school board meeting.
Classes resume Tuesday after Labor Day weekend.
This article has been updated to reflect two more cases reported, a student and staff member.
