Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools Superintendent Allen Bourff painted a bleak COVID-19 picture for the school board Wednesday night, but the board followed his recommendation to bring grades 5 and 6 back to 100 percent for in-person classes beginning Monday, Nov. 2, with the caveat that the decision could change if COVID-19 numbers increase.
Bourff
Here are the numbers Dr. Bourff presented to the board:
- Monday through Wednesday this week, 125 students had close contact with students testing positive: 115 students had COVID symptoms. There were 12 positive student tests, with a total of 252 affected.
- All of last week, 250 students were affected by COVID.
- The district has seen an uptick in staff members impacted: 23 affected as close contact, eight with symptoms and two positive test results.
Hamilton Southeastern Education Association President Janet Chandler presented survey results from teachers showing high levels of stress among the teaching staff.
But Dr. Bourff says the school corporation has some good news: The systems in place are reacting quickly when responding to the virus.
The HSE Royals varsity football game with Brownsburg has been canceled this week. In a message sent to families with students at HSE High School, parents were advised there was at least one positive test for a football player, with many others identified as in close contact with at least one player testing positive for the virus. Due to the number of players in close contact, the decision was made to cancel this week’s game, according to the message.
The board voted unanimously to bring grades 5 and 6 in-person into classrooms 100 percent staring Nov. 2; however, Dr. Bourff told board members the week following fall break will allow school officials to evaluate health data before following through with the grades 5 and 6 decision.
Bourff also recommended providing the virtual option for parents choosing that method of instruction through the end of the second semester. The board approved that proposal on a 6-1 vote, with Sylvia Shepler saying her “no” vote was due to the lack of specificity on how virtual will work moving forward.