Ell-Saline Superintendent Brian Rowley has confirmed that the middle and high school level students of USD 307 will learn remotely for this Thursday and Friday, November 11 and 12.
Students will return to in class learning on Monday, November 15. However, a mandatory mask policy will be in place.
The decision comes from the USD 307 school board meeting this past Monday, where board members added to the district's current COVID-19 policy.
It was decided then, that if the student absence rate reaches 30%, a 2-week mask policy would be in place. In addition, if the student absence rate reaches 40%, the school to which this applies would have all students learn remotely for up to 4 days.
Superintendent Rowley stated that early in the school day of Tuesday, November 9, the student absence rate was 30%. Shortly thereafter, the student absence rate was 42%.
With those numbers, Rowley says "we are in masks for the next two weeks, but we are also going to take this Thursday and Friday to learn remotely, and use that time to get the building clean."
Keep in mind that this is for the middle and high school only. Ell-Saline Elementary School is currently not affected.
This decision is based off of total attendance, not necessarily COVID-19 numbers. Brian says that there are currently only six COVID-19 cases within the school.
As for the building staff, there are currently three members who have tested positive, while another staff member is in quarantine, and another taking care of a family member.
Rowley says that the elementary school is currently at 12%, which he says is normal.
When the middle and high school students return to the building on Monday, November 15, the 2-week mask mandate will take the students right up to Thanksgiving break.
Activities will continue as normal, with spectators needing to adhere to the mask mandate.
