Maconaquah schools switch to virtual learning amid student spread of COVID

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BUNKER HILL, Ind. (WISH) — Maconaquah School Corp. successful Miami County announced Tuesday it volition power to virtual learning and cancel each extracurricular activates done Aug. 29 owed to concerns astir the dispersed of the coronavirus.

The territory is astatine slightest the 2nd successful Indiana to spell to virtual learning since the commencement of the schoolhouse year. Shenandoah School Corp., a territory of astir 1,400 students successful northwestern Henry County, said Sunday distant learning volition beryllium underway for astatine slightest the adjacent 2 weeks, based connected a directive from the Henry County Health Department.

Maconaquah has astir 2,100 students. Its 2 elementaries had absentee rates of much than 30%, portion the mediate schoolhouse complaint was astatine astir 50% and the precocious schoolhouse astatine astir 65%. Contract tracing showed the coronavirus was being dispersed from pupil to student, the territory said. Classes began successful the territory connected Aug. 2.

Thirteen unit members and 7 autobus drivers successful the territory besides tested affirmative for COVID-19.

“We admit the inconvenience and are moving diligently to plan a program that volition let america to instrumentality and stay successful idiosyncratic for the remainder of the schoolhouse year. Our extremity is for our students to beryllium contiguous successful our classrooms each day,” the territory said successful a connection connected its website. “We apologize for immoderate inconvenience this whitethorn cause, but with pupil wellness and information astatine risk, we consciousness this is the champion determination astatine this time. We promote immoderate genitor with questions oregon concerns astir their child’s acquisition oregon well-being to scope retired to your gathering principal.”

Free meals volition beryllium provided, with deliveries connected Aug. 25 and 26.

News 8 reached retired Tuesday day to a spokesperson for the Indiana Department of Education to larn if different authorities schoolhouse districts are switching to virtual learning, oregon if the authorities is keeping way of specified changes. The spokesperson said the authorities could perchance way the accusation done school-reported pupil attendance data, but it could beryllium outdated and instrumentality clip to bring together.