Board will receive update on COVID-19 transmission rate
by Dennis Rahm
During their most recent meeting, the Lake Chelan School Board voted 3-2 to approve a return to in-person learning for grades 7 through 12. As it stands now, grades 7 and 8 will return to the classroom in half-day sessions beginning Monday, December 7 while grades 9-12 are scheduled to follow suit on December 14.
The purpose of the Wednesday special board meeting is receive the most updated numbers on COVID-19 transmission rates. The board approval last week was based on transmission rates not increasing substantially.
School District Superintendent Barry DePaoli said there are some concerns about a rise of COVID rates following the Thanksgiving break. DePaoli said the board will be able to review the most current transmission rate data. He said if there has been a noticeable spike in local transmission numbers, the Board will then consider postponing the next phase of in-person learning.
Two weeks ago a student at Morgan Owings Elementary tested positive. That resulted in about ten students and a teacher from one of the morning groups being quarantined for 14 days. Also, one MOE teacher had also tested positive resulting in that teacher, a co-teacher and two classrooms being quarantined.
The special meeting of the Lake Chelan School Board will convene on Wednesday at 5 pm.
This zoom Board meeting will be available to view by staff members, students and community members via video conferencing. If you would like to attend this meeting via phone or computer, please contact Georgia Mashayekh at 509-682-3515 prior to 2:00pm on Wed. 12/2 to learn how to connect.
For additional information, please visit the School District website.
Update: 12/2/2020, since this story was published, the School District has issued the following statement.
As of this morning, the school district has been informed that two staff members at Morgen Owings Elementary were exposed to a family member who tested positive for COVID-19. The exposure was outside of the school campus. As per school and health district protocol, both staff members will remain at home under quarantine guidelines.
