Nine staff members and 10 students have been forced into quarantine after an employee at McNinch Elementary and one at Sherrard Middle tested positive for COVID-19.
Shelby Haines, superintendent of Marshall County Schools, closed both of the schools Sunday evening.
“Some people were happy about the closings, but some people were not,” Haines explained. “We’re just trying to be as safe as possible, and we’re following the guidelines that have been issue by the state. I hate it for the kids and for the teachers because everyone was just so excited to see the kids last week.
“It was like there was a little bit of normalcy again, and it felt good for everyone involved,” she said. “There were a number of staff members at McNinch who were exposed, but at Sherrard Middle there are number of those students who now need to quarantine. It’s so unfortunate because it felt very good for our kids, their parents, and our teachers and our staff members.”
Prep and Precautions
Haines guided the district’s employees since school closure initially took place in mid-March, and during the summer break the system’s faculty members and class aides developed improved learning platforms for the K-12 students.
“Our teachers did a lot of work over the summer months so they were prepared for whatever the beginning of the year was going to look like,” Haines explained. “They also took courses on the software that is being used for the virtual learning platform that was selected so they were very well versed with that system and how it works. That’s why, when Sept. 8 finally arrived, we were ready for both in-person and online learning.
“Our service personnel has worked very hard, as well, to get our buildings as clean as they could be when the teachers, the staff, and the children returned, and they continue to work diligently to ensure everyone’s safety,” she said. “I have been very impressed with everyone involved because getting those kids back safely with their teachers was everyone’s goal, and we will continue to take all of the precautions that we have been since the beginning of the school year.”
Health Department Help
Haines is very thankful for the cooperation that she has received from the staff of the Marshall County Health Department, including Administrator Tom Cook, although the health department is now closed to the public after a staff member tested positive for the coronavirus.
“I am in constant contact with Tom Cook with the Marshall County Health Department, and I believe we are very lucky to have Tom in that position,” Haines said. “Since the beginning, he’s always been there for this school system, and that’s been very important to us.
“Now, according to the health department, the students do have to quarantine for the 14 days, but as far as our employees are concerned, we have told them that they can stay out for the 14 days, or they could come back sooner if they have a negative test. That’s possible because those employees are essential employees.”
