LASD switches to remote learning for two weeks due to COVID cases.

LASD switches to remote learning for two weeks due to COVID cases.

LUDINGTON — Ludington Area School District has switched all its students to remote learning for the next two weeks due to an increase in positive COVID-19 cases at the school. The district had closed on Monday, Nov. 2, to complete contract tracing due to two students being diagnosed with COVID-19. 

Because the district was scheduled to be closed today, Nov. 3, for staff professional development, the remote learning will begin when school resumes Wednesday, Nov. 4 and continue until Monday, Nov. 16.

“Contact tracing has been completed to determine the close contacts to the positive COVID-19 student cases,” a statement on the district’s website reads. “The District and District Health Department #10 have placed 115 students and 20 staff members on a 14 day quarantine. This quarantine period begins on the date that these individuals had their last exposure as a close contact to the positive COVID-19 cases. The return date for each of the close contacts will vary depending upon the date of that close contact’s last exposure to the positive COVID-19 case.”

The quarantined student and staff member close contacts to a positive COVID-19 case in each of the buildings include eight staff members from each Lakeview and Foster elementary schools along with 35 students from Lakeview and 19 from Foster. In addition, four staff members from Ludington High School, 23 students from OJ DeJonge Middle School and 38 students from LHS. 

“The District must make the difficult decision to move all in-person learners to remote learning, effective on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020. The District has reviewed these plans with Dr. Morse (medical director of the health department) and the DHD10 public health nurse, as well as with the District’s legal counsel. To be clear, this decision must be made because the District simply does not have access to enough qualified staff members to fill the vacancies created by quarantining 20 staff members as close contacts to positive cases. 

“School was not in session today, nor will it be in session tomorrow due to a previously scheduled professional development day for staff. As a result, the 14 days will begin with Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, as Friday, October 30 was our last day in session.”

In person instruction will resume on Monday, Nov. 16. 

“In-person learners will transition to remote learning with their teachers and classes that they have been assigned to and working with all year. Additional information from the teachers and buildings will be provided to students and families. Students who have already been learning in an online learning environment, whether that is 2A or 2B, will continue to be provided with this same instructional program during this transition. These learners will not see any change in their instructional delivery through any transition that takes place during the first trimester.”

For more information, click here. 

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