Irving and Lowell Elementary Schools in Winfield are the latest area schools to revert fully to remote learning, beginning immediately, according to USD 465 Thursday.
Both schools said wide exposure of staff and students to COVID-19 is the reason for the change and hope to be back to in-person learning after the Thanksgiving break.
Also, any planned activities for students are suspended until after Thanksgiving break.
Many students and staff have had exposure to a COVID-related incident and this is the clearest way to preserve the health and safety of the school, the district said. No staff member has been identified as testing positive.
All students will receive a device to take home.
For families currently without adequate internet access, the district can reimburse up to $40 per month to aid with remote learning. Families are responsible for making arrangements with a provider and then can bring receipts to the district office for reimbursement. Register for this reimbursement program at the district office by calling 620-221-5100.
Bulk meal pick up is also available for Friday. This is a meal bundle with five breakfasts and five lunches. Pick up time is between 1-2 p.m. at the south side of the building. No reservations are necessary for this distribution.
“Students and staff will continue to follow our health and safety protocols while on buses and in school buildings,” the school district said. “We will notify you of any additional information that is available to us. The health and safety of our families continues to be our highest priority.”
Winfield Middle School and Winfield High School reverted to full remote learning this week.
Ark City Middle School, along with Adams, Roosevelt and Jefferson elementary schools within USD 470 have also closed this week and reverted to remote learning until at least the Thanksgiving break or until the end of the month.
Wednesday, Ark City Presbyterian Manor reported a third resident has died due to the virus.
Total deaths in Cowley County associated with the virus are now estimated to be 12, though local information on deaths via the City-Cowley County Health Department have been removed from its website and instead directs to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s website, which does not show the number of deaths for each county.
Statewide, total cases now number 109,225 since a national emergency proclamation was issued by the White House on March 13. Deaths across the state now number 1,215 since March and 34 new deaths have been tallied since Monday.
Cowley County has seen 150 new cases since Friday and 253 new cases since last Monday, Nov. 2. Overall, 861 cases have been confirmed in the county so far since March, according to KDHE Wednesday.
