SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Jordan-Elbridge High School switched to a week of remote online learning Monday after a student tested positive for COVID-19.
Initially, the Central New York high school planned to move online for only a day or two. Contact tracing this weekend revealed the situation was much more serious than it at first seemed.
Jordan-Elbridge Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Dan Stadtmiller explained that the school closure was extended because of the number of staff members who were forced to quarantine after potential exposure.
“We have 10 staff members in quarantine, so we couldn’t provide enough staff members to staff the high school and run it effectively,” Stadtmiller said.
The infected student’s involvement in extracurricular activities is what led to such a long list of quarantining staff members.
Stadtmiller described the student as “an exemplary student of what we want here — someone highly involved in a lot of different activities at not just the school level but the community level.”
Stadtmiller added that school administrators understood the risk associated with offering a full menu of extracurricular activities this fall, but believed the benefits outweighed the risks.
“One of our biggest strengths sometimes can hurt us,” he said. “Our kids are very highly involved here.”
The school closure has impacted those very same extracurricular activities that Jordan-Elbridge was so intent on keeping active, as in-person activities are on pause this week. For athletic events, that means either postponement or outright cancellation.
Stadtmiller plans to reschedule as many games as possible.
“The safety of all students is first and foremost,” he said. “Bbut we know how important extracurriculars are to a well-rounded student.”
Jordan-Elbridge High had made it through the semester without closing in-person classes because of COVID-19. Stadtmiller believes this run-in with the coronavirus serves as a reminder that students must remain vigilant in adhering to safety protocols.
“We can’t let our guard down,” he said. “Even when things are going well, we still need to be following the procedures and protocols that are in place.”
Students will return for in-person instruction Oct. 26.
