ALLEGHANY COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) — An elementary school in Alleghany County is switching to virtual learning until at least early January following coronavirus exposure among a significant portion of the school’s staff members.
According to Alleghany County Public Schools, the Division Central Office was notified on Wednesday, Dec. 9, about a suspected positive COVID-19 case involving a staff member at Callaghan Elementary School.
Through contact tracing practices, school officials say it was determined that Callaghan Elementary School met the threshold of a 20 percent staff exposure rate in the building.
As a result, based on “best practice” and a recommendation from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), the Callaghan Elementary School building will stay mostly empty through Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, according to the school division.
Meanwhile, from Thursday, Dec. 10, until Tuesday, Dec. 22, Amherst County Public Schools says Callaghan Elementary School students should attend virtual classes. However, in-person instruction is tentatively scheduled to resume on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, through the A/B hybrid, blended model.
School officials say personnel and other staff will be contacted directly by their supervisors to discuss placements, hours, and/or days during the building vacancy.
This news comes after Alleghany County Public Schools resumed in-person learning on Nov. 30 following a temporary virtual learning period that began two weeks earlier.
Meanwhile, Callaghan student meals will reportedly be available for pickup at Callaghan Elementary from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
In addition, between Monday, Dec. 14, and Monday, Dec. 21, school officials say meal deliveries will also be offered in the Callaghan and Boiling Spring areas on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday based on the following schedule:
Boiling Spring Area:
- Persinger Memorial United Methodist Church from 11 to 11:20 a.m.
- Boiling Springs Elementary School from 11:30 to 11:50 a.m.
- Lone Star Baptist Church from noon to 12:20 p.m.
- Pinnell Chapel United Methodist Church from 12:30 to 12:50 p.m.
Callaghan Area:
- Alleghany County Social Services Department from 11 to 11:20 a.m.
- Dunlap Fire and Rescue Department from 11:40am to noon
- Cole Amusement Company from 12:10 to 12:30 p.m.
Whether you opt for meal pickup or meal delivery, the school division says two days’ worth of meals will be provided
“Be assured that Alleghany County Public Schools continue to monitor and process a great deal of information as it pertains to COVID-19 in order to ensure the safety of all students, faculty, and staff and know that safety is paramount to us,” Alleghany County Public Schools wrote on Facebook.
For more information, check out the school division’s website and social media.
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