Haxtun Schools moves to remote learning

Haxtun students moved to remote learning following a phone call to parents from Superintendent Darcy Garretson shortly after lunch on Thursday, Nov. 19. Students were released early from school that day and are expected to continue remote learning at home through Nov. 30.

Garretson's phone call was followed by a letter with additional details, including information on when students are expected to return to in-person learning. As of Tuesday, Nov. 24, students in Kindergarten through fifth grade are set to return to school on Dec. 1; students in grades sixth through 12th grade will return on Dec. 4; and preschool will resume on Dec. 8.

"Some grade levels have been exposed to a person who tested positive for COVID-19 and because of the number of staff members in quarantine, our entire district has been moved to remote learning," the letter explains.

One student or staff member at Haxtun Schools has tested positive to COVID-19 and each case is evaluated by the local public health department. As part of that investigation the person diagnosed is kept home from school until they are no longer infectious, the person's activities when they could have spread COVID-19 are assessed and people who were in close contact are instructed to stay home in quarantine for 14 after exposure.

"Because it is impossible to assess all interactions at school and because of the length of time which students and staff spend together, either in or outside of school, all cohort members in close contact to the diagnosed person, along with their teachers/sponsors, are considered close contacts," the letter goes on to state.

A follow up email from the school to parents the following day said a second case of COVID-19 within the District had been confirmed.

"Grades seventh through 12th are on quarantine/remote learning and should follow quarantine protocol suggested by the State," the email directs. "Grades preschool through sixth grade are not on quarantine. The school has gone remote learning due to not enough staff available to cover in-classroom learning."

All students and staff can return to school and normal activities on Tuesday, Dec. 1.

If your child develops symptoms consistent with COVID-19, the letter to parents suggests following all local health department instructions, having the child tested, continuing to keep the child home from school and avoid other activities around other people as well as sending notification to the school.

While the District is on remote learning free lunches will be provided and made available at the elementary school on days in which students would have been in school. For more information contact the school at (970) 774-6111.