TULSA, Okla. — Union Public Schools provided an update on the first week of classes and coronavirus case counts.
Students in the Union district started school on Monday, Aug. 24. Around 35 percent of students in the district are enrolled in virtual learning with the rest enrolled in in-person instruction.
Union officials said on the first day of in-person classes, a total of ten students tested positive for coronavirus and 25 students were in quarantine due to close contact. These students did not go to school. Also, six district employees tested positive for coronavirus and ten were in quarantine due to close contact.
This is a great reminder to parents, teachers, staff and students that we need to continue to be vigilant in monitoring for Covid-like symptoms. Students need to be kept home if they have a fever or other symptoms, or if anyone in their household has had a possible exposure to Covid-19 or is being tested. That’s the only way we can keep students safe and continue with in-person learning. Everyone needs to continue to mask up, follow physical distancing guidelines, and wash hands frequently.
The district's daily case count report shows all student and district staff COVID-19 cases. The report does not mean that people at the school or district site were exposed. Officials said the reported changes daily due to new cases being added and others coming off.
Below are the coronavirus exposures reported to students and parents at several Union Public Schools sites, according to a Union press release.
· Darnaby Elementary: Over the weekend, the district was notified that a student tested positive. The teacher and entire class have been quarantined due to close contact and moved to distance learning effective immediately.
· Jarman Elementary: Nine staff members and 13 students have been quarantined due to a student exhibiting possible symptoms and their parent’s positive test. The affected students have been moved to distance learning until results are available from staff tests. Parents have been advised to watch for symptoms and to contact their pediatrician should symptoms arise.
· Ellen Ochoa Elementary: A staff member is awaiting test results. They had close contact with another staff member who is also quarantining.
· Union Freshman Academy: A teacher aide tested positive and is in isolation. Contact tracing revealed no students or staff had close contact
· Union’s Education Service Center: A department at the district’s administrative offices has been quarantined due to close contact with a Covid-positive staff member. They will be working remotely from home until test results are available.
Prior to the start of school, 1,150 Union Public Schools employees voluntarily took a COVID-19 antibody test. Of those, 11 tests had positive results for coronavirus antibodies. The 11 employees took coronavirus tests. Six of the 11 employees tested positive for the virus and only two of the positive cases for teachers for Union.
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