Montgomery County schools may be turning to full remote-learning options in the wake of a sharp rise in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases this holiday season.
With a 13.8% seven-day positivity rate (and climbing) in the county as of Wednesday, Dec. 9, the figure is putting area schools uncomfortably close to a 15% threshold when the Indiana State Department of Health and Department of Education recommend they move to remote-distance learning for all students.
Crawfordsville Superintendent Dr. Scott Bowling discussed the issue of rising cases Thursday with the district’s board of trustees, citing both positive and concerning trends seen across the district.
“On a positive note, [Crawfordsville High School] reported out they have far fewer failing grades since we’ve done full [in-person] instruction,” he said. “On the educational side of things, that has seemed to work out very well.”
Other bright spots include testing for COVID-19 at schools (tests are administered only with parental consent) and a potential vaccine for the virus in 2021, creating a momentum shift in talks between educators and area health officers.
“We’ve begun limited testing at the schools. It’s mostly been staff so far. That’s been a nice thing that we’ve been able to offer. We think it’s going to be especially nice as we try to navigate the second semester,” Bowling said. “The number one topic on [MCHD Administrator Amber Reed’s] mind is getting that vaccine deployed.
“I always appreciate hearing that because it makes me realize, ‘OK, this is coming and it’s coming soon,’” he added. “The projected timeline for educators is late January or early February. There’s no guarantee with that; it’s just our best guess.”
Alongside Southmont and North Montgomery, Crawfordsville has largely reported COVID-19 among staff members as much higher than among students. However, following the Thanksgiving holiday, the ratio has made an about-face.
Between Monday and Wednesday last week — one week after students returned from break — a total of 18 students and one staff member tested positive as new cases for the virus.
“We thought we might see a post-Thanksgiving surge of some sort, and I would classify it as ... it’s emerging, especially just over the past couple of days,” Bowling said Thursday. “Earlier in the week, Hoover nearly reached the breaking point from a staff perspective.”
When a student or staff member tests positive, contact tracing and subsequent quarantines follow for anyone known to have come into close contact with the individual, as arranged by the health department.
Whether staff or student, the number of those associated and placed into quarantine vary greatly.
“One student-positive can quarantine no one or it can quarantine hundreds of kids and a teacher, or two or three teachers,” Bowling said.
As COVID-19 data is updated each week at www.coronavirus.in.gov (which includes color-coded maps of the Hoosier state), administrators will continue working closely with health officials.
For more information about COVID-19, and for those who may have potential exposure, contact the Montgomery County Health Department at 765-364-6440 or a healthcare provider.
Parents with questions may contact the district at 765-362-2342 or attend the next regularly scheduled public session for the board of trustees, set for 6 p.m. Jan. 14 in the LGI Room at Crawfordsville Middle School, 705 Wallace Ave.
