Republic R-3 students, staff quarantined after COVID confirmations

 Positive cases show up in multiple schools across district
Steve Chapman
Six students of the Republic School District and two school employees tested positive for COVID-19 last week and are in quarantine, according to notifications posted on the Health Updates page of the district’s website.
On Monday, Sept. 7, the district reported that three Republic High School students and an employee at Schofield Elementary had tested positive for the virus. The employee was already in quarantine, so no students or employees came into contact with them while they were contagious. The high school students were on campus while contagious on Aug. 28, Aug. 31, Sept. 1 and Sept. 3.
On Wednesday, Sept. 9, the district reported that two Sweeny Elementary students tested positive for the virus; they were on campus while contagious on Sept. 2, Sept. 3 and Sept. 4.
On Thursday, Sept. 10, three additional cases were reported; ...
 an Early Childhood Center employee, a high school student and a middle school student. The employee was not on campus while contagious. The high school student was last in class on Sept. 4, and the middle school student was on campus and contagious on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.
According to the notices, all students and employees who were exposed to the individuals who tested positive for the virus were individually contacted by phone; those needing to self-isolate and go into quarantine were directed to do so. District sanitation practices were immediately implemented as well.
In reply to a media inquiry, Josey McPhail, director of communications, said that all students who have tested positive for the virus or are needing to quarantine will be able to continue their studies online.
“We have virtual learning resources that their individual teachers will support them with while they are away from school,” she said.
McPhail also said the district is optimistic that they will continue to have seated classes for the rest of the school year but will also continue to monitor the presence of COVID in the district and the community to determine what courses of action are in the best interests of the students.
“The district is hopeful to remain in Phase One as much as possible throughout the school year,” she said. “However, we will continue to monitor the number of COVID-19 related absences in our district along with monitor the disease in our community at large to determine if there is a need to move to a different phase of our RepMO Return to Learn plan.”
The cases have had some impact on athletics. Currently, 22 students and two employees associated with the high school softball program, as well as 23 students and two employees associated with the volleyball program, are in quarantine, requiring the rescheduling of some games.
Additional data about COVID-19, strategies to help stop the spread of the virus and other information, including earlier exposure notifications, can be found online at the Health Updates page of the district’s website at www.republicschools.org/healthupdates.