USD 251 had been planning to send sixth-grade students at North Lyon County Elementary home for remote learning starting Friday after two COVID-19 cases were reported in students this week. However, it turned out one of those cases was mislabeled by the state.
The district had reached out to parents with the initial plans — only to call them back to say everything was on as normal. Superintendent Bob Blair says it is a disappointing development given the amount of time and energy spent Thursday to set up the needed quarantine period. However, he says this incident shows how flexible the district’s COVID-19 response plans are.
Blair also commended Newman Regional Health for discovering the mistake and working with the district and Lyon County Public Health.
Blair says the other positive case was accurate, however, a quarantine will not be necessary as that individual was not in school during the infectious period and did not have any close contact with classmates or staff according to Lyon County Public Health.
7 pm Thursday: USD 251 reversing decision on sixth grade remote only education following mislabeled COVID-19 test Thursday
Best laid plans went awry for USD 251 North Lyon County Thursday, however, Superintendent Bob Blair says that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
The district was set to move the sixth-grade class at North Lyon County Elementary School fully online following the announcement of two positive COVID-19 cases in students Thursday. However, minutes after speaking with KVOE News on the matter Blair stated that would no longer be necessary as one of the cases had been mislabeled as positive by the state of Kansas.
Accordingly, Blair says the district is currently working to contact all parents of previously the class will be attending in-person education as originally scheduled Friday. Blair says the other positive case was accurate, however, a quarantine will not be necessary as that individual was not in school during the infectious period and did not have any close contact with classmates or staff according to Lyon County Public Health.
Blair says it is a disappointing development given the amount of time and energy spent Thursday to accommodate the needed quarantine period, however, the silver lining is their students will be able to attend class in-person and the district is better prepared for if this situation arises in the future.
KVOE will have additional comments from Blair Friday morning.
