By Mitchell Kirk
HANCOCK COUNTY — After a week of districtwide virtual learning, Southern Hancock schools will return to in-person instruction on Monday, Oct. 26.
New Palestine High School switched to virtual learning on Oct. 9, the day before fall break. It and the rest of the district’s schools were virtual this week, the first week after break. Before fall break, the district had five COVID-19 cases — not all in the same building — and the Hancock County Health Department saw potential for community spread. The district said at the time that it planned to resume in-person school by Monday, Oct. 26.
In a letter to Southern Hancock families Thursday, Superintendent Lisa Lantrip confirmed that date for all six of the district’s buildings.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends close contacts of those with COVID-19 to quarantine for 14 days. Southern Hancock’s week of fall break followed by the week of virtual learning means that any close contacts would now be cleared, district spokesman Wes Anderson said.
“That was always our plan all along, and we’re excited to have our kids back on Monday,” Anderson said.
In her letter, Lantrip said there are several things families can do to help keep schools open, including keeping students home when sick, wearing masks at school events, getting flu shots, following quarantine procedures and notifying the school corporation when a child gets sick or tests positive for the novel coronavirus.
The Indiana State Department of Health’s online COVID-19 dashboard for schools was updated Monday, Oct. 19, with data as of Friday, Oct. 16. It reported three new student cases among New Palestine High School students, raising the total to 11, and fewer than five new staff cases. The total number of staff cases remains under five. The dashboard also reported fewer than five new student cases among New Palestine Jr. High School students for a total of fewer than five.
Fewer than five new cases were reported at Eastern Hancock High School for a total of fewer than five as well, according to the dashboard.
No change from the week before was reported for any of the other schools in the county.
Greenfield-Central High School continues to prepare for a change to its schedule. Beginning Nov. 2, students will attend onsite four days a week, with Wednesdays being a virtual day. The high school has been on a hybrid schedule during which half the student body attends in-person and online on alternating days.
“We will, of course, continue to follow the cases in our townships and listen to the guidance of the Hancock County Health Department,” Greenfield-Central Schools superintendent Harold Olin said.
