The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation has been “very fortunate” when it comes to COVID-19, according to Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin.
“We have had three positive students and one positive staff member,” she told the school board Tuesday. “We were glad that fall break came when it did because the quarantining – it probably affected 50 students, and so you can see how easily it can affect your school.”
Zupin explained that when a positive case is reported, school officials use seating charts to quickly identify any close contacts. “In the last two cases we had, it took a half a day to identify, contact, and send them home,” Zupin said.
She said N.J.-S.P. plans to use the Indiana Department of Health’s color code recommendations as a guide, rather than a strict rule. Her plan is to keep school open for in-person learning, unless there isn’t enough staff to operate safely or health officials direct them to close. “I’m taking the stance that if we can be in school, we need to,” Zupin said. “The kids need and deserve that.”
Zupin estimated that about 50 elementary and junior high students switched from virtual to in-person learning for the second nine weeks. Senior high students will have to wait until the end of the semester.
The superintendent also reminded board members that the two planned eLearning days that were previously in the school calendar have been switched to regular school days, including one that was scheduled for next Monday.
