Jeffco schools see handful of COVID-19 cases in first week back

Lakewood elementary goes temporarily online to avoid spread

Staff report
Posted 9/14/20

Jeffco Public Schools had a slow, but not unscathed, first week of in-person learning for the 2020-2021 school year, in terms positive COVID-19 cases. For many of the district's 84,500 students Sept. …

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Jeffco schools see handful of COVID-19 cases in first week back

Lakewood elementary goes temporarily online to avoid spread

Posted

Jeffco Public Schools had a slow, but not unscathed, first week of in-person learning for the 2020-2021 school year, in terms positive COVID-19 cases.

For many of the district's 84,500 students Sept. 8 marked the first day of in-person learning for the year, after an initial two weeks of remote learning and standardized testing. As of Sept. 14, the district had confirmed 24 positive staff cases, and 15 positive student cases.

Elementary students were given the option this year to either learn 100% in-person, or entirely remote. Middle and high school students were given the option between a hybrid schedule (learning half the time in class and half remotely) and 100% remote.

The hardest-hit school has been Deane Elementary, where an outbreak among staff members led to all learning to go online only beginning Sept. 8, and going through Sept. 22.

"We are so thankful for the support our families have provided to ensure your child is successful," Dean K-6 Principal Megan Martinez told her school community in a video announcement on Sept. 11. "We know it was a quick and unfortunate transition for our families that have selected in-person learning."

A running total of cases and quarantines indicate a slow trickle of new infections from across the district last week. On Monday, Sept. 8 a Pomona High School student tested positive, and their sibling was placed in quarantine. The following day, the sibling tested positive as well. In several cases, students that had tested positive had not yet been in attendance at their schools, avoiding wider potential exposure.

Still, several schools haven't been so lucky. Broader quarantines as of Sept. 14 include the following:

• One Dakota Ridge student tested positive on Sept. 10, triggering the quarantining of four student cohorts — 49 students and 4 teachers.

• Following possible exposure on the Warren Tech Central campus, 22 students, 6 staff have been quarantined.

• Kullerstrand Elementary has18 students and 6 staff quarantined.

• One positive staff case at D'Evelyn Jr. Sr. High School has resulted in four other staff and two students to be quarantined.

• A trickle of positive staff and student cases at Bear Creek High School has led to four student cohorts being quarantined, plus a football cohort, totalling 48 people.

School districts around the metro area, including Denver, Westminster 50, Cherry Creek and Douglas County, have seen similar outbreaks, and instituted quarantines related to COVID-19 in recent days.

COVID-19, Jeffco Schools, quarantine, Bear Creek, Dakota Ridge, cohorts.

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