More than halfway through the first quarter, slightly above 100 students and staff members in Alachua County Public Schools have tested positive for COVID-19.
Parents were able to see their students’ interim progress reports as the Nov. 2 first quarter end approaches. As of Friday afternoon, there are 69 students and 35 staff members who had or currently have COVID-19 since the start of school on Aug. 31, according to the district COVID-19 dashboard.
The numbers reflect an increase from last week of 10 student cases and 6 staff cases.
There are four student cases in Glen Springs, Metcalfe, Newberry and Wiles Elementary Schools. Two staff members at Hidden Oak and another at Norton tested positive for the virus.
Middle school cases have more than doubled from last week, when there were six total cases between students and staff. Currently, there are eight active student cases at Howard Bishop and two others at Westwood. Oak View has two student cases and one staff case. A staff member at Mebane also tested positive.
Newberry High School has the most cases in the district, with 17 confirmed student cases and one staff case. Last week, the school had 15 student cases and 3 staff cases. Buchholz and Santa Fe High Schools each have one reported student case. Gainesville High School has a student case and a staff case.
There are five staff cases in district departments.
Middle and high schools continue to have more COVID-19 cases than in elementary schools. According to district totals, there are 31 elementary school students and staff cases compared to 65 students and staff in middle and high schools.
There are 139 people quarantined, which means they had contact with a positive case, ACPS spokesperson Jackie Johnson said. As of Thursday afternoon, 10 people at Newberry High School and 48 people at Gainesville High School are quarantined, she added.
Class volunteering opportunities will resume next week for the first time since school closures in March. Because of COVID-19 guidelines, all volunteering opportunities will be through Zoom. Volunteers will help teachers answer questions and also monitor trends, such as which students are missing classes or whose internet connections drop.Those wishing to become volunteers should attend an orientation by signing up via a Google Form or visiting ACPS’ Volunteer and Business Partnership Program webpage.
