In-school attendance down in Galesburg; 40% of Churchill students not in-person
GALESBURG COVID cases in Galesburg District 205 seem to be causing caution for families of students in other buildings.
Galesburg High School is remaining closed for approximately two weeks, but at other buildings, attendance has been impacted as well.
At Churchill Junior High, which teaches seventh and eighth graders, student absences appear to be on the rise.
At Churchill, 590 students are enrolled, with 91 students are learning remotely in the fourth quarter and another 54 are currently quarantined.
It appears that some of Churchill’s student body has been staying out of the building. The district says 91 were absent Thursday, and 93 were absent Friday.
GALESBURG King Elementary school will close Friday for just over two weeks.
This news comes after the elementary school has reached five positive COVID-19 cases, constituting an outbreak of the coronavirus. Students will be out of class until Monday, May 10.
Students still finished the school day Thursday at King, but will not return Friday. This marks the second building in District 205 to be closed, following the closure of Galesburg High School Monday due to an outbreak of COVID-19. That building is set to reopen on May 3.
Until then, students at both schools will be learning remotely.
Both of these decisions were made with the advice of the Knox County Health Department.
The shift is expected to last through May 9, according to District spokeswoman, Amy Pickrel.
She says they made this decision in cooperation with the Knox County Health Department.
There still will be a time where students can pick up meals. That will be at GHS’ West Circle Drive, Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., and then 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Already Galesburg High School was on remote learning until May 2, due to two separate outbreaks.
King is the only new District 205 school going to temporary remote learning, but they’ll continue to monitor the number of COVID-19 positive cases at all District schools.
Doses administered: 30,922
He went on to say this shutdown is not total. Students will be learning remotely, but extracurriculars and sports will continue at the high school as before.
The nine cases are reportedly split between two groups that have been traced together. At least one case each has also been found at Lombard, Churchill and King. For now, those schools are staying open.
“It could come to pass that we would be making a decision on these other buildings if it gets worse,” Asplund said. “For now, the facts dictate that we keep going.”
He could not say how many students or staff were currently under quarantine in the district.