Coronavirus, cohorts, and quarantine: how Greeley-Evans School District 6 and the University of Northern Colorado are navigating COVID
Greeley-Evans School District 6 works to navigate the school year as COVID-19 remains a constant presence. Photo by Kelly Ragan.
By Kelly Ragan
At least two Greeley-Evans School District 6 elementary schools announced a two week closure this week, with several other schools sending cohorts of students online to quarantine. But don’t panic – so far educators say the systems put into place are working like they should.
Jackson Elementary School and Frontier Academy Elementary School announced Monday they’d both go online for two weeks and then return to in-person learning.
In a letter to parents, Superintendent Deirdre Pilch and Principal Ingrid Dillehay explained the decision to close Jackson.
On Saturday, someone who’d been in contact with a fourth grade cohort tested positive for COVID-19. At least three adults and 22 students had been exposed. Those who were considered to be high risk for exposure were asked to quarantine for 14 days.
“Because this is the second quarantine in one week, we have decided that Jackson should stop in person learning for the next 14 days and have students and staff move to remote learning,” according to the letter. “This will allow time for students and staff to be away from each other and stop any further transmission of COVID-19. It will also allow for additional sanitizing and disinfecting at the school.”
In an interview with KUNC, Pilch said the district was prepared.
“This is not unexpected,” Pilch said. “We’ve come to expect the unexpected. We knew anything could happen.”
While Jackson didn’t meet the threshold for an outbreak by Tuesday, Pilch said she anticipated it would by the end of the week, so it made sense to close the school and give staff a chance to disinfect the building.
Frontier Academy, one of District 6’s charter schools, decided to go remote partly because of the number of staff impacted by the quarantine, Pilch said, and partly because of the number of runny noses staff saw in other cohorts.
According to a report by the Greeley Tribune, by Wednesday, at least eight schools had been impacted by cohort quarantines or closures.
Greeley Central High School
Northridge High School
Franklin Middle School
Frontier Academy Elementary
Jackson Elementary School
Prairie Heights Middle School
Shawsheen Elementary School
District 6 Early Childhood Center at Aims
In an interview with the NoCo Optimist Aug. 28, Greeley Education Association President Andi Lee said for the most part, the system seems to be working.
“Things are very, very busy, but they’re going about as well as to be expected,” Lee said.
Besides various cohorts moving online to quarantine, some families are still in the process of voluntarily switching from brick and mortar classes to online and vice versa.
“Parents are changing their minds,” Lee said. “As parents are discovering the reality of it all and experiencing it, they may make the switch one way or another.”
That kind of back-and-forth, she said, can strain the system and make for larger-than-expected class sizes. It can also set students back for a time because the curriculum for online and in-person learning aren’t identical, she said.
But, she said, teachers have always dealt with movement in the system, whether kids move or transfer during the school year.
“It’s just more movement than normal,” Lee said. “I’m not saying that it won’t be managed.”
How are things going at UNC?
The University of Northern Colorado has reported seven confirmed COVID-19 cases throughout the month of August. Six of the seven reported cases came from students. So far, only one has come from a university employee.
In July, the university reported nine cases, all students.
According to its website, UNC is only reporting confirmed cases that have an on-campus impact.
In an email, Katie-Leigh Corder, spokesperson for the university, offered some insight on how UNC is set up to handle COVID-19 cases.
“We have identified approximately 80 isolation and quarantine rooms, including an entire residence hall,” Corder said. “Our team is prepared to deliver meals and resources to students who may transition into those rooms.”
Corder said students with COVID-19 symptoms can get tested at the UNC Student Health Center as long as they call first.
As it stands, UNC is holding fast to a mix of in-person, online and hybrid courses this semester.
Colorado College, based in Colorado Springs, became the first institution of higher education in the state to move from in-person learning to remote learning.
According to a report by the Colorado Sun, the move came after several dorms had to be quarantined.
Colorado’s other large universities, such as the University of Colorado in Boulder and Colorado State University are – so far – still committed to hybrid learning models, according to the Sun.
Across the country, University of North Carolina, State University of New York at Oneonta and Temple University have moved online, either temporarily or for the rest of the year.
What would it take for Greeley-Evans School District 6 to change course?
As it stands, this is what would have to happen for District 6 to move to 100% remote learning:
10% or greater positivity rate in Weld County
10% or greater COVID-19 related absence in multiple schools
10% or greater student or staff absence districtwide
Dramatically increasing hospitalization rates
Significant increase in rates of new cases per 100,000 people
New guidance from health officials and/or an executive order from Gov. Jared Polis
Weld County COVID-19 numbers as of Wednesday
According to the Weld County Department of Health and Environment, COVID-19 numbers look like this:
4,103 confirmed cases
3.48% positivity rate
94 fatalities due to COVID
According to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment, 146 people in Weld County have died with COVID-19, meaning COVID-19 was not listed as the primary cause of death. The Weld health department does not display those numbers.