After a spike in the number of quarantines in the district over this past weekend, the Marshall Public School District administrative team made the decision to suspend in-person learning for all students.
Superintendent Dr. Carol Maher says the team made the decision due to such a high number of quarantines- more than 200- in the district, and the number of quarantined persons had not been addressed in the district’s “Returning to Learning Plan.” She said that’s why the district has temporarily suspended the plan.
Dr. Maher said as this unfolded over the weekend, and the numbers climbed more and more, she said after consulting with the central office administrative team, she decided “that we needed to try to slow down this significant increase in the number of our students and teachers who could not come to school by trying to place some distance between us.”
Dr. Maher said since Wednesdays have been virtual learning days in the district since the beginning of the year, Thursday, October 1, is actually the day when the district will go to virtual learning for the entire student body. She said: “We hope this doesn’t last the entire two weeks we have placed on it. We would love to come back to school. If the numbers go down and stay down for probably three days, then we can open up the school to the kids who were here.”
According to information provided by Dr. Maher, the district currently has six total positive cases of COVID-19, but there are 230 staff members and students in quarantine due to being deemed close contacts of those individuals. There are 593 students who have been learning virtually since the beginning of the school year on September 2.
Dr. Maher said the school board is going to meet in special session at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, to discuss this more. Also included will be a discussion about the immediate future of sports and activities, which, according to the previous release from the district, will be halted at midnight on Wednesday, September 30.
COVID-19
September 2020 Update for Marshall Public School
What are the positive numbers by grade as of 9/28/2020?
| Grade | Total Number Positive |
| Pre-K | 0 |
| K | 1 |
| 1st | 0 |
| 2nd | 0 |
| 3rd | 0 |
| 4th | 0 |
| 5th | 1 |
| 6th | 0 |
| 7th | 0 |
| 8th | 1 |
| 9th | 1 |
| 10th | 0 |
| 11th | 1 |
| 12th | 1 |
What are the positive numbers by building as of 9/28/2020?
| Building | Total Number Positive |
| SPS | 1 |
| Southeast | 0 |
| Benton | 0 |
| Eastwood | 0 |
| BMS | 2 |
| MHS | 3 |
| SCCC | 0 |
| TLC | 0 |
| CO | 0 |
What are the quarantine numbers by building as of 09/28/2020?
| Building | Total Number Quarantined |
| SPS | 22 |
| Southeast | 20 |
| Benton | 6 |
| Eastwood | 10 |
| BMS | 100 |
| MHS | 70 |
| SCCC | 0 |
| TLC | 1 |
| CO | 1 |
| TOTAL | 230 |
How many positive staff by building (as of 09/28/2020) and when can they return?
| Building | Total number positive and when they can return |
| SPS | 0 |
| Southeast | 1 returns 10/05/20
1- returns 10/12/20 |
| Benton | 1- Returns 10/7 |
| Eastwood | 0 |
| BMS | 1 – returns Oct. 12 |
| MHS | 0 |
| SCCC | 0 |
| TLC | 0 |
| CO | 0 |
| TOTAL | 4 |
How many other teachers and or staff are quarantined on 9/2820 and when can they return?
| Building | Total Staff Quarantined |
| SPS | 1 on 10/5/20
5 on 10/6/20 |
| Southeast | 0 |
| Benton | 0 |
| Eastwood | 1 return 10/12/20 |
| BMS | 1 – returns Oct. 1
4 – returns on Oct. 7 2 – returns on Oct. 12 |
| MHS | 1- returns 10/02/20 |
| SCCC | 1 10/6/2020 |
| TLC | 0 |
| CO | 1- returns 09/30/20 |
| TOTAL | 17 |