By Jackie Pollack
On Tuesday, 40 students and eight staff members began to quarantine due to possible exposure to COVID-19 after a report of a positive test in the high school, according to an email sent by Superintendent Dr. Kris Harrison.
After conferring with the District’s Medical Director and the Department of Health, Dr. Harrison stated that all who were in close contact with the student are obligated to quarantine until December 9. The campus remains open today.
In an email to the community, the district explained the decision to remain open, despite the number of students and staff in quarantine.
“While certain members of the IHS community have been required to quarantine, it is appropriate for the school to remain open for all other students and staff members. Therefore, aside from those required to quarantine or isolate, all staff and students should plan to attend school in person tomorrow as previously scheduled.”
Senior Maddie Monness said, “I think that the mass quarantine due to student outbreaks is definitely disappointing. As a senior I was looking forward to spending as much time with my friends as possible in school, desperately hoping we wouldn’t be shut down.”
But Monness is thankful that the school is taking steps to keep students and staff safe.
“Although our current situation is not ideal, it’s definitely the safe option. It gives me peace of mind to know that the school is making an effort to keep us safe, while trying to prevent having to shut down.”
Other students have expressed apprehension at the news.
Senior Eddie Hanlon said, “The lockdown has made me more fearful of going to school, but I remain confident that our administrators would not put us in danger. There is definitely less of an incentive to come in when nearly half of my teachers are in quarantine.”
