MARSHALL, Mo. — Marshall, Missouri, Public Schools has decided to move to all online classes because at least 200 students and staff must quarantine due to possible COVID-19 exposure.
The decision comes after one month of in-person learning, but at a board meeting Monday night, that decision was still considered fluid. The special meeting was called hours after the superintendent announced how many students and staff members were under quarantine.
"Just trying to live life and unfortunately, you know, those things kind of have caught up with some of us," Superintendent Carol Maher told 41 Action News. "We decided that it would be better if we could just try to flatten the curve in our own way. And move forward with distance learning."
A large portion of those currently isolating are from Bueker Middle School, where Rhonda Hayes' nephew attends in-person classes four days per week.
Hayes said she believes switching from in-person to virtual learning will be a constant during this academic year.
"I do until these people decide, OK, we are just going to have to do distance learning for the rest of the year, until we get the numbers in Saline County under control," Hayes said.
The switch to all-virtual learning starting Wednesday is shaping up to be challenge.
"We don’t have don't have our devices ready for all of them," Maher said. "But we have devices coming for our students so that they'll be able to participate."
Maher addressed the technology issue in a letter sent to families on Monday.
"We understand that not all our students have devices available to them and we are working to prepare machines for these students," Maher wrote. "In the meantime, we will be sending paper packets to our young students, assisted by our bus drivers and paraprofessionals. Buses equipped with internet access will also be available in different parts of the community for student's use."
At the board meeting, Mayor Julie Schwetz expressed concerns about families who are scrambling find arrangements.
"Now all of a sudden, our working families have to decide what are they doing for the next two weeks, not only the working families but our employers," Schwetz said.
Board member Ellen Lance even questioned whether all students need to do online learning.
"I understand if there's 184 in one building, and that group has their own plan, then maybe we need to separate them," Lance said, "but our high school and our high school kids have been doing great. And I think it's absolutely horrible for us to take away from them."
However, some teachers have come to terms with the district's decision.
"We were fortunate that we were able to have an eighth of the school year finished," Paul Gieringer, Marshall high school social studies teacher said. "It's going to be difficult to be online and so, you know, it is what it is, and we'll do the best that we can."
Depending on what the data shows at the time, the district hopes to have students back in the classroom in some form by October 15.
Editors note: A previous version of the story incorrectly stated that Marshall Public Schools had quarantined 305 students and staff members.
