Baker High School freshman dies; students will learn virtually until after Labor Day

UPDATE: All students at Baker High School will learn virtually until September 7, Superintendent Dr De`Ette Perry told WAFB’s Lester Duhé.

BAKER, Louisiana (WAFB) – A ninth grade football player at Baker High School has passed away, the director of the Baker School District told WAFB.

The student is said to have battled COVID-19. However, an autopsy will be required to determine if this is what caused his death.

Superintendent Dr De`Ette Perry said the student died on Wednesday, August 25.

“We are saddened by the loss of this student and extend our condolences to the family,” said Dr. Perry.

Dr. Perry asks the community to pray for the family of the teens.

“We ask our families to pray and uplift the families who have gone through this loss. It is a loss for all of us. So I ask our community to wrap its arms around the family at this time. And that’s what we need to focus on, taking care of our family right now, ”said Dr Perry.

Baker Mayor Darnell Waites identified the student as 14-year-old Patrick Sanders.

“The loss of such a young life is always a tragedy and the preventable loss of this young life is heartbreaking. Young Mr. Sanders had his whole life ahead of him; full of ambition and promise. The sorrow I feel for his family and loved ones is immense.

To his family, please accept my deepest condolences and know that my prayers are with you now and always. May God heal you in his infinite graces and bless you with his love, ”said Mayor Waites.

RELATED: Infant dies of COVID-19 in Louisiana, LDH reports

School officials tell WAFB the rest of the Baker High School football team are in quarantine.

Superintendent Dr De`Ette Perry said all students at Baker High will switch to virtual learning until September 7. She says there are only 3 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the high school.

“This is not an epidemic, it is out of prudence that we will offer virtual learning to our high school students. They can come back on September 7, ”said Dr Perry.

She says the district has taken precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 this school year. Including, requiring students to wear masks, use hand sanitizer, wash their hands, distance themselves socially, and even undergo temperature checks, before entering the building. And she urges parents to keep their children at home if they are sick.

Other parents in the school system are frustrated with the constant outbreaks and need to get their children tested for the coronavirus.

“Every day you get different calls whether or not you send your kids to school. As soon as you get to school or work or something, all of a sudden the school calls it another epidemic, ”said Rochika Profit, parent of the Baker School District.

Profit has four children in the Baker School system, three are currently in quarantine.

“I have to leave at least twice a week to take them to emergency care and to the hospital, wherever we can go to test a patient,” Profit said.

Two of her older children are going to Baker High and will be virtual for two weeks. She says she’s running out of options.

“It’s like we’re not winning at all. If we send them to school we are going to be afraid that they will catch the virus, if you have them at home we do not know if they are on computers or not, or if they are doing their job virtually. ”Profit said.

“Taking care of students is serious work, a serious responsibility, and we don’t take it lightly. May our parents put their children in our hands to take care of them. So we take care of all our students. Before COVID and especially during this pandemic period, ”said Dr Perry.

The team’s next jamboree, scheduled for Thursday August 26 against White Castle, has been called off.

“Our football players have been quarantined and they too will be on virtual learning until September 6, which is Labor Day, and they will be back in person on September 7,” said Dr. Perry.

East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome issued a statement:

“Today our parish learned of the heartbreaking loss of a young resident of Baker to COVID-19. Every death from this virus is a great heartache, especially the passing of a ninth grade student in our community.

At this point, every resident of our community has been affected by COVID-19. It shows that even our youngest and most resilient loved ones are in danger. I hope we can unite to avoid further losses.

My prayers are with the family, friends and community of Patrick Sanders. “

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