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POLK COUNTY, Florida – With just a few days left until the first day of school in Polk County, an elementary school is shutting down due to an outbreak of COVID-19.
What would you like to know
- At least eight staff at Spessard Holland Elementary School have tested positive for COVID-19
- School undergoes a deep clean before students return to class on Tuesday
- Parents say they are surprised by the news
- More COVID-19 coverage
There are “several positive cases of COVID-19 impacting school,” Spessard L. Holland Elementary said in a Facebook post. “Polk County Public Schools are working closely with the Florida Department of Health.”
The news surprised parents like Robert Hendrix.
“We are kind of in crisis mode and not in the sense of panicking, but in the sense of trying to find what is best for all of our children,” he said. “I think it all happened so quickly. I think I wait for someone to step in and be the adult in the room and say “here is an extra option”.
The district then confirmed to Spectrum News that eight staff members had tested positive and that the results of the others were pending.
As recently as last week, the school posted a photo of a room full of staff at a lunch.
“At the end of the day, our priority must be the safety of our students, staff and employees,” the statement said.
Elizabeth Buttrey’s son attends school. She said cases had emerged throughout the past school year but was taken aback by news of the current outbreak.
“Obviously they see their teachers are the ones bringing the coronavirus back to campus because there are no kids on campus right now,” she said.
And she also had questions.
“What are we doing?” Are you separating my child? Can I request separation? Can I ask the teacher to make my child remember to wear his mask? “
The school said it would undergo a deep cleaning before reopening on Monday, and additional staff are available to cover absences. Students must start classes on Tuesday.
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