More Lexington schools going virtual for one week because of COVID spread
More Lexington schools are switching to virtual next week because of a rise in cases of COVID-19.
Two middle schools will go on a remote learning schedule next week, and an elementary school that was already remote is extending its suspension of in-person classes, the school district announced Friday.
Carolina Springs and Pleasant Hill middle schools in Lexington told parents the schools will go on a remote learning schedule when students return after the Labor Day holiday. Both schools will close for one week and are tentatively scheduled to resume in-person classes on Monday, Sept. 13.
As of Thursday, Pleasant Hill reported 263 students out with either a positive COVID-19 diagnosis or a preventative quarantine. Carolina Springs had 376 students out. That brings the total to five schools in the Lexington 1 school district to switch to a virtual schedule because of the impact to school operations from COVID-19 case numbers.
At the same time, Centerville Elementary school, which was the first district school to move to a virtual platform, is having its virtual learning period extended another week. Students there will continue to learn online after Labor Day, and will also return to in-person classes on Sept. 13.
As of Thursday, Centerville had 271 students either sick or quarantined.
Lexington 1 has been hit with some of the highest rates of COVID-19 in the Midlands, with more than 6,000 students out as of Thursday, the district’s coronavirus dashboard reports. That’s a more than 50% jump from where schools were earlier this week.
But Lexington 1 isn’t alone. Four schools in neighboring Lexington 2 have also switched to virtual, and the school board there just passed an emergency requirement that all students and faculty wear masks in schools.
Even in the smaller Lexington 3, Batesburg-Leesville High School has gone on a virtual schedule after 100 students there were placed out of school for COVID-related reasons.
This story was originally published September 3, 2021 at 12:15 PM.
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