Oct. 27, 2020 10:30p; Edited 10-28 9a
(WGTD)---Kenosha School Board President Tom Duncan hinted Tuesday night that the district may have to go entirely virtual before the pandemic ends because the community isn't fully embracing COVID-19 precautions. Unlike most large urban districts in the state, KUSD parents and students were given the choice this fall of either in-person instruction or online learning. Enrollment is now evenly split, according to the district.
A statewide surge in cases may push the district into a virtual-only mode, and it's not because the district and its students aren't careful, said Duncan at a regularly-scheduled school board meeting. "Everybody in our community must take responsibility. And that's what's not happening," Duncan said. "Everybody must be responsible and until we do so we probably won't get past this."
Although the district hasn't widely publicized building-wide closings, several schools--including Bradford High School-- have had to temporarily go all-virtual, according to what was said at Tuesday's meeting. The closures were because of staff shortages due to quarantines, and not because COVID-19 is running rampant through buildings.
Administration has tried to maintain an upbeat attitude, but teachers are worried and anxious, according to Kenosha Education Association President Tanya Kitts-Lewinski. "Everyday I hear from educators in tears--educators that have anxiety attacks," she said. "Yet district communication is that things are going extremely well and the virus is not spreading. Your agenda does not address the elephant in the room," she said.
Also during citizens' comments, a Lincoln Middle School teacher said she's had to quarantine twice in the last month because of exposure to students who've tested positive.
A post was read out loud by two colleagues of another teacher who got seriously ill after first showing no symptoms, even though she'd been in 'close contact' with a student who was infected. She returned to work after a shortened quarantine but slowly became ill. A test came back positive, and a day later she became violently ill. While pain free now, the teacher says she still has symptoms.
In her statement, the teacher criticized the district for mishandling part of her situation, and said she's now trying to conserve her sick days in case she has to go back into quarantine.
Nearly 30% of the district's confirmed COVID cases among students and staff who've been in the buildings have come in the last 7 days, according to numbers provided by the district. The increase reflects the statewide surge.
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