COVID-19 cases rising at Greenville school district, where masking is optional
By Valerie Royzman, Staff Writer
GREENVILLE — Following a cluster of COVID-19 cases at Greenville Consolidated School this week, another four people tested positive on Wednesday, according to a parent letter posted on the district website.
“We have been conducting extensive contact tracing as positive cases impact the quarantine requirements,” a letter addressed to families and signed by Superintendent Kelly MacFadyen said. “We have taken steps with our response team to follow Maine CDC and DOE guidelines to notify staff and students as appropriate.”
The people who most recently contracted COVID-19 last attended school Wednesday, the letter said. The new cases required 21 students to quarantine. MacFadyen was not available Thursday to clarify whether 21 students total are in quarantine or if the group is in addition to others already in quarantine at the school.
Four students were not required to quarantine because they participated in pooled testing. The COVID-19 prevention measure tests students and staff once a week, according to the district website.
If a member of the pooled testing group is considered a close contact of someone who tests positive for COVID-19, they are not required to quarantine. Parents had to complete a consent form for their children to participate in pooled testing.
A parent letter posted to the district website Tuesday, Sept. 21, informed parents and guardians of five new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total at that time to nine people infected. Letters sent out Sunday, Sept. 19, and Monday, Sept. 20, said “individuals associated with GCS have been identified as positive for COVID-19,” but did not specify how many.
At Greenville Consolidated School, 88.6 percent of staff members are vaccinated, according to data released by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services last week.
The school committee held an emergency meeting Sept. 9, where members voted 3-2 to keep face masks optional despite an upcoming event expected to draw large crowds — the International Seaplane Fly-in at Moosehead Lake — and COVID-19 cases climbing across Piscataquis County and other parts of the state. The fly-in was held Sept. 8-12.
The committee meets next for its regular session Tuesday, Sept. 28, at the Oakes Building.