Greendale schools adjust, COVID spike among staff
GREENDALE, Wis. - The COVID surge is having an impact on area schools. Greendale High School students will be virtual the rest of the week.
Greendale Schools' COVID dashboard reflected more than 30 staff members out sick and only 15 substitutes available Monday, Jan. 3. Middle and high schools will be virtual for the week, while elementary will be in-person. This, as the district offered COVID testing Monday afternoon.
Citing a "high percentage of instructional staff in isolation or quarantine due to positive COVID cases," Greendale Schools' classes were canceled Monday. The district provided lunches and COVID testing during the extended winter break.
"We didn’t know until yesterday that there wasn’t going to be in-person school today," said Brianna Bolkmann.
Bolkmann got her 7-year-old son tested after a long Christmas vacation.
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"He doesn’t have symptoms himself right now, but his best friend, who he was playing with for a lot of the break, does have symptoms," said Bolkmann. "His mom says she’s never seen him this sick before. Obviously, that worried us, too."
Elementary schools will resume in-person learning Tuesday, while Greendale middle and high schools will pivot to virtual learning through Friday.
"He’s not feeling well," said Heather Hinz. "It’s unfortunate they had to cancel classes, though. The students do much better in school than they do online."
Hinz had her high school-aged son tested. The district’s superintendent encouraged other families to follow suit.
"We are asking families, if their children have symptoms or anyone in their household has symptoms, that they stay home and consider getting tested," said Superintendent Kim Amidzich.
Elsewhere, officials with the School District of Waukesha indicated 44 staff members tested positive for COVID as classes there resumed in-person, and the Racine Unified School District opted to extend winter break through Tuesday.
"I assume a lot of people will be waiting for their tests results like we are," said Bolkmann.
The Greendale Health Department did not return our request for an interview, but on its website, urges mask-wearing indoors regardless of vaccination status.
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