Raymundo Frasquillo File Photo/Gila Herald: Positive COVID-19 tests prompted the cancelation of Fort Thomas’ football and volleyball seasons, and now the school district will return to distance learning for the rest of November.
School to return to distance learning
By Jon Johnson
FORT THOMAS – After a number of positive COVID-19 cases arose at the Fort Thomas School District, the health departments from Graham County and the San Carlos Apache Tribe took action Thursday.
After a meeting with Fort Thomas Superintendent Shane Hawkins, the decision was made to return to a distance learning module until at least Nov. 30, when parents will likely have the option to return to in-person instruction.
Previous to the health department’s action, a staff member expressed concern to the Gila Herald regarding the increase of cases and seemingly lack of responsiveness from the school district.
Positive tests resulted in the cancelation of the high school’s football and volleyball regular seasons on Oct. 29 and the junior high school’s volleyball season was also canceled on Nov. 2 due to the same outbreak.
According to the staff member, as of Nov. 2, the Fort Thomas Elementary School had a first-, third-, and fifth-grade class on quarantine and the school had 17 positive tests, with 61 being tested and quarantined.
The staff member – who wished to remain anonymous out of a concern of retaliation for speaking about the situation – wondered why the school would continue with in-person classes in the midst of such a large outbreak.
“Why are we risking the chances when we have had so many positive cases,” the staff member asked. “I strongly feel we should be going to distance learning altogether and many of the parents have voiced their concern, but the superintendent is not listening to his employees and parents.”
On Thursday morning, Graham County Health Department Director Brian Douglas confirmed a “substantial spread” at the Fort Thomas School District and said he was working with superintendent Shane Hawkins that morning to come up with a plan. That plan ended up being going back to a distance-learning module for the rest of November at least.
