3 school-related cases reported

By Melinda L. Lucas

Just before press time late Tuesday afternoon, Albany ISD reported its third COVID case, with two high school students and one secondary staff member on the lab-confirmed list.

The first AISD case was verified a week before, with another announced on Saturday morning and the third on Tuesday.

With the Texas Department of State Health Services COVID dashboard running two or more weeks behind “real time,” it doesn’t seem to provide a valid number, stating as of Tuesday that there had been 206 tests administered in Shackelford County, with 23 positive/recovered cases and eight probable cases. One was listed as “probable active.”

In addition to the actual cases, several students and staff members are in quarantine, and members of the varsity football and volleyball teams are being required to wear face masks except when they are actually playing or practicing.

“It tends to keep programs up and running if team members wear masks, and that’s what we’ve tried to stress to these students,” said superintendent Jonathan Scott.

He added that the athletes are being screened twice a day by the school nurses, once when they arrive in the morning and again before the athletic period.

“We are encouraging everyone to wear a mask, but the varsity players are the only ones required to at this time,” he said.

The superintendent also commented that there has been no change in gym or stadium protocol since last week.

With the rise in incidents, a few more parents have opted to keep their students home for remote learning, but most are still participating in in-person classes.

Administrators reminded parents that students can begin remote learning at any time, but they must wait until the beginning of a new six-weeks grading period to return to campus, either at the elementary or secondary level.

Secondary principal Glen Hill asked his staff to do their part to keep the doors open, encouraging them to wear masks when it is not possible to socially distance and adding that he is personally using a face covering.

John Gallagher, principal at Nancy Smith Elementary School, said Tuesday night that there had been no confirmed cases at the elementary campus. 

“NSES will continue to take additional precautions to keep all students safe and stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Gallagher in a letter to parents.

Reportedly a large number of Albany residents are being sent for “rapid tests” as a precaution when they report any COVID symptoms. 

The rapid tests are now available four days a week at the hospital emergency entrance in Breckenridge, as well as at several locations in Abilene.

Albany mayor Susan Montgomery said Tuesday afternoon that she continues to be very supportive of AISD administrators and the steps they are taking to prevent a further spike in the number of cases.

“If you have any symptoms, please take personal responsibility and do not get out in public,” she said. “And if you make wise decisions for yourself, like social distancing and wearing face masks, those decisions will benefit others in our community and school system.”