WAITSBURG—Waitsburg Elementary Friday announced that the school would be closed to in-person instruction, effective June 1. All students in grade pre-k through fifth-Grade will participate in remote instruction until the end of the school year. The last day of school is June 15.

The closure came after a drastic increase in COVID-19 cases in the district’s elementary population, resulting in multiple exposures and close contacts. On May 25, the school was informed that the entire second-grade class must be quarantined, along with their families, after one staff member and one student tested positive for the virus. Since Monday, the school has learned of one other staff member who tested positive and seven additional student cases. The district’s COVID-19 case count can be found at http://www.waitsburgsd.org/page/dashboard

“In our small community and with students having siblings in other grade levels, these positive cases could quickly have a much larger impact,'' Superintendent Mark Pickel wrote in a letter that was sent home with students on Friday, May 28. “We are urging all families to follow COVID health requirements by staying home when sick and adhering to quarantine expectations. If you are not feeling well or have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, do not come to school. Anyone who has been asked to quarantine should stay home, separate themselves from others, and continue monitoring their symptoms.”

On June 1, Elementary school staff will be in contact with students and families about lesson plans and expectations for the final weeks of school via ClassTag or Google Classroom.Additional information and updates will be provided in the coming weeks.