Warden Elementary closed after coronavirus exposure

WARDEN — Warden Elementary School students returned to in-person learning today, with the exception of two classes in remote instruction, after an elementary student contracted the COVID-19 virus.

Elementary students went to remote learning Tuesday, Thursday and Friday after the student’s diagnosis. Warden Middle School students went to remote learning Tuesday, but returned to school Thursday.

Warden School District Superintendent Dave LaBounty said Warden High School wasn’t affected.

“Our high school is operating normally,” he said. “The high school has never been part of the conversation.”

Currently, Warden schools operate on a hybrid model, with half the kids on campus Monday and Thursday, and half the kids on campus Tuesday and Friday. All students go to remote learning each Wednesday, while all buildings are cleaned.

LaBounty said one elementary class was subject to quarantine, and the student had siblings in a second class, which also was quarantined. The size of the elementary school, and the potential for spread, LaBounty said, prompted district officials to keep the elementary school closed for additional days.

LaBounty said the student apparently didn’t contract coronavirus at school.

“It appears it (coronavirus) came from outside in,” he said.

Misty Aguilar, public information officer for the Grant County Health District, said GCHD works with school districts so districts can conduct their own contact tracing.

“We’re working hand in hand with the health district,” LaBounty said.

The Warden School District contact team identified about 200 potential close contacts in the school district, and offered drive-thru testing for the students affected. About 130 kids took advantage of the offer, LaBounty said.

The absentee rate at Warden Elementary was about 7.8% on Tuesday, he said, and if it reaches 10%, the building must go to remote learning for two weeks.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.