CBHS shifts classes online
Six active COVID-19 cases send Christian Brothers to online model.
Christian Brothers High School is moving to online courses for the next two weeks after six active cases were identified among students and staff, administration confirmed Monday.
The cases are among two employees — a teacher and a staff member — and four students, spokesperson Jamie Elkington told The Commercial Appeal via email. She said the two employee cases are related and two students cases are related. The other two student cases are isolated from others.
According to a parent email, the three most recent cases — among two students and a faculty member — were on campus last week, prior to experiencing symptoms.
It is unclear how many students were potentially exposed or have been instructed to quarantine due to exposure to one of the six
“As for a number of close contacts, because contact tracing is conducted by the Shelby County health department, we do not have those details, only the number of positive cases that have been reported to us,” Elkington said.
The school emailed parents Sunday about the swap to virtual learning for two weeks, beginning Monday and ending Oct. 2.
So far, CBHS has not found evidence of COVID-19 transmission on campus, Elkington said. The school credits its hybrid learning model — where only half of the student body is on campus at a time — and additional safety protocols of screenings, masking, social distancing and regular cleanings.
“We are concerned, however, with the uptick in positive cases over the past several days so by moving to distance learning for all students over the next two weeks, we are essentially hoping to reset and return to our hybrid model in October,” Elkington said in an email. “This move was supported by the health department, not mandated, and allows positive cases to resolve and any new cases to present themselves while mitigating risk of transmission on campus for the safety of our students and employees.”
Campus facilities are closed to students and public, according to the parent letter. Extracurricular activities are also suspended.
CBHS’ football team is on its bye week. The athletic director is working to reschedule the Oct. 2 game against Briarcrest Christian School, potentially for Nov. 6, Elkington said.
In the letter, CBHS asked its families to “make good decisions” and “continue to avoid crowds, gatherings, high-risk activities, and always wear a mask when around others in public.”
CBHS reopened with the hybrid model and planned to keep it in place through Oct. 6, according to the school website.
Laura Testino covers education and children’s issues for the Commercial Appeal. Reach her at laura.testino@ commercialappeal.com or 901-512-3763. Find her on Twitter: @Ldtestino