COVID case forces Ledyard High to shift to remote learning
Student tests positive; school aims to resume in-person classes on Nov. 23
Ledyard — Superintendent of Schools Jason S. Hartling announced Sunday that a positive COVID-19 case has forced Ledyard High School to move to full remote learning for the next two weeks with in-person learning expected to resume Nov. 23.
Hartling wrote in a letter to parents that the school system was notified Saturday that “a member of the Ledyard High School community” had tested positive COVID-19.
The Day has reported that upon arriving by bus at East Lyme High School Saturday for a swim meet, a female member of the Ledyard swim team learned by phone that she had tested positive for the virus. While the girl did not enter the school, her teammates had. They then left the school before competing in the virtual meet, in which swimmers from East Lyme, Ledyard and Waterford were slated to compete at different times. The meet was canceled with only East Lyme having an opportunity to swim.
Ledyard athletic director/ assistant principal Jim Buonocore told The Day he spent Saturday in his office involved in contact tracing. He said he spoke to each athlete on the swim team and her parent or guardian on the phone and submitted his findings to the Ledge Light Health District.
On Sunday, Hartling wrote that the person who tested positive has been instructed to remain home in self-isolation for a minimum of 10 days. That period could be extended if fever or other symptoms persist.
Family members have also been instructed by Ledge Light Health District to self-quarantine and get tested.
Referring to The Day’s story about the swim meet, Hartling said Sunday that “I do not believe this was a case of a family or student knowingly putting others at risk. Our community, families and students have worked hard to follow the guidelines and protocols related to COVID-19.”
He said contract tracing is still taking place and anyone considered and determined by Ledge Light to have been a close contact with this person will be notified.
Hartling said the need to move to remote/virtual learning is due to the impact of quarantine on the high school and has not been ordered or recommended by Ledge Light.
He explained that “maintaining in-person schooling in any form depends on our ability to staff our classrooms. While we continue to plan and staff for various contingencies, the current quarantine number has exceeded our threshold to continue in-person at LHS.”
Ledyard Superintendent of Schools Jason Hartling wrote that the person who tested positive has been told to remain home in self-isolation for a minimum of 10 days.