Estes offers student Covid update at PW

Superintendent says four of 24 in quarantine test positive

The Palestine-Wheatley School District is reporting more than 20 students have been in quarantine because of Covid so far this school year.

PWSD Superintendent Jon Estes said during a special board meeting Tuesday in Palestine that the district has identified 24 students currently unable to attend classes because of the virus, but added that none of those were exposed to Covid on their respective campuses.

"As of today, we have 24 students in quarantine, and of those, four had positive test results. None of these students were exposed at school, according to the tracing data I have here,” said Estes. “It shows transmission or exposure outside of the school setting. If we look at last year’s numbers, where a total of 198 students were quarantined, only two of those tested positive for the virus, and out of the 62 reported cases at school, only 3 were likely transmitted at school.

Estes continued, “Last year, the majority of cases came from the high school where students and staff all were required to wear masks, and they did a great job with that, but the elementary school students under 10 did not wear one. This year, all students have to wear them regardless of age and we have a majority of cases from the elementary school."

Estes said the school board plans to review the mask mandate during the regularlyscheduled board meeting this month, which is set for Monday, Sept. 13.

"Our students are doing a good job with the mask mandate," said Estes. "They are wearing them like they are supposed to, but we are just still seeing exposure. We are just trying to teach these kids in the safest environment we can. We will review the numbers at the next school board meeting and re-evaluate our position on the mask mandate that is currently in place."

During the meeting, the board also approved a recommendation from Estes to accept a bid for the construction of the new concession stand and bathrooms at the new athletic facilities being built near the high school.

"We have a 28-by-42 concession stand and restroom building bid. The first bid we received, when we were going through the process, was around $340,000. The second time it was bid out, the low bid was $264,000,” said Estes. “This new bid is for a metal building. The purchase price is $164,483 and includes everything we need. I recommend that we purchase the building from Polymer Modular Buildings for $164,483."

"It sounds to me that all we are paying for is some sinks, toilets and a building and we have to provide the concrete," said board member Jamie McCoy.

"We have to provide the concrete footings and pads," agreed Estes. "The color is supposed to match the school."

The bid was accepted unanimously.

The board also unanimously voted in favor of hiring Fannie Evans and Sherry Nichols as classroom teachers, Charlotte Mullens as a custodian and Angie Spencer to take over as the point of contact for the high school for Covid-19.