At a special meeting of the Mid-Prairie School Board Wednesday, a unanimous decision was made to close preschool classes on a short-term basis. Mid-Prairie Superintendent Mark Schneider discussed a recent spike in COVID-related illness and quarantine numbers in Washington and Johnson Counties. There have also been increases in absences for staff and students at the Mid-Prairie District. According to information presented by Schneider, 43% of teachers and paraprofessionals in the district were absent on Wednesday, November 4th for reasons beyond their control, infection, quarantine, other illness, or caring for others who are sick, which works out to 18 employees. He continued by saying that these conditions not only affect the health of students and staff but creates staffing concerns.

It was recommended by administration, and approved by the board that the district’s preschool classes be closed on a short-term basis beginning Thursday, November 5th. They will re-examine the closure on November 11th with a possible re-opening date set for November 16th. The board will also take up further discussion November 9th as it relates to decision-making criteria in instances similar to this for the rest of the school year.

Data for November 4th from the Mid-Prairie District shows that fewer than six students in the district missed the day due to a positive COVID-19 test but that 117 students were absent due to quarantine. A total of 10.2% of students in the district were absent. Six staff members in the district were absent due to positive virus tests, while 12 others were absent due to quarantine.