Three schools elect to go online

Three of Quay County’s public schools have elected to go entirely to online learning because of rising cases of coronavirus.

Quay County recorded more than 140 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in November, more than doubling the number since the pandemic began in March.

House Municipal Schools superintendent Bonnie Lightfoot announced in a letter posted online Friday on the district’s website it would delay in-person classes until Jan. 18.

“My intention is always to protect the students and staff in our school and this decision has been made out of an abundance of caution,” Lightfoot wrote. “If families decide to travel during Christmas break, delaying in-person school for 2 additional weeks in January will hopefully allow any potential virus exposure to be eliminated during the 14 day delayed start.

“All of us want students to be in classrooms learning face-to-face with their teachers and I have no intention of wavering from our ultimate goal.”

House would offer free meal deliveries on Tuesdays and Thursdays to students who want them.

Lightfoot announced Nov. 9 the district would convert to remote learning through Nov. 30 after at least two district employees tested positive for the virus.

House had been allowed to hold small-group, in-person classes in all grades because the New Mexico Public Education Department approved its plan as a micro-district of fewer than 100 students.

Tucumcari Public Schools went to all-remote learning the week of Thanksgiving with the hope the district would return to in-person classes by January.

The San Jon Municipal Schools board unanimously voted during a special meeting last week to go to remote learning for all its students through mid-January.

During San Jon’s special meeting Nov. 23, superintendent Janet Gladu recommended going 100% remote from Nov. 30 through Jan. 14, with in-person classes resuming Jan. 18. The district also will schedule pick-up days for students to take home instructional materials.

Gladu noted the board can extend that virtual-instruction period during its regularly scheduled meeting Jan. 11.

She said the district would deliver meals to students Monday through Thursday during the virtual-instruction time. Gladu said about 10 to 15 students received meal deliveries when the district also went to remote learning during the spring. Parents will be required to meet with the school buses on their routes during the food deliveries.

Gladu said because San Jon is a micro-district, it can go to remote classes and return to in-person classes at its own discretion if no COVID-19 infections occur.

The Logan Municipal Schools board considered a similar measure during a special meeting Monday night but elected to keep its elementary students in an in-person and online hybrid model for the foreseeable future. Board members may revisit the issue during their next regularly scheduled meeting Dec. 14. Logan has had no coronavirus cases in more than two weeks.