After being closed to in-person learning for a couple of days, students and staff at Gum Springs Elementary School in Jackson County will begin a phased-in return to class Wednesday.
Jackson County School System Superintendent April Howard confirmed one of the 95 staff members at the school had tested positive for COVID-19.
"We learned of the positive case Sunday afternoon. We contact traced and identified 20 staff members who needed to be quarantined; hence, our closure and phased-in reopening," Howard said in an email statement.
Howard said Pre-K, kindergarten and first-grade students would return to class on Wednesday, while students in grades 2 through 5 would return to in-person classes next week. Gum Springs, located in Jefferson, has an enrollment of approximately 900 students.
Howard said the school system will be reporting positive cases and quarantine impact numbers each Friday.
"Right now, we have three student cases and three staff cases with approximately 80 individuals quarantined district-wide," Howard said.
The Jackson County School System began the 2020-2021 school year on Aug. 12 with a choice of in-person or online learning.
