Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval  Watch |  Listen

Monongalia County Schools successfully navigate coronavirus…so far

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — After nearly two years of pandemic protocols, Monongalia County Schools are learning about the virus while continuing in-person instruction.

Donna Talerico

On WAJR’s Talk of the Town, Deputy Superintendent Donna Talerico acknowledged there are infections and quarantines, but no buildings have been closed and no instruction has been moved online.

The Monongalia County Schools COVID-19 report from the week of Oct. 31-Nov. 5 says four staff members and 47 students were positive for the virus and five staffers and 115 students were in quarantine.

“We have been managing what is a cloud over everything,” Talerico said. “We put our mitigation strategies in place last year and we’ve continued those strategies.”

After a long period out of classrooms, Talerico said the administration is pleased to bring students back and be able to keep buildings open.

Last month, Preston County Schools took a two-day shift to online instruction due to a spike in the Delta variant there.

“Being able to be in school, students being able to be with their teachers and their friends is absolutely the best this we could afford our community,” Talerico said.

Last year, plans changed rapidly and often and the largely unknown virus forced school leaders to error on the side of caution and close in many cases. However, those lessons, training and cleaning equipment have virus levels at a manageable rate.

“Thankfully using everything, our students and our parents cooperation we’ve been in school and very successfully,” Talerico said.

Now back in the classroom, teachers are trying to bring things back to as normal as possible.

“Our teachers are committed to picking up and addressing whatever needs our students have,” Talerico said. “Again, it’s us trying to do what we do best which is educating our students.”

With reduced virus activity and vaccines now available to 5 to 11-year old students, leaders are planning for the possibility of relaxing protocols. Talerico said they will consult with the CDC, the Monongalia County Health Department and review school data with the possibility of even considering a mask-optional policy.

“That conversation is occurring with the administration, our superintendent and certainly with our board- it’s at the forefront of their thinking and indeed it is time to begin to have those conversations,” Talerico said.

Vaccine clinics for 5 to 11-year old students will begin next week.





More News

News
West Virginia Parkways Authority prepares for Easter travelers on the Turnpike
More than 500,000 transactions are projected at the West Virginia Turnpike through Monday.
March 28, 2024 - 11:30 am
News
Governor vetoes vaccination exemption bill, and now that debate is primed to get even bigger
House Bill 5105 would have removed vaccination requirements for students in virtual public schools, and it also would have allowed private and parochial schools to set their own standards.
March 28, 2024 - 11:14 am
News
Lottery reports $50,000 Powerball ticket sold in Charleston
Four numbers and Power Ball matched.
March 28, 2024 - 10:24 am
News
MetroNews This Morning 3-28-24
Summary of West Virginia news/sports/weather for Thursday, March 28, 2024
March 28, 2024 - 6:25 am