Delaware Community Schools Closes 2 Schools After 1 Positive Case Confirmed

Updated Aug. 12 at 11:45 a.m.

Delaware Community Schools is temporarily closing its middle and high schools after more than 200 students were quarantined to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

As of Wednesday, the district said it would close the buildings through Aug. 24, and move those grade levels to virtual learning.

District Superintendent Reese Mann tweeted, that there is “a hopeful return” to the buildings on Aug. 25.   The district’s two elementary schools would continue in-person classes

Nearly 9 percent of students at a Delaware County school district were quarantined after a single case of COVID-19 was confirmed. Officials say a football player at Delta High School is the district’s only official positive COVID case.

About 2,600 students attend Delaware Community Schools, which began in-person classes last Thursday.  

On Friday night, district Superintendent Reese Mann tweeted: “DelCom has experienced our first positive case of Covid-19 at Delta High School. Appropriate contacts have been made and we are following our guidelines. Health department continues to play a pivotal role in our decision making. See you on Monday, DAY 3. Eagle Pride!”

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Following the positive test, the school district sent students home to quarantine – those in close contact with the student, those in the testing process, or those showing COVID symptoms.  Most of the students attend the high school and middle school.  The list included the entire football team.

Mann says the district is using seating charts and cameras to monitor students, but says tracking the movements of the football team was problematic.

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In addition to quarantining students, the school is also cancelling its first scheduled football game against Muncie Central High School, because the Delta team won’t make the required number of practices for eligibility.

This story has been updated.