CHESAPEAKE, Va. – Chesapeake Public Schools announced on Tuesday afternoon that it would pause all winter sports practices for about a week, through December 15. The decision will allow time to review mitigation strategies to maintain the safest possible environment, according to a press release.
Meanwhile, school spokesperson Richard Babb wrote that Butts Road Intermediate had what officials call a “high number” of quarantined students and staff last week as a result of cases reported after Thanksgiving break. An exact number was not given.
Babb stated that a health services team investigated and found the transmission happened outside of school buildings. Butts Road Intermediate did request some staffing help from a neighboring school. Babb added that four staff members remained in quarantine.
Parent Evangeline Brown has two children in Chesapeake schools and said her third grader especially benefits from face-to-face learning.
“I figured there were going to be a lot of people who were going to be exposed. You have Black Friday and everything like that and people getting together,” said Brown. “I know the CDC said they’re actually safer in school than they are anywhere else, so I don’t feel any issues with them going back in person.”
The Chesapeake School Board will meet again Monday, December 14. It recently voted to allow the superintendent flexibility to change the instructional model at each individual school, without approval from the board, if needed.
