Mattapoisett Center School Classroom Goes Remote Due to COVID-19

MATTAPOISETT — A classroom at Mattapoisett’s Center School has been shifted to remote learning after a number of students in the class tested positive for COVID-19.

The Old Rochester Regional School District made the announcement Friday, but did not specify a specific classroom, only that it was in Grade 2. According to the website PublicSchoolReview.com, Center School serves 239 students from pre-kindergarten through third grade.

"Given the multiple positive cases and subsequent close contacts in one classroom, we believe it is in the best interest of all of our Center School students and staff for those students to learn remotely for the appropriate time period in accordance with state protocols," Principal Rose Bowman said.

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The school has been testing students through the state’s testing programs, and determined “an increased amount of positive COVID-19 cases has been identified among students in a second grade classroom.” No further details were given, citing state and federal health privacy laws.

The school district worked with the Mattapoisett Board of Health and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to determine that “out of an abundance of caution and to limit possible in-school transmission, it was in the best interest of the school and its students and staff to transition the students in the affected classroom to fully remote learning.”

The students are expected to be able to return to school on October 12, and students identified as a close contact were contacted by the school nurse and provided with the proper protocols, the district said. There will also be a “deep and thorough sanitization and disinfection of the Center School this weekend,” it said.

"The health and safety of our students and staff remains our top priority and we have many protocols in place to respond to situations like this," Superintendent Michael S. Nelson said. "We will continue to follow all protocols and guidance of our local officials as well as the Massachusetts Department of Health and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and we would also like to thank our local board of health and school nurses for their assistance and guidance as we continue to navigate through the pandemic."

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