Update (5:20 p.m.) — Pender County Schools offered further clarifying details of the quarantine after “a group of students in Hampstead were asked to quarantine following exposure to an individual who tested positive for COVID-19.”
After a group of students took part in an off-campus, non-school-related athletic event, the county health department determined they came in contact with an individual who had tested positive before returning home.
“Following extensive contact tracing, PCHD requested that a group of students comprised of from all seven Hampstead-area schools quarantine to help prevent the spread of the disease. This includes students from South Topsail Elementary, Topsail Elementary, North Topsail Elementary, Surf City Elementary, Topsail Middle, Surf City Middle, and Topsail High schools,” according to the district.
HAMPSTEAD — Three days into the district’s Plan B schedule of staggered classroom and virtual instruction, Pender County Schools has ordered students at “several Hampstead-area schools” to quarantine at home after participating in an off-campus sports event.
The district did not identify how many students were quarantined, what sports event it was referring to, or from what schools the quarantined students came from. The public schools in the Hampstead area include the Topsail schools that share a joint campus — Topsail Elementary, Topsail Middle School, and Topsail High — South Topsail Elementary, and North Topsail Elementary.
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The move came after consultation with the Pender County Health Department “and an abundance of caution” for school employees and students.
“PCHD is continuing to investigate this potential exposure and will work with families as necessary to provide medical guidance,” according to a release sent by the district late Thursday night.
The announcement came nearly a week after a group of 60 teachers sent a letter to the district saying they were “unable in good conscience to fulfill our duties as mandated” by county guidelines and the state’s Code of Ethics under the Plan B conditions.
“[W]e have collectively concluded that we are not yet prepared to move forward with Plan B,” they stated.
A PCS teacher speaking for the group of sixty teachers said that while its original intentions were to avoid showing up for work under a Plan B schedule, due to public outcry against the group after prior reporting on the letter, the teachers decided to show up on Tuesday. (On Friday, the district issued a last-second order to delay classroom reopenings across the district by one day, until Tuesday, after reports of a quarantine at Heide Trask High School; that school’s delay will last until August 28.)
The district said it would continue to collaborate with the health department while encouraging families to follow state-issued safety guidelines, including wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and washing hands to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
“Additionally, if any families or staff members become aware that they may have been in contact with individuals who have tested positive or are showing symptoms related to COVID-19, please contact your child’s principal immediately,” according to Pender County Schools.
