3 positive COVID cases close Folsom School

​By MIKE DONOGHUE, Islander Staff Writer
SOUTH HERO -- The Folsom Education & Community Center in South Hero has reported three positive cases of COVID-19 in eight days forcing a complete shutdown of the school.
The first case was reported in the Middle School on Feb. 8 and it required half the students in grades 7 and 8 to go to remote learning.  About 23 people were impacted.
A second positive case  was reported on Sunday -- Valentine’s Day -- forcing the school to close down all in-person instruction for all grades, School Superintendent Michael Clark said.
Clark said the school district learned Tuesday afternoon that a third positive COVID case was uncovered in a person through new testing.
The school district plans to host a Google Meets session at 5 p.m. Thursday to provide more information to the community.
Folsom Principal Susan McKelvie met with the Folsom faculty and staff at 3 p.m. Tuesday to provide the latest information, Clark said.
School officials met with the Vermont Department of Health to try to identify everyone who might be considered a close contact.
Clark said the three cases do not appear to be related through close contact.
“We have also reached out by telephone to any member of the Folsom/GISU learning community who might be considered to be a close contact and have provided them with information about the need to quarantine,” Clark said.
Clark said the district is asking for both compassion and sensitivity for all the people involved.
The other graded Grand Isle County schools in Grand Isle, North Hero and Alburgh also have each had one positive COVID case.

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