​4 COVID cases now at Folsom School

By MICHAEL DONOGHUE
Islander Staff Writer

SOUTH HERO -- There are now four positive cases of COVID-19 associated with the Folsom Education & Community Center in South Hero in just over a week.

The South Street building remains shutdown, but online learning continues for students.

Superintendent Michael J. Clark, Principal Susan McKelvie and Nurse Emily Dousevicz offered comments and answered questions during a one-hour virtual meeting on Thursday.

Clark explained that the positive test reported Thursday morning was a close contact to the first COVID positive test on Feb. 8.

" There are no new school-based close contacts who need to quarantine as a result of this confirmed case," Clark explained to about 30 residents, faculty and staff.

He said members of the Folsom team met with the Vermont Health Department to try to identify everyone who might be considered a close contact.

Some people at the virtual meeting remained concerned that teachers are not a top priority for getting COVID-19 vaccination shots.

During Gov. Phil Scott's news conference on Friday, the state was unable to provide a possible date for when teachers might begin getting their shots.   The state did say that Vermonters age 65 and up will begin getting shots March 1.

The state has said there is not much they can do about people that are cutting the lines to get shots. No answer was provided about hospital lawyers and risk management personnel getting vaccines when they have no contact with patients.
 
The first Folsom 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 and to go to remote learning for every grade.

Clark said the school district learned Tuesday afternoon that a third positive COVID case was uncovered in a person through new testing.

North Hero, Grand Isle, and Alburgh also have each had one positive COVID case in their respective schools.

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