JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Three Duval County schools are closed and have shifted to virtual learning, including Fletcher, Douglas Anderson, and Providence School of Jacksonville.
Duval County Public Schools said Wednesday that the situation at Douglas Anderson is stable, with no new reported cases of COVID-19. However, a representative said Fletcher is moving in the “wrong direction” with cases continuing to climb. There are now more than 40 total cases, including some involving the swim and dive team, and other athletic teams.
The district is reminding families that all Fletcher students need to quarantine. Sandalwood High School is also seeing a spike in cases. The principal sent a note home Wednesday explaining there’s at least seven positive cases. But the district said, “we do not foresee this getting to the 20% threshold for school closure.”
Teachers at Sandalwood still fear their school could be next to move online. Shannon Russell-Hinds is an 11th-grade English teacher. She told Action News Jax’s Robert Grant, “we’re all concerned that Sandalwood High School, the largest school in the district, may be the next that needs to close temporarily.”
DCPS said Douglas Anderson and Fletcher cases were the result of off-campus activities and could not confirm nor deny the possibility of homecoming parties leading to a spike.
Dr. Jennifer Cowart, who is also a Duval County mother, said closing schools at the 20% threshold is a must to avoid larger community spread. “Once you get that super-spreading event that then spreads to everybody else in school, now everybody has potential to bring it to the community. That’s where we could really see a rise in community rates.”
Cowart said contact tracing can take several days. Action News Jax reached out to St. Johns and Clay County for their procedures.
In a statement, St. Johns County School District said, “Our local Department of Health has not provided guidance on a threshold and currently examines each case individually.”
Clay County also said it follows the local health department guidelines and recommendations for closing schools.
Cox Media Group
