Dozens quarantined after virus resurfaces at schools

Libby Public Schools saw a coronavirus outbreak this week, which put dozens of students and staff members into quarantine.

“It was a nice little flare-up,” said Superintendent Ron Goodman on March 24. “We had nothing, nothing and pow.”

Eight students tested positive for the virus at the Libby Middle High School earlier this week. Goodman said two staff members also tested positive at Libby Elementary School. As of March 24, county health department officials asked those who tested positive, along with another 25 district members at the middle high school and one student at the elementary school, to quarantine.

Goodman said there was no evidence to suggest that the virus was spreading within school buildings.

“We’re not even thinking about closing school at this point,” he said.

The superintendent said he was working to dispel rumors that the outbreak originated at prom, which the high school held last weekend. If students caught the virus at the event, Goodman said health officials would likely be unable to detect the cases until the end of the week.

Since reopening classrooms last fall, the district has weathered recurring bouts of positive test results and quarantines. In recent months, though, as the number of positive cases countywide has continued to dip, few students and staff have missed school due to the virus.

During a March 8 school board meeting, Ruth Vanworth-Rogers, middle high school principal, said the school had no students or staff out in quarantine. Andrew Stiger, elementary school principal, reported the school had one student in quarantine.

Administrators and county health officials held a meeting on March 18 to discuss potential coronavirus policy updates as the district enters the final months of the school year. Goodman said group would recommend that the school board lift the district’s mask requirement on April 29.

During previous board meetings, members have suggested loosening face covering restrictions toward the end of the year. At the March 8 meeting, the board tabled a policy that would have reiterated the requirement.

In recent weeks, administrators have faced criticism regarding their decision to require masks after state and county officials lifted their mandates. A group of high school students launched an anti-mask campaign and began circulating a petition in February. By March 8, when the students presented their grievances to the board, the petition had garnered 161 signatures from parents, students and family members.

In their discussions over the district’s mask requirement, Goodman and school board members have raised concerns that lifting the policy too early could endanger staff members with medical conditions, who are especially vulnerable to the virus. As access to vaccines in Lincoln County has increased, this worry has abated.

Goodman said 28 school employees took advantage of doses administered through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. The program, launched by President Joseph Biden’s administration to speed up the reopening of schools while protecting educators, partnered with Granite Pharmacy to deliver vaccines locally.

Goodman said staff members who received their first doses through the program on March 18 are expected to get their second round of shots on April 16.