On Monday, November 30th, the Mt. Greylock administration sent out a school wide email announcing that a student recently tested positive for COVID-19.
While no specific information about the student can be provided, Principal Jacob Schutz said that “no student or staff member was considered a close contact of the affected student.”
The student has not been in the building for the past two weeks, so “this appears to be an isolated case.” If the school finds that a close contact has occurred, however, the individuals in contact will be “notified (by public health officials) and given directions on how to proceed.”
In an interview conducted with The Echo, Schutz said, “It may seem like we trudge uphill each day, slogging on against the resistance of overflowing and social expectations. Take satisfaction that we’ve already accomplished the hardest part…showing up.”
Schutz said, “Right now, all that matters is that we’re focused on the same goal.”
As of right now, Mt. Greylock plans to continue with the hybrid learning model. Conversely, many nearby high schools such as Hoosac Valley, Pittsfield, Taconic, and Drury have decided to transition to fully remote learning for the time being.
In an interview conducted prior to the reported case in the Greylock community, Schutz said, “We don’t have a date set to make a decision on any transition.”
When this decision does come, it will not be made lightly: “Daily and often hourly I confer with our nurse and superintendent among others to review our current situation,” said Schutz.
This reported case, albeit isolated, may affect this decision in the coming weeks.
This story is rapidly evolving, and will be updated if any new information is received.
