John Adams sixth grade class moves to distance learning

(ABC 6 News) – Rochester Public Schools says it is seeing more positive Covid-19 cases within the district.

According to its dashboard — from November 8th through the 14th, there were 133 new positive cases. Almost 80 percent of those cases were among the unvaccinated. That makes a total of 817 cases this school year so far.

The increase in Covid-19 infections forced the district to transition an entire grade at John Adams Middle school to distance learning.

RPS said parents received a notice about the transition on Friday evening. So as those kids are distance learning. What does the district have planned so kids can remain in school?

RPS has something called the alternative quarantine program, it’s designed so kids can be in class quarantining if they were in close contact with another student who had the virus or if they’re a- symptomatic.

The three schools that offer this are Bishop Elementary, Willow Creek Middle school, and John Marshall high school. District leaders say the goal of this is to keep kids in the classroom.

During the school board meeting earlier this week, they said that in the first two weeks of this program — 80 to 85 percent of parents have chosen this program instead of the standard quarantine program at home.

"What we’re seeing is our families appreciate the opportunity for our children to remain in school. And if we can safely do that, I think that’s what we’re hoping to find. Is this feasible? Can we do this? Can we stop the transmission and yet allow these students to remain in school? ," said RPS Health Services Coordinator Leah Bancroft.

Students who are distance learning at John Adams will return to school in person after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend on November 29th.