Two schools in New Mexico sent students home early for the Thanksgiving weekend, not to get a jump start on the holiday, but in response to concerns of a surge in COVID-19 infections.
Students at Santa Fe Public Schools switched to remote learning beginning last Tuesday, while Los Lunas schools canceled classes altogether beginning last Monday, KRQE reported.
“This a strategic move to decrease our active COVID positive numbers,” Los Lunas Schools superintendent Arsenio Romero said, according to AP. “We are aware that this can cause undue hardship for working parents.”
Schools have the power to switch to remote learning if COVID-19 infections climb and multiple quarantines make in-class learning unfeasible for the staff.
About 20 New Mexico schools have sent children home due to virus outbreaks each month, according to information the Associated Press received from voluntary notices submitted by schools to state education authorities.
There are schools elsewhere in New Mexico that have reported more COVID-19 infection cases than the school districts in Santa Fe and Los Lunas, according to data the AP updated from the New Mexico Environment Department. Those other districts, however, have elected to continue in-class learning. In Albuquerque, one school reported five positive tests and in Las Cruces, there are schools that have had six positive tests.
A shortage of child care becomes a critical issue when remote learning is instituted. Even teachers find it difficult to teach online classes while caring for their own children.
“We’re in discussion with the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department on the possibility of the district providing child care for staff,” Superintendent Hilario Chavez wrote in an editorial printed in the Santa Fe New Mexican.
