By Roxie Murphy, Staff Writer
BELLE — As the first positive case of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 was diagnosed in Maries County on Sunday, Maries R-2 School District announced Monday morning that they would be out of classes until further notice, but will revisit the decision the week of April 20.
“We are not shut down for the year,” said Superintendent Dr. Lenice Basham an hour after she posted the news to the Maries R-2 Schools Facebook account. “After April 20, our decision of when to come back to school will be based on the health department’s recommendation.”
The Phelps-Maries Health Department did not release where the positive case was found.
“I don’t know if they will tell us,” Basham said, adding that students should continue doing their assigned homework and stay in contact with their teachers and building principals.
“We really want the seniors to be able to come back to school for a few weeks and give them a bit of normal,” Basham said. “We want all kids to be back to school.”
Basham pointed out that it isn’t just high school seniors who have been affected by COVID-19, but college seniors too.
“College seniors who want to be teachers didn’t get to do their student teaching,” Basham said.
Even though the student teaching requirement has been waived by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, that is a big part of the educational experience.
“What does that mean for them?” Basham asked. “As long as we keep thinking about the community and keeping them safe, the decisions get easier.”
Food pickups for families who need it will continue to be available on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings in Belle, Bland and Vichy.
“The food service is provided through the Department of Health and Senior Services,” Basham said. “It is the same people who provide food for our summer program.”
Basham asked the community to “keep their social distance” and hopefully they could salvage the remainder of the school year.
