PIUTE COUNTY, Utah — The Piute County School District is going online for two weeks due to a slight uptick in COVID-19 cases.
The district announced Sunday that starting Monday (Oct. 5), its schools will begin digital instruction. They will return to in-person learning on Oct. 21. Students are off Oct. 19-20 for fall break.
The reason for the change, the district said, was due to some new positive cases of the virus, which, although low in number, had forced more and more students, faculty and staff to quarantine. Two new cases were confirmed Sunday in the district.
The district said that fewer than five students have tested positive at Piute High School, although it didn't give an exact number. However, more than 60 students there have been quarantined due to the positive cases, and some teachers and staff have also been quarantined or are on leaves of absence due to illness. Due to the absences, the district says it has struggled to find substitutes, so it is shifting temporarily to online learning.
Some small group meetings, tutoring and extracurricular activities may still take place. Piute High baseball and cross country practices and matches will continue under Utah High School Activities Association guidelines, and the volleyball team will resume practice Oct. 12.
School meals will still be available during this time. They will be provided as grab-and-go meals and will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the following locations:
- Circleville Elementary for Circleville residents
- Oscarson Elementary for Maryvale residents
- Piute High School for Junction, Kingston, Antimony, Greenwich, Koosharem residents
School buses will not run.
Individual schools will communicate specifics to students and parents/guardians. Anyone with questions is told to contact their school or the district office.
