This article was originally written by Michael Lycklama in the Idaho Statesman.
Teachers returned to work Monday in the Boise School District. By Tuesday, the district had its first case of COVID-19.
South Junior High confirmed a presumed positive coronavirus case Tuesday evening in a memo to staff.
The memo, shared with the Idaho Statesman on Friday evening, says Central District Health contacted any employees who may have been exposed. It does not say if it was a teacher or staff member, how many were exposed or if anyone is under quarantine.
Those not contacted do not need to take additional precautions because their exposure is believed to be minimal or none, the memo reads.
“The news, while unfortunate, is a great reminder of the importance for all of us to be safe and practice techniques that we have been taught during the pandemic,” South Junior High Principal Melanie Koch wrote in the memo.
Boise will start the school year fully online Monday. It will not resume in-person classes until Sept. 8, at the earliest.
Central District Health has placed the Boise School District in the red category of community spread, the highest one available in Idaho’s back-to-school guidelines. That comes with a recommendation to start the school year online.
Boise also had four confirmed and four probable COVID-19 cases in June, leading thedistrict to shut down its summer athletic programs.
A Boise spokesperson provided the memo to the Idaho Statesman but was not immediately available to answer questions.
