Multiple schools in Nye affected by COVID-19

Multiple schools within the Nye County School District, across the county, were affected by COVID-19 in recent weeks.

According to the school district, over the last weekend in Tonopah, “we had four different students’ parent test positive for COVID-19.”

According to the district, 12 students were exposed to the positive parents.

“We also had one staff member at JG Johnson and one staff member at Pathways test positive,” emailed information from the school district stated. “Out of an abundance of caution, we are moving the instruction for Tonopah and JG Johnson to 100% online for this week.”

According to the district, “Pathways has very few students attend in person,” but those that were scheduled for Monday, Oct. 26 remained home.

The district stated on Monday that the plan was for students to return to classrooms on Nov. 2 in Tonopah and at J.G. Johnson.

As of Thursday, the district stated that J.G. Johnson students would return. But “Tonopah will remain closed through next week,” according to an email from the district.

The Nye County School District also confirmed earlier this month that a staff member tested positive at Floyd Elementary, the second school employee within the district known to test positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. Students that have been quarantining are scheduled to return to classes on Monday.

PVHS has also announced a positive case at the high school in a letter addressed to families on Wednesday, Oct 21, which was posted to the school’s website.

Tonopah returns to virtual

This is the second time Tonopah Schools have returned to virtual classes since returning to in-person instruction.

In mid-September, multiple students and staff had called in for “illness-related symptoms,” according to an email sent to parents at that time.

In a statement at that time, the district said, “Tonopah Principal Melinda Jeffery and Superintendent Dr. Shillingburg are transferring the education of students from in-person to distance learning as a precaution due to the number of students and staff who have called in ill. No positive cases of COVID-19 have been reported for Tonopah Schools.”

Contact Interim Editor Jeffrey Meehan at jmeehan@tonopahtimes.com