Secondary schools – El Portal and Escalon High School – were able to welcome back students in a hybrid model on Monday, Nov. 9.

Monday, Nov. 16, Escalon Unified School District Superintendent Ron Costa confirmed there was a student testing positive for COVID-19. The student was at the high school and attended class on Tuesday, Nov. 10, experiencing some symptoms later Tuesday afternoon, said Costa.

Wednesday was a holiday for Veterans Day and the student did not attend on Thursday or Friday.

The student had two in-person classes on Tuesday, Costa said, and those students who were in class have been contacted and notified of the situation.

“They are going to quarantine and go back to distance learning,” said Costa of having to wait 14 days past exposure to see if any other students develop symptoms.

“Teachers are out for the week, too, and they have said they want to distance learn with their (quarantined) students, we will bring in subs for the in person classes,” explained Costa.

Next week, school will be out for the Thanksgiving break.

“We got the news Monday about 8:45 a.m. that the student had tested positive,” said Costa.

From there, he noted, the district worked quickly to make contact with the students who had been in class with the COVID-positive high schooler.

“None of the kids we talked to had any symptoms,” the superintendent added. “They will all be back after Thanksgiving.”

Costa said the district sent out a letter to all parents of high school students to alert them to the situation and principals at all district sites were provided with up to date information to share with their parents as well.

The hybrid model being used has half the secondary students attending classes two days a week, the other half going two other days and Wednesday is a distance learning day for all.

On the high school campus, Costa said he has seen students wearing masks, practicing social distancing and being “very responsible” by following established protocols.

“I’m pleased with the dedication of our staff and students,” Costa said.

He added that officials anticipate seeing some COVID cases, as numbers in the county are on the upswing.

The first elementary school sites in the district opened on Oct. 6 and this was the first confirmed COVID case on any of the campuses.