Illnesses forces Mount Ayr school to cancel school days

John Van Nostrand, The Creston News Advertiser, Iowa
·2 min read

Jan. 21—MOUNT AYR — A large number of illnesses, including ones from COVID, forced Mount Ayr school officials to cancel classes Jan. 24 through Jan. 26.

According to information from the school Thursday, the Mount Ayr school board held a special meeting to review absences and agreed to not have classes during those three days next week.

"Buildings will be closed and there will be no activities during this time in any building," according to a statement from the school Thursday. "These days will be made up by adding to the end of the year. The new end of school date is May 27 for students."

The school will also require masks through Friday, Feb. 4 on all school property and at activities. High school activities will be suspended Saturday through Jan. 26. There will be no Junior Raider activities through Jan. 26.

On the school district's Facebook page Wednesday, Superintendent Jason Schaefer thanked families for keeping their children home if they were sick or exposed. The school has had a variety of illnesses within all its buildings including COVID, quarantine and other ailments. He called this time a "tough spot."

Mount Ayr schools has seen its largest increase in COVID cases in the past week.

"Everyone needs to make a commitment to stay home when not feeling well and mask up while at school," he stated.

Schaefer encouraged those in the Mount Ayr district to take any and all precautions to prevent additional illnesses.

"Everything from social distancing, recommending masks, reinforcing respiratory etiquette, hand sanitizer, hand washing and nightly deep cleaning. We recently asked for more families to send children in masks. Several have been taking the added step to help protect themselves and limit the spread of illness. This measure helps the one thing we are limited on, germs in the air," Schaefer stated.

Ringgold County Public Health has offered to help the school district as the situation is too much for the school district's health services are "overwhelmed," Schaefer said. "We are too here, as are many of you."

Mount Ayr will find additional help to clean more of the school. Staff will also be be assisted to help teachers get their students caught up and provide relief for the staff. Schaefer said staff has gone "above and beyond."

Schaefer called it a "sacrifice" the next several days to wear a mask at school, limit gatherings and maintain social-distancing.

"Seems a small sacrifice to continue our goal of educating your students. We hope with our combined efforts that we can work through this together," he stated.

For more about the school's mitigation measures, go online to www.mtayrschools.org.