GHS reports its first positive Covid-19 test

Within the first two days of the new school year, a member of Grafton High School tested positive for Covid-19, officials said.

A letter written by school Principal Scott Mantei and District Nurse Staccia McCulley that was sent to families on Wednesday, Sept. 2, states, “the Grafton School District was notified that a person in our District’s population tested positive for Covid-19 at Grafton High School.” 

Supt. Jeff Nelson would not confirm if the person was a student or staff member.

“Because of the population size we are not releasing details identifying cases as either staff or students,” Nelson wrote in an email. 

Officials said they have been working with the Washington-Ozaukee Public Health Department to identify, notify and quarantine students and staff members who may have come into close contact with the infected person. They also said they have cleaned and disinfected building spaces.

Families of students who came into contact with the person were contacted directly and sent a separate letter outlining instructions for monitoring systems, testing and how to limit family members from exposure. 

Those who came into contact have been assigned to online instruction for 14 days. 

Siblings in the same household who cannot be isolated from a family member who becomes ill must also stay home, the letter states.

According to the district’s coronavirus protocol, if 20% of a school’s population becomes sick, the school will be shut down for one day for cleaning. 

According to a survey of 958 parents in June, 58% prefer having complete in-person learning, 36% wanted a hybrid model of in-person and online learning and 6% wanted online learning only. 

At its June  meeting, the Grafton School Board agreed to have the district offer five days of in-person instruction with an online option for students who are unable to attend.