Melrose to return to remote learning Monday

MELROSE — Melrose Schools has announced it will return to remote learning beginning Monday, according to a Thursday afternoon release from Superintendent Brian Stacy.

The district is taking advantage of Public Education Department requirements for schools currently in hybrid learning models. Currently, any school in hybrid learning would be required to return to remote learning if there are four COVID-19 cases in a four-day period and could not return to hybrid learning until its county met the gating criteria of less than eight new daily cases per 100,000 residents and test positivity below 5%.

The most recent two-week modeling shows Curry County nowhere near that at 64.4 new daily cases per 100,000 residents and test positivity of 18.6%. The next gating data update will be Wednesday.

A district that voluntarily moves to remote learning mode, however, can re-enter hybrid learning at its own discretion regardless of the county gating criteria.

The shift to remote learning is scheduled through Jan. 18, but Stacy said the district will adapt as needed and update families.

In the release, Stacy noted the school does not have any active COVID-19 cases, but is taking this step in consideration of high case rates in Curry and surrounding counties and the impending impacts of holiday-related travel.

Education packets and meals will be delivered to bus students. Non-bus student packet/meal pickup will be 8 a.m.-10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 1, Dec. 7, Dec. 14, Jan. 4 and Jan. 11.