Clovis, Melrose schools return to remote learning

CLOVIS — Clovis Municipal Schools and Melrose Schools have chosen to return to remote learning, citing rising COVID-19 cases in the community and a desire to retain some control over a return to hybrid learning models.

Both districts essentially ended virtual learning this week, with Melrose beginning remote learning on Monday and Clovis starting Nov. 30 after taking this week off for the holiday season.

The districts were first cleared for a phase-in to in-person learning in September, when Curry County met the state’s gating criteria of less than eight new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and test positivity below 5%. Education Secretary Ryan Stewart said to avoid putting schools and families in a yo-yo status, districts that entered hybrid learning would be able to remain in hybrid learning if their counties missed the gating criteria.

On Nov. 11, however, the PED implemented new requirements that any school site would be required to return to remote learning if there are four COVID-19 cases in a four-day period. Any school closed under that process could not return to hybrid learning until its county again met the gating criteria.

A district that voluntarily moved back to remote learning mode, in contrast, would retain the decision to re-enter hybrid learning at its own discretion regardless of county gating criteria.

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

The Clovis district had already returned Mesa Elementary and Yucca Middle School to remote learning due to staffing shortages from new COVID-19 cases and required quarantines for close contacts, and La Casita Elementary was on the state’s COVID-19 watchlist for two rapid responses within a 14-day period.

The district had more than 80 positive cases less than three weeks into November, and a release indicated the cases had “significant impact on attendance and the abiilty to conduct in-person learning.”

Clovis Municipal Schools will re-evaluate its position in January.

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

In a release to parents, Stacy noted the school does not have any active COVID-19 cases, but is acting due to the high rates of cases in Curry and surrounding counties and the impending impacts of holiday-related travel.

Bus student packets and meals will be deliered. 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.

Carisima Pyle, who has a daughter in kindergarten and another in second grade, said the transition is tough. Pyle, whose spouse is County Manager Lance Pyle, works full time at an insurance agency and understands the decision creates burdens on households where both parents work.

“Kids need interaction, hands-on (work) and creativity that is obtained by in-person learning,” she said. “However, as a community we must work together and do our part to slow the spread. I respect the school district’s decision and continue to pray that others join in following COVID-safe practices so we can reopen our schools again come January. Hopefully, middle and high school will be able to get back to in-person learning really soon as well.”

Staff writer Lily Martin contributed to this report.