Dozens of students, staff quarantined in 1st week of classes in St. Lucie County

The first week of school in St.

Lucie County wrapped up Friday and despite the challenges of coronavirus, leaders say there were only a few minor blips.

MEMBERS HAVE TESTEDPOSITIVE....AND MORE THAN 100PEOPLE NOW IN QUARANTINE.TONIGHT - THE FIRST WEEK OFSCHOOL IN ST LUCIE COUNTY ISIN THE BOOKS...AND DESPITE THECHALLENGES....LEADERS SAYTHERE WERE ONLY A FEW MINORBLIPS.

WPTV NEWSCHANNEL 5'SRYAN HUGHES SPOKE WITH THESUPERINTENDENT....WHO ISASKING FOR ACCOUNTABILITYKEEP EVERYONE SAFE.<< "IF YOU'RE NOT FEELINGWELL, YOU NEED TO STAY HOME."ST LUCIE PUBLIC SCHOOLSSUPERINTENDENT WAYNE GENTREITERATING AN IMPORTANTMESSAGE TO STUDENTS ANDPARENTS....AFTER 106 STUDENTSAND 8 STAFF MEMBERS AT STLUCIE WEST CENTENNIAL HIGHSCHOOL ARE QUARANTINED ATHOME.

THE DISTRICT ANNOUNCEDFRIDAY A STUDENT TESTEDPOSITIVE FOR THE CORONAVIRUS."THE STUDENT WAS ABSENT ANDTHE PARENT NOTIFIED THE SCHOOLCENTER THAT THE CHILD WASABSENT, AND THATS SO IMPORTANTTHAT WE HAVE A DAILYCHECKLIST." DISTRICT LEADERSALSO SAYING A STUDENT TESTEDPOSITIVE FRIDAY AT FRANCIS KSWEET ELEMENTARY IN FORTPIERCE.

DURING THE FIRST WEEKBACK....THREE OTHER SCHOOLHAD CONFIRMED CASES.

"WE WEREPREPARED FOR WHERE WE WEREGOING TO HAVE A POSITIVE CASEON A CAMPUS, OR WHETHERSTUDENTS HAD TO BEQUARANTINED.

OUR PROTOCOWERE SPOT ON." THE EDUCATIONASSOCIATION OF ST LUCIE...THEUNION REPRESENTING TEACHERSAND STAFF AGREES...THE FIRSTWEEK WAS A SOMEWHAT SMOOTHTRANSITION...RELATIVE TO THEUNIQUE CHALLENGES EVERYONE ISFACING.

"WE STIL HAVE A LOT OFPEOPLE THAT ARE REALLYNERVOUS, BUT I THINK THEACTUAL IN- SCHOOL EXPERIENCEHAS GOTTEN BETTER AS THE WEEKHAS GONE ON." ROUGHLY45-PERCENT OF STUDENTSRETURNED TO THE CLASSROOMMONDAY.

THE SUPERINTENDENTASKING FORACCOUNTABILITY....IF YOU ORSOMEONE IN YOUR HOME IS SICKOR AWAITING TESTRESULTS...STAY HOME.

"WE'LLCONTINUE TO STRESS THAT ALLYEAR LONG...DO THAT CHECKLIST,MAKE SURE THEY HAVE NOINFLUENZA-LIKE SYMPTOMS ANDTHEN IF THEY DO KEEP THEMHOME." THE DISTRICT ADDING ITIS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THEHEALTH DEPARTMENT PERFORMINGCONTACT TRACING...AND THESCHOOLS WITH CONFIRMED CLASSESWILL BE DEEP CLEANED ANDDISINFECTED.