N. Kingstown High School Switches To Remote Learning For 1 Week

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI — North Kingstown High School has switched back to remote learning this week after eight students tested positive for COVID-19, said Superintendent Phil Auger in a letter to families Sunday.

The cases were reported to the district by the Rhode Island Department of Health over the last few days, said Auger. There is no obvious link among the students who tested positive and it is currently unknown whether the cases are a result of in-school transmission.

"While it is good that the cases are not within one classroom, bus, or team, this also means that the contact tracing and the number of close proximity students and staff who need to quarantine is at over 100," said Auger.

The district believes that a week of remote learning is enough time to allow for students and staff to quarantine and return to school safely by Monday, March 22.

"Please stay vigilant about social distancing, wearing mask, and washing hands in your daily interactions," said Auger. "This will help us to return to normalcy sooner rather than later."

The superintendent also said over 300 North Kingstown school employees have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of this weekend.