Staff Report —
Four reported cases of COVID-19 at Occohannock Elementary last week led to its closure.
Parents were notified of the first case Nov. 24, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, but “… we were informed of the additional three cases after we were already out for the Thanksgiving break,” said Superintendent Charles “Eddie” Lawrence in a subsequent letter to parents.
In the initial parent notification, Lawrence announced the classroom of the first student would be closed until Dec. 7. The additional three cases “resulted in members of the instructional staff being quarantined,” the letter disclosed, and “under an abundance of caution and to contain further spread of the virus,” the school was closed and will reopen Monday, Jan. 4, 2021.
A separate memo was issued regarding instruction. “In order to continue with instruction for those hybrid students we will be passing out instructional packets at the school from 10-12 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday,” the memo reads. “In addition, you can obtain instructional materials and school meals on Tuesdays and Thursdays” from the following locations:
From 10:00 a.m.-noon:
Occohannock Elementary School
From 10:00-11:00 a.m.:
Jamesville Post Office
Antioch Baptist Church in Birdsnest
New Roads
From 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.:
Little Italy Parking Lot
Food Lion, Exmore
Hare Valley School
From 10:00-11:30 a.m.:
School Board Office in Machipongo
Meals will be distributed Dec. 1, 2020, Dec. 3, Dec. 8, Dec. 10, Dec. 15, and Dec. 17.
Parents will be required to show ID of students and provide names of nonschool-age children not enrolled in school and are 18 years old and under. Meals will be
provided, on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Times are approximations and virtual students may use the same locations and times to pick up their meals.
The closure letter and memos regarding instruction continuity and school meals can be found at the school district’s website, https://www.ncpsk12.com/
