ROCK SPRINGS — Sweetwater County School District (SCSD) No. 1 officials announced tonight that there have been 40 COVID-19 positive cases reported within the district since the first day of school.

In addition to the positive cases, several staff and students are also out sick and waiting for test results or are quarantined due to exposure, according to a letter to students, staff, parents and the community.

The District announced this evening that it is obligated to limit any further exposure within schools. If students or staff are considered a close contact they will receive “stay out of school instructions,” according to an announcement tonight on the ParentSquare App from SCSD No. 1 Superintendent Kelly McGovern and Human Resources Director Nicole Bolton.

The announcement goes on to state, “We are not quarantining individuals as that is not the district’s role, but rather the Wyoming Department of Health’s responsibility. We are simply issuing stay out of school instructions for families to follow.”

“We are responsible to try and mitigate exposure, keep students and staff safe, and keep schools open and operating,” the letter states.

The following is the ParentSquare letter in its entirety.

“As we enter the 2021-2022 school year, COVID-19 requires us to take precautionary measures in order to keep our students and staff safe and keep schools open. Although there are no restrictions in place and masks are optional, if an individual is positive, it is the school’s obligation to limit any further exposure within the school. If students or staff are considered a close contact, Sweetwater School District Number One will be issuing stay out of school instructions that match current CDC guidance. We are not quarantining individuals as that is not the District’s role but rather the Wyoming Department of Health’s responsibility. We are simply issuing stay out of school instructions for families to follow. Again, our ethical responsibility is to take every measure to keep exposure down among staff and students when a positive case is known. 

The School District does not take a political stance on COVID-19. We are responsible to try and mitigate exposure, keep students and staff safe, and keep schools open and operating. It is important that if an individual knows they are positive they report it so appropriate measures can be taken in a timely manner. We have high risk students and staff including those individuals that do not have the option to get vaccinated at this time. We need to notify all involved if there is exposure. We keep all student and staff information confidential. We need your help in doing the right thing.  

In the first 3 days of school we had 20 positive cases. In addition we have had 20 more positives reported over the weekend and today. We also have several staff and students out sick and waiting for test results or are quarantined due to exposure. With the decision to honor parents’ choice of wearing a mask, the school District has no avenue of exempting a student from having to stay home, therefore stay at home orders are increasing with exposure. We appreciate your support and partnership as we continue to take the steps necessary to limit exposure and keep schools open. 

School District Number One is still taking precautions and remaining knowledgeable about COVID-19 and any variant that is currently circulating. We will continue to promote and model good hand washing, utilize all of the upgraded ventilation systems, UV-C lighting, ionizers, and negative air pressure systems that our facilities installed last year, and we will continue to promote staying home if you are sick.

With the increase in positive cases and exposures, we have had multiple complaints reported of bullying and harassment of students and staff that have reported that they are positive. Sweetwater County School District Number One does not tolerate bullying of staff or students and will investigate any complaints that come forth. It will not be tolerated to bully, harass, or threaten an individual that has reported a positive in order to assist the District in taking measures to keep all individuals as safe as possible. Thank you for your help as we take each day and make the District a safe place for all of us.”