Extended break helped schools cope with virus impact

Both Findlay City and McComb schools reported better attendance numbers after taking a slightly extended break over the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend. Findlay schools were closed Friday through Tuesday to address staff shortages and student and staff absenteeism due to high COVID-19 infection and quarantine rates. McComb was closed Monday and Tuesday. Both schools were scheduled to be closed Monday for the holiday. "Our student attendance has drastically improved from where it was last week," Tony Fenstermaker, superintendent of McComb Local Schools, said Thursday. "Securing substitute teachers continues to be challenging. We appreciate all the support from our staff and community during these times." The improved numbers for McComb come less than a week after absenteeism in the district spiked to 60%, prompting school officials to cancel classes for an extra day. On Thursday, McComb reported five active cases of COVID-19 among students and three among staff members. A total of 10 students were being quarantined, as was one staff member. That compares to 14 active student cases, with 33 quarantined, last Friday, Jan. 14. Staff numbers remained the same. Findlay City Schools Superintendent Troy Roth said the district's student attendance rate improved from only 86% last week to 91% on Wednesday and Thursday. He said staffing numbers have also improved this week. "Two previous weeks we averaged 18 unfilled teacher substitutes positions throughout the district. For the two days we have been in session this week, the average has been seven," said Roth. "We continue to monitor staff and our COVID dashboard on a daily basis with the goal of maintaining in-person learning for our students." On Thursday, the city schools were reporting 67 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among students, with 228 students quarantined. That compares to 113 active student cases reported a week ago, with 768 students quarantined. Staff numbers also improved, with 18 active cases reported Thursday, compared to 38 a week ago. Only two staff members were reported in quarantine on Thursday, compared to 20 a week earlier. Grant: 419-427-8412