O’Fallon, IL elementary school is back in-person after closing for COVID outbreak

Central Elementary School in O’Fallon resumed in-person classes Monday, following a two-week shutdown prompted by a COVID-19 outbreak.

Thirty-seven students had tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the Thanksgiving break.

The elementary school in Central School District 104 has 299 students, according to the Illinois Report Card, making for a 12% COVID positivity rate within the building. Seven staff members also tested positive, but Superintendent Dawn Elser said at the time that they had been cleared to return to work before the shutdown.

Joseph Arthur Middle School continued as normal with in-person attendance during Central Elementary’s remote learning period.

According to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health, the outbreak was first reported Nov. 16 and originated in a classroom.

Last year, many local school districts went virtual between Thanksgiving and winter break to curb the COVID spread that might come with students and their families traveling for the holidays. With vaccines now widely available, including for children as young as 5 years old, that step isn’t being taken this year.

This story was originally published November 30, 2021 at 12:54 PM.