After closely monitoring cases of COVID-19 in the sixth grade at Skowhegan Area Middle School, the decision was made to shift to remote learning. In Maine School Administrative District 13 the superintendent reported two more cases of COVID-19 at Upper Kennebec Valley Jr./Sr. High School in Bingham, raising the number to five.

On Sunday, MSAD 54 Superintendent Jon Moody sent a notice to families saying that though the case, like every other within the district, had been contracted outside of school, there was enough information “to give us pause on continuing with in-person instruction for the sixth grade.”

He added that after speaking with local health professionals, Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention, and connecting with some families in the district, the decision was made out of an abundance of caution to move the sixth grade to remote learning for the remainder of the week. Grades seven and eight will continue under the hybrid learning model.

On Saturday, Moody said in a letter that there was a student at Skowhegan Area Middle School who has tested positive for COVID-19, and over the course of the day it was determined that exposure did not happen at school.

Moody also gave an update on the water situation, which caused district schools in Skowhegan to close for the day on Friday. Those schools opened Monday, with bottled water being provided and food being prepared without town water.

MSAD 54 serves the towns of Canaan, Cornville, Mercer, Norridgewock, Smithfield and Skowhegan.

TWO MORE CASES IN MSAD 13

Two more positive cases of COVID-19 were reported Monday at MSAD 13’s Upper Kennebec Valley Jr./Sr. High School, bringing the school’s total to five active cases.

Superintendent Sandra MacArthur said in a phone call Monday afternoon that a staff member and a student tested positive. Two staff members and a student tested positive earlier in the week.

“Our priority continues to be the health and safety of our students and staff,” MacArthur said. “We will continue to monitor the situation closely, and we will keep our parents, students and staff aware as we get more information.”

After shifting to fully remote learning last Tuesday, Upper Kennebec Valley Jr./Sr. High School will remain online until Monday, Nov. 30. There are approximately 90 students in the school and 180 students districtwide.

MSAD 13 serves the towns of Bingham, Moscow and Athens as well as some unorganized territories. At this time, Moscow Elementary School remains open for in-person learning as no cases have been recorded there.

The Maine CDC has not opened an outbreak investigation, according to an email from their spokesperson Robert Long.