COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Bartholomew County School Corporation (BCSC) is moving to all online instruction through at least Thanksgiving. The decision was made in the context of decisions by the city of Columbus and the county to go back to a Stage 4.5 status for general reopening because of a recent spike in COVID-19 cases.
Theaters and bowling alleys will be at 50% capacity. Restaurant dining rooms will be at 75% and bar seating at 50%. Social gatherings will be limited to 250 people.
In the four weeks since fall break, BCSC has picked up 71 new cases. Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts said that the hybrid model for instruction was posing staffing problems. On Thursday, for instance, BCSC was 23 bus drivers short of covering routes, and 21 classrooms were inadequately staffed. Roberts said that it was with “a great deal of consternation” that the administration made the decision.
Extracurricular activities are continuing, but BCSC is “very much dialing back” permitted attendance.
