COVID variant-linked outbreak shutters downtown Hamilton elementary school

Hamilton's public school board has closed Dr. J.E. Davey Elementary School amid a COVID-19 outbreak involving a variant of concern.

In a press release Saturday, the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board said students at the central city school would temporarily" move from in-person to remote learning starting on Monday.

The move is expected to last until at least March 26, said the board.

Since March 15, six students and two staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. An outbreak was declared on March 18 and cases connected to the outbreak have screened positive for a variant of concern.

The closure is a result of the school's inability to provide appropriate" staffing levels due to the number of staff identified as close contacts by Hamilton public health, stated the release.

Safety continues to drive our school operation decisions as we respond to COVID-19 in our community," stated education director Manny Figueiredo. While we want our students learning in person and at school, we have to be ready to pivot our learning model to manage school cases and respond to the impact on staffing levels."

According to the board, teachers at the school will use The Hub and Microsoft Teams to provide real-time" and independent" learning for students in the school. Staff will also provide technology to families in need of learning devices.

The board said students are expected to move back to in-person learning on March 29. Any extension to remote learning will be shared with families immediately."

During the closure, before- and after-school programming at the school will be shut down. Childcare programming for infants, toddlers and preschoolers will remain open.

Dr. J.E. Davey is the second school to move from in-person to remote learning since January. Glenwood School in west Hamilton was the first in the city's public board.

Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com