COVID-19 cases creep upward at Wellesley High

November 23, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley Public School COVID-19 case scoreboard watchers continue to see the numbers rising.

Wellesley High School Four more positive cases have been added to the Wellesley High totals over the past few days, with one new case reported Friday and three more today, for a total of 22 on the school year.

That total accounts for nearly 80% of reported cases in the school system. Though consider that WPS has been doing weekly testing of not just faculty/staff throughout the system, but students at Wellesley Middle School and High School (not so much at the high school since it recently went remote-only until after Thanksgiving).

Over the weekend, Wellesley Pubic Schools (WPS), the Health Department, and Facilities Management Department announced that they had joined forces on an investigation into a recent cluster of COVID-19 cases at the high school and determined that changes are needed in the main office space.

Wellesley High CSI (COVID-19 Scene Investigation): Main office a hotspot

November 21, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley Pubic Schools (WPS), the Health Department, and Facilities Management Department joined forces on an investigation into a recent cluster of COVID-19 cases at the high school and determined that changes are needed in the main office space.

WPS and the Health Department said in a joint statement that: “The team concluded that the origin of the transmission of a large number of cases was the main office area and recommended a number of additional mitigation measures, including reducing the density of individuals in this area, better defining one-way entrance/egress, increasing air circulation, and modifying the use of plexiglass dividers. This last finding was both surprising and important for us, as our test of air circulation in this area using smoke devices clearly showed that in several cases, plexiglass dividers, when coupled with side panels, significantly impeded air circulation.”

We’ve heard that other town departments have been hungry for this sort of detail to help determine whether they should be reconsidering their own COVID-19 precautions. But up until now, WPS hadn’t made clear at least publicly where within the school population cases were coming from. Now it has revealed that “the majority of WPS cases have involved adult members of the school community,” though adds that student cases are rising at the secondary level (no student cases have been reported at the elementary school level).

WPS. Supt. Dr. David Lussier vowed this past week that forensic efforts would be made to determine possible COVID-19 protocol issues.

As outlined in the memo issued on Saturday, “This included a review of heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and air circulation, mapping movement patterns and locations of work stations, cleaning protocols, and many other areas of daily operations.”

Mitigation steps will be taken before school reconvenes in person after Thanksgiving, and other school and town buildings will be reviewed as well. Baseline testing is also being planned for the high school community before everyone returns. WHS went all remote at least temporarily when the recent COVID-19 cluster emerged.

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3 COVID-19 cases reported at Wellesley Middle School

November 19, 2020 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

The Wellesley Middle School community has now registered its first positive COVID-19 test results of the school year, according to a letter sent to that community by Director of Nursing Services Linda Corridan.

According to Corridan’s memo (embedded below), “If you have not been notified by me or the Middle School nurses then you or your child were not identified as a close contact. At this time, there is no evidence of direct transmission within the school and these cases appear to be unrelated. I want to reassure you that we continue to adhere to all of our safety protocols that we have put in place.”

It’s unclear whether the cases involve administration, faculty, other staff, or students, as Wellesley Public Schools has cited privacy reasons for not revealing such details to this point. It would be helpful for the community to get a sense of this information to stem speculation, and for other organizations in town to be able to learn about what’s working or not in terms of prevention measures.

The general case data has been added to the WPS case dashboard. WPS only allows faculty/staff/parents/guardians to receive direct communications on case updates, except on occasion when WPS and the Board of Health jointly issue memos, as they have done a couple of times recently regarding a rise in cases at the high school.

“I know there’s a lot of conversation about the degree to which the district is providing even more details,” Supt. Dr. David Lussier said during this week’s School Committee meeting. “We’re working in partnership with the Wellesley Health Department to find and strike a balance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality while also wanting to be transparent and provide communication to the community.”

(We’re fortunate to have members of the community who pass along the communications to us, to help keep the wider community informed about this public health crisis.)

wms tents — Wellesley Middle School tents

WPS has been conducting weekly surveillance testing of faculty and staff across the system, as well as Wellesley Middle School and High School students, though with the high school closed for now, those WPS members aren’t being tested. Participation in the testing program is not mandatory, and about 70% to 80% are taking the tests overall, Lussier said earlier in the week at a Board of Health meeting.

Wellesley High School has been closed until after Thanksgiving due to a spike in cases there in recent weeks, but the cluster there (14 cases over the past 2 weeks) has not affected the schedules of other schools in the system. WPS is looking to do a new round of baseline testing before students and staff return from the Thanksgiving break, and is working out logistics.

Wellesley has veered into the “yellow” level on the state’s recently reconfigured weekly COVID-19 public health report, based on average daily COVID-19 incidence rate per 100,000 people.

Wellesley had consistently been a “green” community but shot up from 5.3 to 13.7 cases per 100,000 on last week’s chart vs. this week’s.

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Wellesley schools readjusting COVID-19 testing plans heading into Thanksgiving

November 16, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Public Schools system up until now has discouraged students and staff from stocking up on COVID-19 viral test kits at home, concerned that not picking them up on a weekly basis might lead to some forgetfulness. But in light of the recent spike in positive cases at the high school and with Thanksgiving break fast approaching, WPS is going to change things up a bit in the short term.

WPS Supt. Dr. David Lussier said during Monday’s Board of Health meeting that the school system will be distributing two kits per person this week, one to be returned next Monday, and another for the Monday following Thanksgiving (students have that day off, teachers have a professional day).

The surveillance testing program is voluntary, though all faculty and staff, and all Middle School and High School students, are being encouraged to participate. About 70% to 80% are getting tested, with some missing out while they quarantine, Lussier said. As a public school system, WPS can’t make the tests mandatory.

The superintendent added that there’s interest in conducting more baseline testing at the high school before classes resume post-Thanksgiving. But this will be a bit complicated logistically, he acknowledges, given families’ holiday plans.

WPS has brokered good discounts with testing partners such as Mirimus so far, and currently has funding for its testing program via the Wellesley Education Foundation that would carry it through winter break. “We’ve got to make some decisions going forward after that,” Lussier said.

In discussing viral testing program funding, Lussier was responding to a question at the meeting from the Advisory Committee’s John Lanza. Lanza and Board of Health members recently discussed funding and other aspects of the viral testing program at another Board of Health meeting, and revisited those questions at this Monday’s meeting with the public school officials available to reply.

Since that earlier meeting, in a very public show of cooperation, Lussier and Wellesley Health Director Lenny Izzo have co-signed letters updating the entire Wellesley community about the positive cases at the high school, which has become a COVID-19 cluster.

Plenty of joint work remains between WPS and the Health Department, as was clear from discussion at this Monday’s meeting about the intricacies of contact tracing within the schools and across communities when WPS staff tests positive. Additional forensic steps will be taken to root out what caused the virus to spread at Wellesley High.

“We have irrefutable evidence that there was transmission in the school despite all the steps we had taken and mitigation efforts,” Lussier said. “It’s really important that we understand as much as we can of what may have been behind some of these cases before we reopen…”

Wellesley Public Schools report more COVID-19 cases

November 15, 2020 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley Public Schools and the Wellesley Health Department followed up this past Wednesday’s report of a COVID-19 case spike at Wellesley High, and the subsequent closing of the school for in-person classes until next month, with an update regarding five additional cases. (Update: 11/16/20—another case was reported on Monday.)

The decision to temporarily close the high school for in-person learning happened despite the school system still passing two of three metrics on its COVID-19 dashboard. Wellesley High is now averaging a positive case per day over the past two weeks.

Wellesley High School, fall 2020 The new cases were revealed amidst a backdrop of concerning COVID-19 metrics across the state, which has seen a marked increase in the seven-day average for confirmed cases and hospital patients (nearby, Newton-Wellesley Hospital has stopped permitting visitors in light of the situation). The state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has recently begun releasing data on COVID-19 cases across the Commonwealth’s school districts as well.

“Officials are reporting evidence of community spread and are urging everyone to continue to do their part and follow all current guidelines,” according to notice issued by the town. The new cases are related to the positive cases identified this past week.

The Wellesley Public School system recently expanded its viral testing program to include voluntary surveillance testing of staff and Wellesley Middle School and High School students.

Dear Members of the Wellesley Community,

We write to share an update on the number of positive COVID-19 cases that have continued to be identified at Wellesley High School. At the time of our joint message last Wednesday, eight cases had been identified in less than one week. Following that announcement, additional positive cases have been confirmed, bringing that total now to 13 positive cases within 11 days. While these cases have included both students and staff, the majority of the cases have been adult members of the WHS staff, with strong evidence of in-school transmission. At this point in time, these cases have not impacted any other school.

Based on both the prior and active contact tracing related to these cases completed in close collaboration between the Wellesley Public Schools and Wellesley Department of Health, we are continuing to conduct a detailed analysis of the cause(s) of this cluster to help guide any further mitigation steps we can take prior to WHS reopening after Thanksgiving.

We recognize that this news is disconcerting given the many safety layers that were already in place at WHS and across all schools. We will continue to do everything we can to support the safe, continued operations of the Wellesley Public Schools moving forward.

As always, we each have a role to play in stopping the spread of the virus, including wearing masks, washing our hands, social distancing, and avoiding large gatherings. All of these steps will be particularly important to follow as we approach the holiday season.

Thanks for your continued support.

Dr. David Lussier

Superintendent of Schools

[email protected]

Leonard Izzo

Director, Wellesley Health Department

[email protected]

Wellesley residents line up to shop their neighbors’ cast-offs

November 13, 2020 by Deborah Brown 2 Comments

There are a few select spots in town where Wellesley residents are willing to line up for the kind of choice delicacies that delivery services just can’t be trusted to handle. The Cheese Shop on the days before Thanksgiving and Christmas, and Green’s Hardware on a Saturday morning during a pandemic are a couple that come to mind.

The Wellesley Reusables Area is currently the hottest shopping spot in town. As I drove by the area on my way to the compactors on Nov. 12, I wondered if Wasik’s Cheese Shop had set up an outpost here and was taking orders for Camembert.

Add the Reusables Area, at the town’s Recycling and Disposal Facility (RDF), to that short but elite list. There are many homes in town in which every room has in some way been “touched by the dump.” A vase in this corner, a side table in the dining room, an area rug—one never knows when the perfect find will present itself, get loaded into the Lex, and given pride of place among the carefully curated interiors of Swellesley homes.

With the area’s limited COVID-driven system that allows drop-off of items and shopping on alternate weeks, along with limited hours for both, the area has become the hottest place in town. When we made our weekly dump run, residents were lined up to shop the tables, patiently waiting behind the Jersey barriers for their turn to be one of 20 at a time allowed to cruise the area in search of treasures.

Wasik's Cheese Shop, Wellesley — Wasik’s Cheese Shop, Wellesley. File photo 2015.

With the shopping part of the equation ending soon (Fri., Nov. 20 is the final drop-off day; Fri. Nov. 27 is the final shopping day), the Reusable Area’s precious resources are becoming scarce, indeed. Who knew the basic principles of economics would come to reveal themselves so dramatically at the dump?

Wellesley RDF hours

Keep in mind that the Reusables Area’s schedule has no bearing on the rest of the RDF’s doings. You can drop off your recycling, trash, yard waste, and more at these times:

Mon. – Wed.: 7am – noon
Thur., Fri., Sat.: 7am – 3:45pm
Sun., (July 12 – November 29, 2020): 10am – 3pm

Spike in COVID-19 cases forces Wellesley High to go remote through Thanksgiving

November 11, 2020 by Bob Brown 2 Comments

Wellesley High School, which has been offering students a mix of in-person and remote learning this fall, has been forced to go all remote through Thanksgiving due to six new positive COVID-19 cases detected today via its surveillance testing program. Additional cases were revealed earlier in the week and last week, and 12 of 14 cases detected overall so far this school year have been at the high school.

Wellesley High athletics will be scrapped for the reminder of the fall season as a result of the spike in COVID-19 cases at the school. What becomes of winter sports remains to be seen.

“With this number of cases materializing in such a short period of time, the School and Health Departments agree that the most prudent step to take is to direct Wellesley High School to transition to full remote learning beginning tomorrow, November 12th, through the Thanksgiving holiday, with classes resuming in person on Tuesday, December 1st,” Wellesley Public Schools Supt. David Lussier and Wellesley Health Department Director Lenny Izzo wrote today to members of the Wellesley Community (full letter below).

All this against a backdrop of the state urging schools to get back in the classroom. “Fully remote instructional models should be implemented only as a last resort, and classrooms should reopen after appropriate mitigation strategies have been implemented,” according to the Commonwealth’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

WPS expects to receive more viral test results on Thursday from samples collected on Tuesday from students and staff.

The events at Wellesley High won’t immediately affect other schools in the system. WPS staff across the district, as well as Wellesley Middle School students, will continue to be tested under the voluntary surveillance program.

Lussier and Izzo wrote: “While we recognize that this news is disappointing, we are also reassured that we were able to identify these cases rapidly to stop any further transmission. It remains critical that we each do our part to stop the spread of the virus including wearing masks at all times, social distancing, hand washing, and avoiding gatherings. WPS will continue working in collaboration with the Wellesley Health Department to further assess this situation and determine any additional action steps.”

Wellesley High Principal Jamie Chisum added in a note to families that “I appreciate this is disappointing news for all of us. So many of us have worked so hard to keep our school open, we wish we didn’t have to move to remote learning right now.”

Chisum stressed his belief in the viral testing program, which is currently voluntary:

“I do want to thank all of the people who helped put our testing program in place. I do believe without a doubt it helped us here and that it has already prevented the spread of more cases than we already have. When we return it will be essential for everyone who can to be a part of our surveillance program moving forward.”

WHS is now closed to students, though they can arrange to pick up items if it’s urgent.

As we reported last week, some town officials and board members, including those from the Select Board, Board of Health and Advisory Committee, continue to raise questions about the testing program from a public health and financial perspective. They’ve all got some fresh data to mull now.

Lussier had cautioned recently that the upcoming holidays could be a flash point for members of the community letting their guard down related to COVID-19 protocols. Unfortunately, the virus has taken a toll on the school system even before we get to that point.

Thank you to those WPS parents who shared information with us, as well as the WPS and the town for sharing this info.

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