Augusta’s Hussey Elementary School reports a positive COVID-19 case

AUGUSTA — An individual at Hussey Elementary School has tested positive for COVID-19, school officials said.

The news came via a letter from Superintendent James Anastasio on Tuesday afternoon. He noted that there is a possibility that some staff members and around 20 students were in close contact with the individual.

This is the second reported coronavirus case at one of the Augusta Public Schools, and the previous case was reported at Gilbert Elementary School in mid-October.

Hussey will be switching to remote learning from a hybrid learning model for the remainder of the week, and the school will be sanitized and deep cleaned.

As of now, the school is unsure if remote learning will only be until Friday, or if it will continue until Nov. 13, the letter said.

A decision will be made at the end of the day on Friday.

“Individuals who were in close contact will be notified by Hussey administration,” Anastasio said in the letter, adding that students and staff members should be monitoring themselves for symptoms of the coronavirus.

The Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention on Wednesday reported the state’s largest single day total with 151 coronavirus cases, including an 81-case outbreak at the Maine Correctional Center in Windham.

“It is unfortunate that we are all dealing with an interruption to school and it is an inconvenience and frustration as a result,” Anastasio said, “but the health and safety of students and staff is more important.”

OTHER AREA SCHOOLS REPORTING COVID-19 CASES

Three local school districts recently announced exposure to or positive coronavirus cases early this week.

In a notice to the community Wednesday, School Administrative District 46/Alternate Organizational Structure 94 Superintendent Kevin T. Jordan reported an individual associated with Tri-County Technical Center in Dexter tested positive. The individual who tested positive was last in school on Friday, Oct. 30. A total of five students and one staff member are in quarantine.

SAD 46/AOS 94 comprises the communities of Dexter, Exeter, Ripley and Garland, the Harmony School Department and Athens Community School.

In a letter to the community Tuesday, the administration at the Rangeley Lakes School/Regional School Unit 78 announced that individuals associated with the Rangeley Lakes Regional School were in close contact with individuals who tested positive for coronavirus. The school is going to be fully remote on Thursday and Friday. Extra-curriculars are suspended until Monday, Nov. 9.

RSU 78 comprises the communities of Dallas Plantation, Magalloway Plantation, Rangeley, Rangeley Plantation and Sandy River Plantation.

Farmington-based Mt. Blue Regional School District reported an additional case Monday. As reported by the Sun Journal, classes at Mt. Blue Regional High School Foster Career and Technical Education Center were remote on Monday and Tuesday. Despite a second case associated with an individual on the Mt. Blue campus, the district reopened for school Wednesday. There are 20 people in quarantine.

RSU 9 comprises the communities of Chesterville, Farmington, Industry, New Sharon, New Vineyard, Starks, Temple, Vienna, Weld and Wilton.

Morning Sentinel reporter Greg Levinsky contributed to this report.