<strong>F</strong>ranklin Community Schools canceled five events before spring break and advised parents in a letter Tuesday that children showing symptoms of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, will be sent home.
As of Wednesday, Johnson County had more cases of the respiratory disease than any other county in the state, according to a health department dashboard that’s tracking cases across the state. But officials at all six public school districts were not aware of any connections to staff or students at their schools.
The three Johnson County cases, along with one in Howard County, bumped the state’s total to 10 on Wednesday.
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Click here to purchase photos from this gallerySchools across the county continue to cancel or postpone events that were scheduled before spring breaks. Franklin schools announced the cancellation or delay of five events between now and the end of the month. Kindergarten registration, the Franklin Community High School band concert and Financial Aid Night at the high school were all postponed. The upcoming Google Summit and Franklin Community Middle School band and choir Indiana State School Music Association events were also canceled, according to a letter sent to Franklin schools’ parents Tuesday.
Franklin schools will send home students who are experiencing respiratory distress symptomatic of the virus, including continuous coughing, wheezing, a body temperature warmer than 100 degrees or shortness of breath, according to the letter.
At Clark-Pleasant schools, administrators canceled all extra-curricular activities Wednesday, including a swim meet and girls basketball game, both at Clark-Pleasant Middle School. The Pleasant Crossing Parent/Student Prom and Whiteland Community High School Riley Dance Marathon dinner, both scheduled for Friday, were canceled. Several more events through the end of the week were canceled, according to the district’s events calendar on its website.
Greenwood Community Schools postponed a field trip to the Indianapolis Children’s Museum set to take place before the end of the month, said Erin Arthur, the district’s secretary.
Administrators at Center Grove schools advised school principals to postpone any field trips scheduled before spring break, although there aren’t many scheduled, said Jason Taylor, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Technology.
Center Grove schools has not canceled extra-curricular or co-curricular activities, but will not penalize students who decide not to attend them, spokesperson Stacy Conrad said in an email.
Edinburgh Community Schools is on spring break. Staff and students are due back March 23.
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Timeline of coronavirus in Indiana:
Friday: A patient who recently traveled tests positive for Coronavirus in Marion County, the first in Indiana.
Sunday: A second case of the virus is confirmed in Hendricks County; a student at Hickory Elementary School in Hendricks County tests positive for the virus, the third case in Indiana. The school closes through March 20.
Monday: A fourth case is confirmed in Noble County, near Fort Wayne; a second student in Hendricks County shows symptoms of COVID-19, and all schools in the Avon Community School Corporation close through March 20.
Tuesday: Two new cases are confirmed, one in Boone County and one in Adams County.
Wednesday: Three cases are confirmed in Johnson County, along with one in Howard County, bringing the state’s tally to 10; the World Health Organization declares the virus a pandemic.
Source: Indiana Department of Health
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Canceled events at Franklin Community Schools:
<ul>
<li>Kindergarten Registration will be postponed. Information will be shared with parents once it is rescheduled.</li>
<li>Middle School band and choir ISSMA is canceled.</li>
<li>FCHS Spring Band concert will be rescheduled.</li>
<li>Financial Aid Night (FAFSA) at the high school is postponed.</li>
<li>Google Summit is canceled.</li>
</ul>
Source: Franklin Community Schools
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