A COVID-19 outbreak that’s resulted in a large number of absences will see Okarche’s high school and junior high students move to virtual learning the next two weeks.

Superintendent Josh Sumrall announced the move Thursday and made it effective beginning Friday.

The high school and junior high (grades 7-12) had 85 students absent - out of 166 - due to quarantine on Thursday, extending an upward trend throughout the week.

That number included six students in those grades who had tested positive. Two staff members also tested positive, Sumrall said.

“Therefore, in an attempt to slow the spread, the junior and high school will transition to virtual learning,” he told patrons in a letter.

The move will extend through Tuesday, Nov. 24, but the school was already slated to be out beginning then for the Thanksgiving holiday.

That means students will return to in-person school Monday, Nov. 30.

“Teachers have prepared students for virtual learning throughout the last couple of months,” Sumrall said. “We hope that this time frame will allow those who are sick two weeks to recover and will also allow those in quarantine to have their 14 day quarantine expire.”

All extra-curricular activities during the time will also be postponed or canceled.That included Okarche’s high school basketball game at home with Lomega (Nov. 13), at Harding Fine Arts (Nov. 17) and at Oklahoma Christian Academy (Nov. 24).Elementary students will continue with in-person schooling, Sumrall said.

There are currently no positive cases among students, although 24 were on quarantine “due to exposure outside of school.”

One staff member tested positive Thursday, another was in quarantine and another returned Friday after being in quarantine.

“We will continue to monitor the elementary and their absences and make a decision day-by-day,” Sumrall said.

“We feel that the junior high and high school students are better equipped to handle virtual learning and the elementary students need to be in-person as much as possible and try to avoid virtual learning, if at all possible.”

He added that some elementary teachers would be teaching from home via Zoom, but there would be a teacher or teacher’s aide in each classroom.Sumrall said the parents and community have “overwhelmingly shared their understanding and support” since announcing the decision.”

There is not a right answer on how to respond to this virus,” he said. “We are just making decisions the best way we can right now, weighing the effects of the virus versus the effects of being in-person or virtual.”