An elementary school in Williamsburg-James City County closed early Friday after a volunteer with the school allegedly tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19).
In an email sent to WJCC staff and community, Superintendent Olwen Herron said a volunteer with Matthew Whaley Elementary School contacted the school to inform administration she had tested positive for the virus.
In response, the school will close at 10:30 a.m. Friday. All other schools in the division are operating on their normal schedule.
Students who came in contact with the volunteer will remain in a separate area from the rest of the students and staff until they can be picked up by their parents or guardian.
Herron said the division is working to contact the small number of families whose child may have come in contact with the virus.
If parents are not able to make arrangements to have their children picked up, they should call the school’s main office at 757-229-1931.
In the meantime, Herron said the school building is clean and thanked the community for being understanding as the district “navigates these unchartered waters.”
“Obviously, this news is upsetting to all of us,” she said.
The division will continue to be in contact with the health department and plans to make announcements about future school operations.
Eileen Cox, spokeswoman for WJCC, said the division reached out to the College Board and has cancelled all SAT testing that was originally scheduled for this Saturday.
Times and dates to take the test will be rescheduled and students who had registered for the Saturday testing session will be contacted with their options.
Cox added the test cancellation shouldn’t be an issue for students applying to colleges in the fall because there are multiple dates and locations where the test can be taken.
