More than a third of Baltimore City schools shift to online Monday amid spread of COVID-19

In a sign of the growing difficulty of keeping schools open, more than a third of Baltimore City schools will switch to online learning Monday after test results that came in over the weekend showing thousands of students and staff may have COVID-19.

The school system listed 57 schools transitioning temporarily to online learning on its website Sunday evening. Two other schools were closed for what was described as facilities challenges. The city has 155 schools.

Baltimore City Public Schools spokesman Andre Riley said Sunday that those schools closed by positive pool tests will remain virtual all week and return Wednesday, Jan. 19.

Most of the schools that are closing serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade and perform pool testing for the coronavirus, Riley said. A handful of high schools, including Dunbar High School, Independence School Local and Renaissance Academy, also are closed...

...According to one administrator, school system leadership spent most of the weekend trying to understand the extent of the problem and deciding which schools should close. The source, who asked not to be identified to protect their job, said school principals were told to go to online instruction if more than 50% of the pool tests in their school were positive for COVID-19...

https://www.baltimoresun.com/education/bs-md-online-schools-city-20220110-ltxfesk77ra43cvmtmybiepwti-story.html