November 10, 2024
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Upward trend: Oswego School District 308 reports rise in student COVID-19 cases

Number of students in exclusion due to close contact with known cases of the virus also up

By Shea Lazansky
File photo: Oswego High School students head to class during a passing period at the school.

File photo: Oswego High School students head to class during a passing period at the school. (Shea Lazansky)

The number of positive cases of COVID-19 among Oswego School District 308 students continues to trend upward.

During the period of Nov. 29 - Dec. 5, positive cases reported among students increased from 48 during the week of Nov. 22-28 to 65 cases. A total of 36 cases were reported at the district’s elementary schools, six cases at junior high schools, and 22 cases at the district’s two high schools.

Five cases were reported at Lakewood Creek Elementary School and Grande Park Elementary School, while four cases were reported at Homestead Elementary School and Hunt Club Elementary School. Three cases were reported at Boulder Hill Elementary School, Fox Chase Elementary School, Southbury Elementary School and Wolf’s Crossing Elementary School. Two cases were reported at Churchill Elementary School and The Wheatlands Elementary School, while one case was reported at Old Post Elementary School and Brokaw Early Learning Center.

Three cases were reported at Thompson Junior High School, while two cases were reported at Traughber Junior High School, and one case at Plank Junior High School.

A total of 11 cases were reported at both Oswego High School and Oswego East High School.

One case was reported at the East View Academy.

The number of students placed in exclusion also increased during the Nov. 29 - Dec. 5 period, from 133 to 157. OSD 308 defines exclusion as students and staff who are a close contact to a known case of COVID-19, closer than 3 feet with masks in school or 6 feet apart without a mask or exposure not based in school for a total of 15 minutes or longer in a 24 hour period. Symptomatic individuals are not included in exclusion metrics, unless they test positive or are named as a close contact.

108 students were placed in exclusion from district elementary schools, while 23 students went into exclusion at junior high schools, and 26 from the district’s two high schools.

The number of positive cases among OSD 308 staff decreased during the week of Nov. 29 - Dec. 5, from 18 to 12.

Five cases were reported at the District Administration Center, and four at the district’s Transportation Center. Two cases were reported at Fox Chase Elementary School, while one case was reported at each Boulder Hill Elementary School, Lakewood Creek Elementary School, Old Post Elementary School and The Wheatlands Elementary School.

Three positive cases were reported at Oswego East High School, while one case was reported at each East View Academy, Traughber Junior High School, and Oswego High School.

The number of staff members in exclusion also dropped during the Nov. 29 - Dec. 5 period, from 16 cases to 12. Seven staff members from elementary schools were placed in exclusion, while three from junior high schools and two from high schools were also placed into exclusion.

The district, the seventh largest in Illinois, has an enrollment of more than 17,000 students.