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Most pupils at a Claremorris elementary school have stayed home as controversy continues over the response to a Covid-19 outbreak at school.
Only seven students showed up at the Claremorris National Children’s School this morning, according to principal Mark Loftus.
The school told parents last week that it had decided to close for Christmas break on Friday, due to the large number of children testing positive.
However, that same day, the Department of Education ordered the school to remain open.
He reiterated that schools were required to remain open until Tuesday, December 22, and on Friday night the school agreed to do so.
About 80 of the 125 students at the school should attend today.
The remaining 45 students, or so, are required to stay home because they are considered to be close contacts or because they themselves have tested positive.
Sixteen students have tested positive for the virus in recent weeks. The wider area of Claremorris has one of the highest incidences of the virus nationally – three times the national average rate.
However, last week, public health officials did not give notice of the school closing, because they had no evidence that the virus was being transmitted within the school.
Mr. Loftus says that support for the school’s position at the local level is very strong.
He has called for boards to be given adequate autonomy to make decisions that they believe are in the best interest of school communities.
Mr Loftus said: “People are puzzled. They have volunteered to serve on a Board of Directors. It is damaging and quite insulting that they are not allowed to make a decision for the common good.”
“We are not anarchists or creators of chaos,” he added.
“We are only thinking about what is best for the community.”
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