SALT LAKE CITY — The Granite School District has enacted district-wide distance learning days that begin Jan. 18 and end Jan. 21. Friday Jan. 14 is a previously scheduled teacher planning day, and Monday Jan. 17 is a state holiday.
The decision was made by the district’s board of education late Thursday night, said Granite School District Superintendent Dr. Rich Nye. Parents and district employees were informed soon after.
Students will return to their classrooms on Monday, Jan. 24.
Extra-curricular activities held at the high school level will proceed as normal. Nye said that junior high and elementary schools will reschedule those events.
“It is our sincere hope that this brief pause from in-person instruction will provide both our staff and students an opportunity to reduce the spread of COVID 19 and this highly contagious Omicron variant within our community,” said Nye in the announcement sent to parents and employees.
In the last two weeks, Nye said that the Granite School District had more than 2,200 requests for substitute teachers as well as a “surge in student absenteeism.” One in five tests in recent Test to Stay events throughout the district showed one in five students testing positive, Nye continued.
Nye said that teachers and schools will reach out to students and families with instructions to access online learning tools. At the same time, learning resources will be available to pick up at Granite District schools. Distance learning resources are also available here.
The District announced that schools participating in the Grab and Go breakfast and lunch programs will make those meals available. Participating schools will inform parents about the times those meals will be available.
“It is our sincere hope that this brief pause from in-person instruction will provide both our staff and students an opportunity to reduce the spread of COVID 19 and this highly contagious Omicron variant within our community,” Nye said.
The novel coronavirus COVID-19 spreads from person to person, similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:
Utah’s Coronavirus Information
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Utah Coronavirus Information Line – 1-800-456-7707
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Commonly asked questions, World Health Organization