How a COVID-19 case in Muncie involved kids from 3 schools

MUNCIE, Ind. — A Yorktown High School student attending the Muncie Area Career Center has tested positive for coronavirus disease, Muncie Community Schools announced Sunday on its COVID-19 Updates site.

"After conducting contact tracing, we have identified four other students as close

contacts who are all now in quarantine as outlined in the MCS Reopening Plan," the district reported on its website.

"Of these four close contacts, one attends Winchester HS (High School) one attends Yorktown HS and two attend Cowan HS," the update read.

Yorktown Community Schools Superintendent Greg Hinshaw responded with some good news.

"Our high school principal and school nurse are aware of this case," he told The Star Press. "Both Yorktown students in question are virtual students for Yorktown, so there are no other close contacts at Yorktown High School."

Cowan Community Schools Superintendent Timothy Brown also answered questions about the situation:

"Muncie Community Schools was in contact with our administrative team regarding this issue over the weekend. We greatly appreciate the communication and the consistent protocols for close contacts in place in all schools in Delaware County. While we certainly wish for no students or staff to have a positive test, the steps by which it was handled perfectly align with those in place in our district. We value our partnership with the MACC."

The career center serves high school juniors and seniors from schools in Blackford, Delaware and Randolph counties: Blackford, Burris, Cowan, Daleville, Delta, Monroe Central, Muncie Central, Union City, Wapahani, Wes-Del, Winchester and Yorktown. 

Rolland Abraham, superintendent at Randolph Central Schools in Winchester, couldn't be reached for comment.

Andy Klotz, the spokesman for the Muncie district, which operates the career center, told The Star Press: "Regarding the MACC, there are no protocol changes planned. If we discover a MACC student has tested positive, we communicate with those families affected as well as the school principals, even those in other districts."

The center offers programs in auto technology; construction technology; cosmetology; dental careers; early childhood education; electrical technology; health sciences; interactive media; biomedical, fire and rescue; criminal justice, and welding technology.

Muncie Area Career Center Principal Caleb Beasley went on quarantine in August after finding out a member of his family tested positive.

In other COVID-19 updates from Muncie schools: 

A South View Elementary teacher in Muncie has tested positive. This person started isolating at the onset of symptoms and did not come into contact with any other staff or students, so nobody else was required to be quarantined.

After a Northside Middle School student tested positive, 33 other students and one teacher identified as close contacts began to quarantine.

►Look up your school's COVID cases here

Contact Seth Slabaugh at 765 213-5834 or seths@muncie.gannett.com