Utica, NY – The Whitesboro School District returned to personal classes today, after Covid-19 was exposed on Tuesday from a dance competition forced to learn distance learning.
“We will resume personal learning for all students who are not under any mandatory quarantine or isolation protocol on Wednesday, April 21,” said the district’s website, one of the largest in Oneida County.
Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente said 20 students from several school districts tested positive after the Syracuse competition over the weekend, and 300 students were quarantined. Picente did not break down how many students were from each affected district.
He said that some students from a local dance school participated in the competition on Saturday even while showing symptoms of Covid-19.
“This is our largest cluster, the fastest cluster and we are a year away,” Picente said at a news conference on Tuesday. “When 300 people are in quarantine, people have to stay home from work, some businesses have to close, schools have to close.”
Students who tested positive range from 6 to 17 years.
County officials refused to name the dance school or competition.
No one in Onondaga County has been quarantined, county spokesman Justin Sayles said on Tuesday.
“We understand that (Oneida County officials) are still investigating, so this is an evolving situation,” Sayles said.