Multiple Metro Schools Return To In-Person Learning

The largest school district in the state is returning to in-person learning today, after staffing shortages and COVID-19 cases forced OKCPS to close last week.

There is one exception, and that is students in 5th and 8th grade at Mary Golda Ross Middle School.

OKCPS Deputy Superintendent Jason Brown said that the past week was tough, but the district had to make decisions that they felt would best keep students and staff safe.

"So, if you had to quarantine even if you didn't have symptoms, then you unfortunately could not come to school and had to stay home. So, it really hit us with a double whammy with the positives and those who had to quarantine," Brown said.

With so many positive cases, that meant a lot of people had to stay home.

"By quarantine and following those health and safety protocols, by requiring students and staff to wear masks, we feel like we really tried to put up as big of a wall against omicron as possible," said Brown.

Now that they are back in person, Brown said health and safety protocols will continue.

"By frequent testing, continuing to wear a mask, by continuing the ionization, we spent millions of dollars on ionization on our sites to filter the air."

As far as other districts across the metro, things are mixed.

Prairie View elementary in Mustang is making the switch to distance learning for today and tomorrow.

Putnam City High School is bringing students back to class today, while the rest of the district returned yesterday.

Edmond Public Schools is also back in person, except for Heartland Middle school, first graders at Northern Hills Elementary, kindergarteners at Orvis Risner and kindergarten and fifth grade at Ida Freeman Elementary.

The district hopes to have those students back in person by Thursday.