Bixby Public Schools Transitions Grades 9-12 To Distance Learning

After a spike in COVID-19 cases among students, Bixby Public Schools will transition some of its students to online learning.

Bixby Public Schools will start a two-week distance learning period after 16 active COVID-19 cases spread among grades 9-12. 250 students are isolated or quarantined due to the active cases. The decision to go to online learning comes after an all-time high in cases in Bixby.

Superintendent Rob Miller said the sharp rise in the city is partly due people not following health guidelines because they’re exhausted by COVID-19 restrictions.

"Over the last two weeks we've seen a pretty significant surge in the number of active cases in Bixby,” Miller said. “That has been mirrored in our schools as well."

Miller stresses to students and the Bixby community to follow COVID-19 protocol such as wearing a mask, social distancing and avoiding large gatherings. He said the more students follow protocol, the closer they will get to a regular school semester.              

“I know we've got a group of seniors this year who are very invested in trying to have a normal senior year with all those special events and we want to protect those as much as we can,” Miller said.

The district said it intends to return to in-person learning November 30.

Miller said he hopes to stop the spread enough to be able to hold graduation and other extracurricular activities in the spring.