BENTONVILLE -- School District officials have given all students in grades 9-12 the option of working from home for two weeks beginning Monday because of possible community spread of covid-19 at the two high schools.
Superintendent Debbie Jones notified families by email Wednesday of the option to sign up for a two-week "home permit" for students at both Bentonville and West high schools. The option is not necessary at other grade levels, according to the email.
The number of positive cases in the schools remains low, but the district wanted to be proactive in controlling the spread of covid-19, the email states.
The district has reported eight cases among students and four cases among staff members this week, said Leslee Wright, communications director. She could not say whether all of those cases were at the high school level. This is the first week in which the district has had infection spread from student to student, at least as far as officials are aware, Wright said.
The district has had a total of 49 student and staff member cases since the school year began Aug. 24.
The home permit requires students show initiative with their school work, contact teachers via email for additional assistance and complete all work by assigned dates, Jones' email states. They may still visit campus for activity classes and practices sanctioned by the Arkansas Activities Association.
"Should the need for this option continue, you will have the ability to reapply for an additional two-week home permit, and placement will be based upon your child's successful completion of assigned work," Jones' email states.
Bentonville students had to choose before the school year started whether they would get their education in-person or through the district's online school.
According to district figures as of Sept. 2, Bentonville High School had 3,013 students enrolled, with 683, or 23%, doing school online. West High School had 2,153 students enrolled, with 499 students, or 23%, doing school online.