BKW secondary school back to in-person learning after single-day switch

Monday, December 6, 2021 - 19:46

The Enterprise — Noah Zweifel

Berne-Knox-Westerlo’s canine mascot stands proudly at the school’s campus.

HILLTOWNS — After switching to remote learning on Friday, Dec. 3, because of a high number of quarantined students, Berne-Knox-Westerlo’s secondary school resumed in-person instruction on Monday, Dec. 6. 

The temporary switch was announced through BKW channels on Dec. 2 and entailed a deep cleaning of secondary-school classrooms. The elementary school was not affected. 

“On Friday, we were at approximately 70 students [in quarantine], or about 21 percent of the student population,” Superintendent Timothy Mundell told The Enterprise on Monday. “Shifting to remote allowed for the most advantageous chance at all students receiving the best instruction possible.”

According to the New York State COVID-19 district-wide report card for BKW, 48 students have tested positive for the virus so far, as have 21 members of the staff and faculty. 

BKW serves parts of Berne, Knox, Rensselaerville, and Westerlo. Berne has a vaccination rate of about 61 percent. Rensselaerville also has a vaccination rate of about 61 percent. Westerlo has a vaccination rate of about 65 percent. No data is given for Knox’s primary ZIP code.

Other nearby ZIP codes in suburban areas, like Voorheesville, Delmar, and Slingerlands, have vaccination rates higher than 95 percent.

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