SAN TAN VALLEY, AZ — After a two-week closure due to COVID-19, Combs High School is back open and operating.
In early October, J.O. Combs School District announced it would be closing Combs High School for a minimum of two weeks after a handful of COVID-19 cases among the students potentially exposed hundreds of students to the virus.
According to the district, three cases potentially exposed 450 students, about 50% of the school's population. Currently, there are five active cases among the student body, but those students did not return to school.
The only addition to health precautions is mandatory seating charts in all the classrooms. The school will be sticking to their mitigation already in place.
Students did have the option to return to class or to continue virtual learning. About 75% of students chose to return to school. Teachers, however, did not have the option and continued teaching in-person and virtual learners.
"It's really hard doing online honestly," said parent Alicia Lowe, who added she and her two children were excited to go back to school. "They learn better in class, and I feel it's very important to get the social aspect as well."
Athletics also began again on Thursday with football practice in preparation for the school's game on Saturday.
Homecoming is also still scheduled for November 21. The school will be exercising social distancing, mask-wearing, and all dance-goers will have temperature checks. There will also be a decrease in capacity, and seniors will also have priority.
