Centerville schools hits 5-day high of coronavirus cases on eve of resuming classes

The number of last week’s positive cases topped the prior week’s total of 10, Centerville Community Relations Specialist Sarah Swan said in an email.

Last week’s cases included five at Centerville High School, three at Weller Elementary School and one at Masig Middle School 1, according to the school district, the second largest in Montgomery County.

The numbers include students or staff that engaged in onsite instruction or activities as well as those who are completely remote, the district’s website states.

“Most (if not all) positive cases have occurred outside of the school setting,” Swan said.

Since Aug. 17, Centerville schools have reported 34 positive cases and 163 quarantines in the district.

“The majority of our staff members have been working in school buildings since Aug. 17,” Swan said. "Any staff member who has tested positive for COVID-19 would report that to the school district.

“We did receive reports of some students who had tested positive during remote learning in the first quarter of the school year, but we just began tracking those cases within the past couple of weeks as we worked to reopen school buildings for the second quarter,” she added.

Positive cases can now be reported through the district’s website, Swan said.

Centerville has about 8,000 students enrolled, and more than 1,000 teachers and support staff combined, according to its website.

“We are continuing to work closely with Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County and other school districts in the area as we manage cases in our schools,” Swan said. “While we know we will not be able to completely prevent the virus, we do have a number of health, safety and cleaning protocols in place.”