Butte, Glacier View first MSBSD schools to close due to COVID

PALMER — Butte Elementary School has become the first Mat-Su Borough School District school to close to in-person instruction by entering into the high-risk red category for COVID-19 transmission. Out of 47 schools within MSBSD, 37 remain at a low alert level while eight are at a medium. As of August 30, Butte Elementary and Glacier View school were the only two schools closed due to COVID-19 outbreaks.

The MSBSD COVID-19 mitigation plan does not require masks for students in the 37 schools at a low alert level, and masks may be required at a medium alert level. While bus routes delivering students to schools in the low alert level are not required to wear masks on buses, students attending the eight schools at a medium alert level are required to wear masks while riding the bus with exceptions for elementary students grades kindergarten through second grade. Butte Elementary reported one case on Monday with a seven-day total of 30 cases, becoming the first school to close during the new semester on Friday. Glacier View School had one case reported Monday and has only two total, but entered into the red alert level on Monday.

Across MSBSD, 51 new cases were reported on Monday among staff and students and there have been 181 reported in the last seven days.

Colony and Wasilla High are the only large high schools to remain in the low risk. Colony has had no reported cases in the last week and Wasilla reported four on Monday with 11 over the last seven days. Redington Jr./Sr. High School, Palmer High School, Career Tech High School and Houston Jr./Sr. High School are all in the medium alert level. Houston reported 11 cases on Monday with 32 over the last week. Teeland is the only middle school in the medium alert level with two new cases Monday and 12 over the last week.

Big Lake Elementary, Dena’ina and Knik Elementary schools are all at a medium alert level and may require students and staff to wear masks in certain classrooms. There were 12 new COVID-19 cases reported on Monday among Mat-Su Residents. There are currently 19 COVID-19 patients at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, accounting for 27.5 % of the hospital’s population. There are three patients on ventilators and three of the 14 Intensive Care Unit Beds are currently available.