Pearl B. Larsen School Students Head Back to Virtual Learning Thursday and Friday Following Covid Exposure on Campus

ST. CROIX — The Pearl B. Larsen PreK-8 School on St. Croix will revert to virtual learning on Sept. 9 and 10, due to confirmed Covid-19 exposure on the campus, the V.I. Dept. of Education announced late Wednesday. School and district officials were informed of the exposures by the V.I. Department of Health on Sept. 8. An announcement will be made on when the campus would reopen for in-person learning, according to the release.

As part of the Department of Education’s Covid-19 protocols, the affected areas of the campus will be thoroughly sanitized using the appropriate, CDC-approved sanitizing solutions, the release stated. Department officials pointed out that it is to be expected that there would be Covid-19 exposure on campuses as schools operate during the pandemic; however, all schools have the appropriate safety protocols in place to address cases as they arise.

“While we very much prefer to have our students on our campuses, their health and safety, and that of our staff, are top priorities,” said D.O.E. Commissioner Racquel Berry-Benjamin. “All of our school campuses have the capability to seamlessly move between in-person and virtual learning as we continue to educate students during the pandemic. We ask everyone to do their part—get vaccinated, continue to social distance, wash hands frequently, wear a mask—so that students can continue to learn uninterrupted on our school campuses.”