OTHELLO — Most Othello School District students will go back to all-online instruction, starting Monday and continuing at least through Dec. 4. District officials announced the switch late Sunday afternoon.

Director of communications Ed Petersen said the district met criteria established by the state and local officials that forced a return to all-online classes for all students.

Petersen said the infection rate “seems to be growing on a steady curve.”

“Two of our elementary schools, Hiawatha and Scootney Springs, both had two cohort groups who were quarantined at the same time,” said district superintendent Chris Hurst. “According to guidance from state and local officials, this is a milestone that requires the district to transition all students back to distance learning for a period of time.”

Othello students in kindergarten through third grade had returned to school in a hybrid schedule (half-time at school, half-time online) Nov. 4. Other grades were scheduled to start returning to school in a hybrid schedule in January.

Hurst said schools are required to go to all-online instruction when staffing reaches a specified level that makes it difficult to operate A school.

“We’re approaching the second condition as well. As of Friday morning, 72 staff members were quarantined or were awaiting COVID test results,” he said. “That’s more than 10% of our district-wide staff.”

The criteria for going back to all-online instruction came up during a meeting between district officials and Adams County Health Department officials Nov. 20, Hurst said.

About 6% of the district’s students were out of school Nov. 20 due to quarantine, pending COVID tests or illness, although the illnesses were not specified. Petersen said 13 students have reported confirmed cases, most in the lower grades.

Life skills and self-contained student groups will continue meeting on campus, Petersen said. School buildings will remain open, with limited staff, to help parents. District staff also will provide assistance to parents who are having trouble with internet connectivity.

The district also will continue providing meal pickup and distribution, Hurst said. Director of dining services Janette Root said meals will be available for pickup on school days from 11 a.m. to noon at Hiawatha, McFarland Middle School and Othello High School. The district also distributes meals by bus, and that distribution schedule is available on the district website, Root said.

Hurst said the return to all-online instruction could be extended, depending on conditions.

“We will reassess the situation before K-3 students return,” he said.