The rise in coronavirus cases in our region is now affecting the Rome City School District.

The district sent out a letter confirming that one person at Rome Free Academy and a member of the Birnie Bus service that transports RFA and Ridge Mills Elementary students have tested positive for the virus.

Now affecting rome city school district.

Tonight, the board of education met virtually to discuss the district's next steps.

Newschannel2's caitlin irla is live in studio with more.

Good evening jason, today, the district sent out a letter confirming that one person at rome free academy and a member of the birnie bus service that transports r-f-a and ridge mills elementary students have tested positive for the virus.

Due to staff shortages caused by quarantines at r- f-a, the school will now go fully remote starting tomorrow until november 30th.

The question now -- when should students return to the classroom after the holiday.

The board discussed what could happen if oneida county went into a yellow zone, which is a 7 or 10-day average of positive cases higher than 2.5 percent.

If that happens, the district would have to test 20 percent of students and staff over the course of two weeks if in-person learning should continue.

Rome superintendent peter blake says its not just virus transmission that will keep students out of the classroom... but managing quarantine periods is also a big factor.

Peter blake: do i think we can make it through with minimal virus concerns?

I do.

Do i think we can make it through with quarantine issues?

I do not.

And then we're weighing the consistency issue of do you keep playing this game where monday you're okay by tuesday you hvae to close down a few schools for a couple days because of quaratining or in the case of rfa we're short until november 30.

The board expressed that they want to inform families if the district chooses to go remote after thanksgiving, within the next five school days to give them time to plan for students to go virtual.

The district administration will take recommendations from the board and is hoping to have a final decision by thanksgiving.

Jason back to you.

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