Indianapolis Public Schools will move completely to virtual learning at the end of the month.
That decision from the Marion County Health Department is a result of the rapidly increasing number of COVID-19 cases.
But Monroe County health administrator Penny Caudill said she doesn’t expect that will happen for the Monroe County Community School Corporation.
“I think for us to put in a mandate for all schools in our community, we would have to be at a different place than we are now," Caudill said. "But I can’t say that could not happen."
The school corporation’s metric committee looks at local COVID-19 data every few to weeks to determine how to proceed.
The district is currently in its Green Phase, which means students receive in-person instruction five days of the week.
READ MORE: MCCSC Continues Green Phase, Releases Number Of COVID-19 Cases In Schools
If the county’s seven-day positivity rate exceeds 5 percent, the district could decide to make changes. That rate is currently at 5.1 percent.
"We have to keep in mind that schools are safe places for students. For the most part, we're not seeing cases spread in the classroom," Caudill said. "We're seeing students and faculty get infected, but they are getting infected by activities that they do outside the classroom."
According to MCCSC's data, there have been a total of 16 positive COVID-19 cases reported since Nov. 1 inside schools.
The metric committee will next meet on Tuesday, Nov. 17 when it will make a final decision.
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