Lewis-Palmer Middle School principal tests negative for COVID-19 after developing symptoms

MONUMENT, Colo. (KRDO) -- Lewis-Palmer District 38 is preparing to head back to in-person and online school this week, but the middle school will now start classes next week.

The school's principal, Seann O'Connor, was tested for COVID-19 and according to district spokesperson Julie Stephen, it came back negative.

"Thursday night our Lewis-Palmer Middle School principal found himself feeling ill, so he let our Superintendent know and the next day he went for testing," she said.

Still, the school is taking extra precautions by staying closed to students for another week.

"I think I speak on behalf of all of Lewis-Palmer School District that we're extremely thankful to get to have our kids in person and we're taking that honor and that privilege extremely seriously and going to provide the safest, the healthiest environments we can," she said.

The first week of school, students will begin with online classes and will then move forward with in-person and hybrid learning August 31.

"Teachers are just going to connect to the best of their ability in virtual environments using Google Meet and Canvas and the tools they have available to them," Stephen said.

Although it was a false alarm, the district has an up-to-date protocol for when someone gets COVID-19, along with guidelines from the state and El Paso County Public Health.

"We're working directly with our contacts to make sure that in any specific situation we're following the appropriate protocol spelled out by a document and their advise to the situation also," she said.