SUAMICO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Howard-Suamico families were notified Tuesday that Bay Port High School’s choir recently stayed at a New York hotel where a person with coronavirus visited.
According to the district, the students stayed at the hotel a few days after the man with coronavirus, according to the district.
The district says the county and state health departments were ok with the students going back to class. However, that decision isn’t sitting well with at least a few parents.
After New York announced its first coronavirus cases last week, Paul Swick tells FOX 11 he unsuccessfully urged Howard-Suamico Superintendent Damian LaCroix to cancel the choir trip.
“He was in a tough situation, I get it. Two days prior to when they leave, New York gets their first two cases and you just don’t know how to react on it.”
Swick’s son was part of the trip. He couldn’t convince him to stay home either, and his mother was o-k with him going.
“You get a chance to go to New York City and go to Carnegie Hall and go to Times Square. As a kid, nothing else hits you.”
On the day the students returned to Bay Port, LaCroix wrote to all district parents that “the first presumptive positive case of coronavirus COVID-19 in New Jersey was diagnosed in an individual who attended a conference at a New York City hotel two weeks ago. We were informed today that this conference was held in the same hotel where Bay Port choir students later stayed during their bus trip to New York City for a performance Sunday, March 8th at Carnegie Hall.”
LaCroix goes on to say the district has been in ongoing communication with the county and state health departments about the trip and those agencies advised maintaining current protocol.
“If I was the parent of another student who didn’t go, I’d be a little frustrated,” said Swick.
FOX 11 asked some parents at the nearby Townline Shell Gas Station, where sanitizing was stepped up well before Bay Port’s trip.
“It’s scary,” said Cira Ramon, manager of the gas station who also has a young child. “There’s a lot of kids that go to that school.”
“I think there is a higher risk of the flu than there is of that,” said Pat Vieau, a parent of a student who attends Bay Port.
In his letter, LaCroix said the message was intended to give the most current information, and assure everyone health agencies will help guide decision making when it comes to student and staff safety.
The district declined our interview request.
The superintendent’s letter says the district will provide more updates as needed.
