Lakeland stays in yellow

The Lakeland Joint School District Board of Trustees unanimously voted to remain in the "yellow" COVID-19 risk level of operations Friday morning, which includes in-person classes five days a week, recommended facial coverings and social distancing precautions.

To improve transparency, Superintendent Becky Meyer will begin sharing the district’s COVID counts on its website instead of through mail notices. The total count will group positive cases for elementary, middle and high schools and staff.

Specific data like which school, grade, or class the infected person stems from will not be reported because of potential HIPAA or FERPA violations, Meyer said.

The district will continue to alert families of students at risk of contracting COVID-19 through contact tracing and digital messaging. As of Friday, 40 students and staff members had tested positive within the district, Meyer said.

“I think we need to do whatever it takes, precautions whatever to keep the kids in school," said board Vice Chairman Rob Irons. "We need to keep the schools open.”