West River Eagle

Positive Covid-19 cases reported at Dupree School



DUPREE SCHOOL GRAPHIC
Left: Screenshots of Dupree School District Parent Survey show responses from 102 parent/guardians.

“Dupree School District has been informed today by Tribal Health and the state Department of Health (DOH) that we have positive cases of the virus identified,” shared Dupree School Superintendent Gail Swenson in a social media post on Friday, Aug. 21.

The official start date for the school is Sep. 8 and the school staff will return to work on Sep. 1; however, fall sports practice had been taking place for cheerleading, football and volleyball. 

The Tigers football team were set to host the Timber Lake Panthers on Friday evening, but within a few hours of Swenson’s public post, the school announced that the game was postponed. 

Although no official information was released about the person(s) who tested positive and their role within the school system, Swenson wrote, “If your child has been named a close contact of someone who has tested positive for the virus, you will receive a phone call from either Tribal Health or the state DOH.”

Furthermore, the superintendent stated, “If someone in your family is told to quarantine, or given other directives by medical personnel, please comply so we can stop this spread” before continuing that although there is free testing for COVID-19 through CRST Tribal Health, “it is not mandatory” to get tested. 

On Monday, Aug. 24, Swenson posted an update that the school’s football schedule “has been changed by the SDHSAA” and Dupree will play Bison this Friday, Aug. 28 in Bison. 

“Our game with Timber Lake is rescheduled to Sep. 4 in Dupree. We will be adhering to fan restrictions as set forth by the SDHSAA to accommodate for distancing,” Swenson wrote. 

The public school is one of two schools on the reservation who will have in-class instruction with some restrictions. For a details about the school’s reopening plan, visit dupree.k12.sd.us. A parent survey can also be viewed on the website with information about the school’s contingency plan during the pandemic. 

As of press time, Swenson did not return messages for further information about the school’s plan of action moving forward and whether or not deep cleaning was conducted. 

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