LIMESTONE, Maine — Limestone Community School will reopen Thursday for in-person instruction after confirmation that a Maine School of Science and Mathematics faculty member has been cleared after receiving a false positive COVID test.
LCS initially closed to remote learning on Oct. 27 after learning that an individual at MSSM, which shares a building with the school, tested positive earlier this week after receiving a negative test just a week prior. In order to confirm that this was a false positive, the individual received both saliva and swab tests immediately after receiving the positive result.
And on Wednesday morning, both tests came back negative.
MSSM Executive Director David Pearson said MSSM is the only public school in the state that routinely tests faculty, staff and students. With the confirmation of this false positive, he said all MSSM community members have therefore received negative tests.
Just last week, Limestone Community School also closed to remote learning out of caution when two probable cases of COVID-19 were suspected at Caribou High School. Since students at both schools share busses and resources, Limestone closed their facility to remote learning as a precautionary measure. The two probable cases were later confirmed negative.
Altogether, Limestone Community School Principal Ben Lothrop said the school has had five days of remote learning.
“Our teachers are doing an amazing job with it,” he said. “Any student who engages in distance learning — while we would rather have them here in person — is getting something out of it. So we’re going to take this day by day and do the best we can, whether the kids are here or at home. As with everyone else, health and safety is our number-one priority.”
In an update posted on the school’s Facebook page, Lothrop said the Maine CDC is still recommending isolation for the individual who received the false positive test, as well as their close contacts, adding that all other MSSM students and staff will also be present in the shared building on Oct. 29.
“As always,” he concluded, “thank you for your patience and understanding during these times. We learn a little more each day and will continue to focus on everyone’s health and safety and the education of all of our students at LCS.”
