QUEEN CITY, Texas - Schools here have closed campuses for the rest of the week after experiencing a significant increase in the number of students and staff members who have been in close contact with individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19.
According to a notification letter sent out by Queen City Independent School District Superintendent Charlotte Williams, the district has also seen an increase in the number of positive cases among staff.
The Texas Education Agency allows schools to close for 3-5 days to deep clean classes and activity rooms after experiencing increased illnesses.
"The district administration provided for additional instructional minutes on the 2020-2021 school calendar in anticipation of needed closures such as this," Williams said. "Right now, there are enough additional minutes to close for these three days without students having to make up the lost time.
"Should future closures be necessary, this may not be the case and students may be required to attend school on one or more of the make-up days reflected on the district calendar."
All school activities are also suspended during this closure. School will resume on Monday.
Queen City is located about 23 miles south and a little west of Texarkana on U.S. Highway 59. It has a population of about 1,500. If forms a twin-city unit with Atlanta, which sits on Queen City's south side in Cass County.
The district is made up of three schools, J.K. Hileman Elementary, 1013 Houston St.; Morris Upchurch Middle School, 500 5th St.; and Queen City High School, 905 Houston St.