The Sharon Academy high school is closed for at least two days this week because of staff absences. In a letter to Daybreak on Tuesday, 5/24, Head of School Mary Newman explains, responding to questions about numbers and whether the school’s prom the weekend before played any role:

  1. We found out last night that we would have a total of 7 staff members absent today, and possibly 9 absent tomorrow.

  2. Here's the breakdown: Currently, 3 staff members have tested positive for Covid and are inside their 5 day quarantine. Another 3 staff members are feeling sick, but currently testing negative. Another 3 staff members have other reasons, not related to COVID, that they were not able to be at school today or tomorrow. 4 of these absences were only determined late last night / early this morning. With a minimum of 7 staff out today, and a minimum of 8 out tomorrow, we do not have sufficient adult coverage at the high school.

  3. Two of the three current COVID cases were contracted before Saturday's prom, and again, there are only 3 confirmed COVID cases among the staff. So no, I don't think it's accurate to tie the closings to the prom.