A staff member who reported a positive COVID-19 test on Wednesday evening has prompted Las Cruces Public Schools to close Picacho Middle School for two weeks, following guidance from the New Mexico Public Education Department and the state’s public health orders.
The school had re-opened to a small pod of special education students on Monday, Oct. 19. According to district officials, the staff member who tested positive had meaningful contact with students and other school employees, all of which are now under a 14-day self-quarantine. School administrators confirmed that personal protective equipment (PPE) was in use at the time of contact, and the school followed deep cleaning protocols on Wednesday as outlined in LCPS’s re-entry safety plan. The school will undergo additional sanitation measures on Friday.
Because the school cafeteria is in a separate building, Picacho’s grab-and-go meal service will not be affected during the shutdown. Meal distribution will continue as scheduled.
The school is scheduled to re-open to special education students on Nov. 5.