Piedra Vista High School voluntarily returns to virtual learning

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- More than five public schools in San Juan County have temporarily returned to online learning due to positive COVID-19 cases.

Piedra Vista High School in Farmington is the latest school to join the list due to positive COVID-19 test results.

"If you have four events within a 14-day period, the public education will close your school," said Dr. Eugene Schmidt, superintendent of Farmington Municipal Schools. "If you choose to voluntarily shift your school to remote before you get to the four then you have the power to determine when you can come back”

The plan is for students to return to campus April 29.

By then, district officials say the school will have a clean COVID slate. It will be unlikely for the school to return to the WatchList before the end of the school year.

"Really getting that opportunity to have that face-to-face instruction as we gear up for finals not just for seniors but for all of our students as well as closing out all other activities that we have planned for the end of the year," said Kelly Thur, principal of Piedra Vista High School.