Due to several cases of Covid-19 among staff at Salem Schools, all in-person instruction will be moved to virtual beginning Friday, October 16 through Monday, Nov. 2, giving a full two weeks of quarantine for those individuals affected. 

Remote learning will take place with all grades in all three schools and plans are to return to in-person classes on Monday, Nov. 2. 

“After consulting with the Washington County Health Department due to positive cases and mandated quarantine measures, we will move to remote learning instruction during this time to mitigate the effects for the students, staff and the community,” said Superintendent Jon Acton. 

Currently Covid-19 cases, close contact and self-quarantining are impacting all three buildings, said Acton. 

This includes Bradie M. Shrum, Salem Middle School and Salem High School. 

“We are frustrated with the move to remote instruction but we know this is the most prudent thing to do for the safety of our students, staff and community,” said Acton. “We were hoping to avoid the rising Covid numbers that are impacting our country. From the President of the United States to the Governor of Indiana being forced to quarantine.”

“Our students and teachers will continue their amazing daily work, now utilizing remote instruction,” Acton said. “Per athletics,  we will continue with high school-only outdoor-based and in-season activities during remote instruction.”

Acton said high school football and Varsity Cross Country will continue their seasons as long as Covid does not negatively impact those athletes/coaches. 

Salem Varsity Boys Football plays their last game of the regular season at West Washington this Friday night at Art Sanders Field beginning at 7p.

The Lions are set to play the Corydon Panthers at home for the first game of sectionals on Oct. 23. 

West Washington has moved to virtual classes on Tuesday and Thursdays after several of the custodial staff were quarantined due to Covid-19.  They plan to return to in-person classes on October 26. 

As previously allowed by the Indiana High School Athletic Association, all in-season activity may continue at this time during remote learning, said Acton. 

“We will return to in-person instruction on Monday November 2nd which will then allow Winter Sports Teams to begin practices as well such as girls basketball,” Acton said. “Online Lions will continue as scheduled,” he said. “We will provide updates throughout our school web page, Facebook and Twitter social media accounts.”

Meals will be provided for students over the next two weeks by filling out a form here – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOBCyi_fbPPX0eh-Sr3dOCxCixP9JfZtS6ECWEGAB_JmhPeA/viewform

This week the meal distribution will be for children 18 and under NOT ATTENDING SCHOOL IN PERSON.

Distribution days will be on Monday, 10/19 and Wednesday, 10/21.

Please sign-up by Friday, Oct. 16 at noon.

The school is requesting email addresses to enable us to send email reminders. If you don’t have an email, please enter none@salemschools.com. 

Meal Pickup will take place will be Monday from 11 am – 12:30 pm (2 breakfast/2 lunch) and Wednesday from 11am – 12:30 pm (3 breakfast / 3 lunch)

All pickup will be at the BSE Gym Doors in a drive-thru style.

Please stay in your vehicle. Children are not required to be present, and another person may be designated to pick up meals.

Despite some audio issues that prevented many from hearing the address Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Holcomb announced that Indiana will stay in Stage 5 for another month, through at least Nov. 14. The state’s mask mandate will continue through that date as well.

He said we’re at a level of COVID-19 spread we’ve not seen since the spring.

“In less than a month, our positivity rate has moved to under 4% to where it sits today at 5.3%,” he said.

He noted record daily case numbers and hospitalizations are also concerning.

Three weeks ago, Holcomb rolled back most of the state’s restrictions on businesses and crowd sizes. Events with more than 500 people must submit a safety plan to health officials.

Since then, Indiana has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases, reporting multiple days with more than 1,500 new daily cases. Hospitalizations are at levels not seen since the end of May, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.

In fact, Indiana is one of 11 states in the US with alarming Covid-19 increases. 

Holcomb said Stage 5 is not an excuse for indifference. He said while most Hoosiers are following the guidelines, that’s not the case for everyone.

“We all see Hoosiers with a disregard for the health of fellow citizens,” he said.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box says she, her daughter and grandson tested positive for the coronavirus. She said she’s not experiencing symptoms.

Governor Holcomb and other state officials will get tested this afternoon. He said he’ll quarantine until he gets his results. He thinks he’ll get the results by midday Thursday.

Dr. Lindsay Weaver said she knows we’re all tired of the pandemic and the restrictions, but reiterated several times that this is not over and we’re not trending in the right direction.

She said to make sure we’re doing the things we know work: Practice social distancing, wear a mask, wash your hands and participate in contact tracing.

When asked why the state is staying in Stage 5 with our numbers increasing, Holcomb said, “Every one of these cases is an extremely localized occurrence. For us to continue to balance our lives and our livelihoods…and we don’t want another lockdown…we are proving that folks are operating responsibly at Stage 5. We need more of that and that’s what gets us through this.

He said the approach of shutting things down misses the point.

“It’s not necessarily the size of the event that determines the spread. There are countless examples of people that responsibly hold events. Ultimately it comes down to personal actions or inactions. Virus spikes always trace back to folks believing it won’t happen to them.”

Holcomb did note that the state health department could step in with additional restrictions for areas that appear in red on the state’s color-coded county map.

In response to Indiana being added to Chicago’s emergency travel order, Holcomb said he’s not spoken with the mayor but believes she’s acting in the best interest of her city.

A 26-year-old Salem man is in jail after being arrested for several sex-related charges, including child solicitation and possession of child porn. 

On October 13, 2020, an outstanding arrest warrant was issued through the Scott County Circuit Court for Ricky Vickers, 26, of Salem.

Vickers was charged with:

• Dissemination of Matter Harmful to Minors
• Child Exploitation/Child Pornography-Possession
• Child Solicitation-Person At Least 21 Solicits At Least 14 but Less Than 16. 

After the issuance of the arrest warrant The Scott County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Indiana State Police and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in the apprehension of Ricky Vickers. 

Vickers was arrested in Washington County and transported to the Scott County Jail to await his initial court appearance. 

In August of 2020, Detective Jacklyn Shofner began an investigation of alleged illegal sexual activity occurring with a minor by a registered sex offender. 

After completing the investigation it was turned over to the Scott County Prosecutor’s Office for review.