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Baraga schools closed Monday after positive COVID test

BARAGA — Baraga Area Schools appeared on track to reopen Tuesday after a one-day closure due to a staff member’s positive COVID-19 test.

The district closed Monday to allow time for contact tracing. Its building includes both the junior/senior high school and the Philip J. LaTendresse Elementary School.

“We probably didn’t need to close, but we wanted to make sure we were doing everything right … just make sure we’re catching any places we didn’t think about,” Superintendent Richard Sarau said. “Today was a pause – let’s take a step back, let’s not panic, and make sure we’re covering everything that needs to be covered.”

All other staff members who were tested for COVID came back negative, Sarau said.

Sarau said it did not appear there would need to be any changes to district policy.

“We’ve done everything that we’re supposed to be doing, according to our plan, so there’s going to be no changes to any of that,” he said.

Three other area districts have reported COVID-19 cases so far. A teacher tested positive at Jeffers High School last week, closing the school Wednesday through Friday. Staffers have also tested positive at Houghton Elementary School and Houghton Middle/High School. On Monday, a student was reported to have tested positive as well.

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