After welcoming students back to school a few weeks ago amid the coronavirus pandemic, officials in the Green Lake School District said procedures are working as students and staff have been wearing masks and doing temperature checks.

“The first two weeks of school have been a roller coaster for everybody,” Grades 7-12 Principal Cathy Moore said. “The students and the staff have once again proved their dedication and resilience through all the challenges these past weeks have offered.”

While Moore was proud of everyone’s effort since school began at the beginning of September, the district wasn’t able to stay COVID-free as it sent a letter to families today (Friday) announcing that its first student tested positive for the virus.

“The Green Lake County Health Department is in contact with families of students and staff who were in close contact with the student,” the letter read.

As a result of staff and students doing their best to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Green Lake School Board amended its decision to postpone fall sports Wednesday, clearing the way for students to begin competition ahead of the initial Oct. 1 start date.

“Our kids are taking every precaution they can throughout the day, and we talk about it really at nauseum to make sure that we can keep our students safe,” School Board Vice President Andy Gryske said. “They know their responsibility as players and not just what that means to their team, but what that also means to their school.”

Last month, the Green Lake School Board voted to delay the start of fall sports, with practices beginning on Sept. 21 and competition starting Oct. 1.

The Princeton and Montello school districts, however, opted to continue on schedule with fall sports. Fall student-athletes from Green Lake are on the same football team as students from Montello and Princeton, while Green Lake and Princeton partner for volleyball and cross country.

The Green Lake School Board amended its decision, in large part, because its students would have been practicing with students from Princeton and Montello, who would have already participated in competitions and been exposed to students from other districts.

“The purpose behind [delaying fall sports] was to prevent cross contamination between cities,” School Board member Matt Bond said. “If we’re going to start practice on Sept. 21, then the contact with Princeton is already taking place and Princeton is already going to have the opportunity to play in these communities and then come in contact with our kids.”