Derby will continue with in-person schooling through Oct. 16, according to a statement from the school district on Wednesday afternoon following the bi-weekly Gating Criteria Committee meeting.

The decision comes after Derby was declared a cluster by the Sedgwick County Health Department due to 14 positive Covid-19 cases. Derby had zero cases the first week of school, one in the second and 11 in the third.

Superintendent Heather Bohaty announced in an email that the school district would not shift to hybrid or remote learning for current in-person students. According to registrar Kathy Wohlford, 88 students moved to remote learning this week.

Several students support the district’s decision, one of them being senior John Goodner.

“Sounds great — in-person schooling is really the only proper way to have school for students to learn and actively be engaged in the classroom,” Goodner said.

Other students, like junior Chad Boone, remain indifferent, as long as their classmates are following safety precautions.

“If parents want to send their kids to school and the kids want to go back, then it’s their choice, but they’ve got to be cautious and follow guidelines,” Boone said.

The district also shared documents regarding how parents are notified when positive cases are detected and questions regarding quarantine. A dashboard on derbyschools.com provides weekly updates.

The next Gating Criteria Committee meeting is Oct. 14 and will review criteria to determine whether the district will continue in-person schooling Oct. 19-30.

Other information, resources, and frequently asked questions can be found at www.derbyschools.com/returntolearn.