Mom unhappy with Charlotte County Public Schools policy after daughter feels sick

Reporter: Erika Jackson Writer: Jack Lowenstein
Published: Updated:
Credit: via WINK News.

After a Charlotte County student was sent home from school with a stomachache, along with her sister, their mom was told they can’t return to class despite the girl’s negative test result.

Erin Harrington is unhappy. Her daughters, fourth grader Madyson and 10th grader Logan, temporarily traded in their notebooks for Chromebooks because Madyson showed signs of illness.

“They were excluded from school because of her sister saying she had a stomachache,” Harrington said.

Harrington believes nerves caused Madyson’s stomach pains on day two of school, but Charlotte County Public Schools’ policy requires students with any COVID-19 symptoms and their siblings to stay home for two weeks.

The only way to get back to school sooner is with a doctor’s note.

“If they do a test with a negative result, the doctor that administered that test needs to say this child is OK to come back to school,’ said Michael Riley, the community liaison for Charlotte County Public Schools.

Riley told us the rule is in place to steer clear of any testing errors.

“If they do a test and it comes back negative, you could do a test, and an hour later it could come back positive,” Riley said.

Harrington still finds issues with the school district policy.

“I want the other parents to understand how easy it is for the kids to be excluded and how difficult it is to get them back in before the two weeks is up,” Harrington said.

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