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UPDATE: All Baker High School students will learn virtually until Sept. 7, Superintendent Dr. De`Ette Perry to Lester Duhé of WAFB.
BAKER, La. (WAFB) – A ninth-grade football player at Baker High School has died, the Baker School District Superintendent told WAFB.
The student would have been fighting COVID-19. However, an autopsy will be needed to determine if this is what caused his death.
Superintendent Dr. De`Ette Perry said the student died on Wednesday, August 25th.
“We are saddened by the loss of this student and offer our condolences to the family,” Dr. Perry said.
Dr. Perry asks the community to pray for the family of the teens.
“We ask our families to pray and to raise the families who have suffered this loss. It is a loss to all of us. So I ask our community to wrap their arms around the family right now. And we have to focus on that, taking care of our family right now, ”said Dr. Perry.
Baker Mayor Darnell Waites identified the student as 14-year-old Patrick Sanders.
“The loss of such a young life is always a tragedy and the avoidable loss of this young life is heartbreaking. Young Mr. Sanders had his whole life ahead of him; a full of ambition and promise. The grief I feel for his family and loved ones is immense.
To your family, please accept my deepest sympathies and know that my prayers are with you now and forever. May God heal you in his infinite graces and bless you with his love, ”said Mayor Waites.
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School officials tell WAFB that the rest of the Baker High School football team is in quarantine.
The superintendent, Dra. De`Ette Perry, says all Baker High students will switch to e-learning by September 7th. He says there are only 3 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in high school.
“It is not an outbreak, it is as a precaution that we will provide virtual learning to our high school students. They can return on September 7, “said Dr. Perry.
She says the district has been taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 this school year. Including, forcing students to wear a mask, use a hand sanitizer, wash their hands, social distance, and even undergo temperature checks before entering the building. And he urges parents to keep their children at home, if they are sick.
Other parents in the school system are frustrated by the constant outbreaks and having to test their children for coronavirus.
“Every day you get different calls, whether or not to send your children to school. As soon as you get to school, to work or something, all of a sudden, school says it’s another outbreak, ”said Rochika Profit, Baker’s school district father.
Profit has four children in the Baker School system, three of whom are currently in quarantine.
“I have to go out at least twice a week to take them to the emergency room and to the hospital, where we can go to test a patient,” Profit said.
Two of her older children go to Baker High and will be virtual for two weeks. He says his options are running out.
“It’s as if we didn’t win. If we send them to school, we will be scared that they will suffer from the virus, if you have them at home, we don’t know if they are on the computer or not, or they do their job virtually, ”said Profit.
“Taking care of students is a serious job, it is a serious responsibility and we do not take it lightly. Let our parents put their children in our hands to take care of them. Therefore, we take care of all our students. Before COVID and especially during this time of pandemic, ”Dr. Perry said.
The team’s next jamboree, scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 26 against White Castle, has been canceled.
“Our football players have been quarantined and they will also be in virtual practice until September 6, which is Labor Day, and will return in person on September 7,” Dr. Perry said.
East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome issued a statement:
“Today, our parish learned of the heartbreaking loss of a young Baker resident due to COVID-19. All deaths from this virus occur with immense pain, especially the passing of a ninth grader from our community.
At this time, all residents of our community have been affected by COVID-19. This shows that even our youngest and most resilient loved ones are at risk. I hope we can come together to avoid further losses.
My prayers are with Patrick Sanders’ family, friends and community. “
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