Advertisement Blackwell teacher promises voluntary quarantine after trip to Africa Parents contact school district with Ebola fears Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A small town teacher traveling to Africa says she will voluntarily stay home for 21 days when she returns. At last check, nearly 400 people have signed an online petition asking that she stay away from Blackwell Elementary School after her trip.Common myths about Ebola“If the school should decide to let her come back before the 21-day quarantine period, I will remove my daughter from Blackwell schools,” Reba Newton said.Notable deaths of 2014Parents like Newton said they are not taking any chances when it comes their children’s health.“My daughter has multiple health problems and she is at risk for infection, and that is without adding something like Ebola to it,” Newton said.In a few days, the teacher at Blackwell Elementary will depart for a mission trip to Rwanda, thousands of miles away from the countries affected by the Ebola outbreak.We asked several parents why they are concerned considering the teacher is going to a country that is not affected by Ebola at this time.Shawn Wilson, who has two children attending the school, said “I would think that would be foolish.” He cited an explanation in the online petition: the teacher could be on a plane seated next to someone who was in West Africa and become infected.Blackwell superintendent Rick Riggs reported he talked with officials at the Center for Disease Control and a local health department. They say the chances of the teacher getting infected are nearly zero.Still, the teacher knows that parents in Blackwell are afraid.“She just wants to do what’s right and I support her in that effort,” said Riggs.The teacher met with the principal Monday morning and promised to stay at home for 21 days. The superintendent says he will support her decision.“My recommendation to our school board will be that we will put her on (paid) administrative leave even though we don’t think there is a threat of any kind,” said Riggs.