March 12, 2020
Dear Parents,
Events and guidance changes require us to modify our response to the COVID 19 concern. The local health department has shared the presence of two individuals affected by the virus in our county and Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a guidance regarding travel and gatherings. As such we are implementing additional protocols in an effort to minimize the effects of COVID 19. The additional protocols are found in Stage 2 of our previously shared communication.
The guidance describes a tiered or staged response with three distinct levels. We will continue with all Stage 1 recommendations and add the following Stage 2 recommendations until further notice:
- Allow flexibility in required medical excuses for students
- Avoid, as much as possible, close gatherings of staff or students.
- Cancel all assemblies and activities that require 75 or more adults to be on campus. This includes all sporting events, student of the month, lunch on the lawn, etc.
- Cancel all out of county travel for students and staff through April 9th.
- Each school site will develop a plan to limit the sharing of computers, and technology.
- Each school will consider changing lunch and recess schedules to limit the number of students congregating at one time.
- Enact No touch rule – temporarily suspend handshakes, high fives, fist pumps, and physical education contact games and activities.
- Hire temporary staff to intensify cleaning protocols and student supervision.
- Implement cleaning procedures after ill students have been in a designated area.
- Limit non-employee access to school campuses. School Site offices will post questionnaire to all visitors. The questionnaire will include the desired procedure to follow should a visitor answer in the affirmative to one of the questions.
- Move desks apart from each other, as feasible.
- Increase parent communication. Communication will be made via district app, social media, and placed on the district website.
The third stage focuses on what to do if we have to close school(s) or the whole district at the direction of public health agencies. We have an obligation to continue to provide an education to our students. Our administrative team is working on a plan to provide access to the curriculum and access to our meal programs to all our students should we be required to close.
Please be assured that as part of our preparation for an increase in reported cases we have reviewed emergency plans, particularly for infectious disease outbreaks. HESD will be convening a special board meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. to allow staff and community to ask questions and learn of the district’s plan of action.
Respectfully,
Juan Cruz,
Superintendent
If you would like more information regarding COVID 19 the following links may be useful:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronaviru...
Imperial County Public Health Department:
California Department of Public Health:
California Department of Education
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