COVID-19/Coronavirus Update March 12, 2020
Dear LCSD families, staff, and community members:
COVID-19 (coronavirus) has been on everyone’s mind, and we want to keep you informed of our efforts to keep students, staff, and families healthy. Our school principals and their staff are doing a great job of making sure that it’s business as usual for students, with a few precautionary measures. Our custodial team is following enhanced cleaning protocols in every building.
The Governor of Colorado declared a State of Emergency earlier this week and our focus continues to be on reinforcing preventative measures to keep our school communities healthy including:
● A continued emphasis on handwashing and hygiene and encouraging students and staff who are ill to stay home.
● Prioritizing advanced cleaning protocols aligned with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recommendations to routinely clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces.
● When families excuse absences for illness and staff call in sick, we are asking them to report symptoms, whether they have been seen by a medical professional, and what diagnosis they received.
● Although there are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Lake County, if a family member of a student or staff member were to be diagnosed with COVID-19, we are asking the student and/or staff member to be tested before returning to school.
● When students and staff are out of school for illness, they will also be prohibited from participating/coaching in clubs, activities, and athletics.
● We are asking school visitors who are ill (or have someone in their household who is ill) to refrain from entering our buildings or attending school events.
● Should local or state authorities call for large gatherings to be canceled, events such as school performances, athletics, awards ceremonies and even graduation would be impacted. We will let our community know if changes to our event calendars are required.
Suspension of Athletics
The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) has suspended all CHSSA activities until April 6th. According to CHSAA, “All spring sports and activities including practices will be suspended until April 6th to address concerns surrounding the on-going decisions with COVID-19 pandemic. The decision is effective as of Friday, March 13, 2020.”
School Closure Guidance
Similar to districts across the country and the world, we are preparing for potential school closures. The guidance released by Governor Polis yesterday indicated that a positive COVID-19 case within the school would result in a 72-hour closure for cleaning. Multiple cases within a school, or within the district, may cause a longer-term closure per public health recommendations. It is important to note that if a building is closed, the campus (including playgrounds) will also be closed. In the event that we are forced to close a school or all schools for longer than just a few days, LCSD will consult with state agencies to determine a plan.
Travel and Spring Break
Please reference the CDPHE Travel and Spring Break guidance to inform your spring break travel plans.
Household Guidance for COVID-19 (coronavirus)
Please reference the CDPHE Household Guidance information sheets to support household planning. a link to CDPHE is here.
In summary, we are being diligent in following guidance from local and state agencies, taking action to prevent the spread of illness in our buildings, and preparing for possible school closures if they are necessary. Please be assured that in the wake of these planning efforts, we remain focused on educating our students and ensuring that they feel safe, cared for, and continued to have quality learning experiences.
Thank you for your support as our community navigates this challenge,
Wendy Wyman, Superintendent