County schools, EMA create Pandemic Action plan; schools to remain open
FOUNTAIN SPRINGS – Our local school districts will remain open for the time being, though a “unified approach” between the county’s school districts, Intermediate Unit, and emergency management agency has been developed.
A joint media release was issued this afternoon by the county Emergency Management Agency, signed by every county school district superintendent, including Shenandoah Valley’s Brian Waite, North Schuylkill’s Robert Ackell, and Mahanoy Area’s Joie Green.
“The County and all School Districts will continue to work collaboratively, proceeding with an abundance of caution, guided by the most current accurate information,” the release said. “We urge all residents of Schuylkill County to remain aware of the situation, follow recommendations for limiting potential infection and exercise good common sense.”
“We want people in Schuylkill County to be aware of the situation but not panic,” the release adds.
According to the release, the action plan includes four stages: Monitoring, Limiting, Postponing, and Closing. School remains in session for all but Closing.
Under Monitoring, a preventative education campaign would be provided, a pandemic preparedness plan initiated, and limits on student and staff travel would be considered, as would access by groups who’ve traveled to areas which “are a focus of infection.”
Under Limiting, the following would be considered:
– Postponing outside groups’ events in district buildings
– Limiting audience attendance at school activities
– Suspending student and community volunteers
– Denying access to groups who’ve traveled to areas that are a focus of infection.
Under Postponing, the following would be considered:
– Postponing all athletics and extracurriculars
– Postponing all district-sponsored events
– Postponing all travel and field trips
– Suspending Community Based Instruction.
Closing would close school buildings completely.
Mandatory 14-day quarantines would be instituted for any staff members or students with confirmed cases or who live with someone with a confirmed case. A mandatory self-quarantine would be instituted for staff members or students traveling to or from infected areas or who live with someone who has.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, no confirmed cases are present in Schuylkill County or neighboring counties. The majority of confirmed cases in the Commonwealth are in Montgomery County and surrounding southeastern Pennsylvania.
North Schuylkill Superintendent Robert Ackell posted a letter to the community on the district’s website.
“In the North Schuylkill School District, students and staff will be asked to stay home for a period of 14 days from the time they left an area with widespread or ongoing community spread (Level 3 Travel Health Notice). China, Iran, Italy and South Korea are currently listed on the CDC Level 3 Travel Health Alert,” he wrote. ” Closures of schools serve two purposes: (1) to prevent the ready transmission of a disease in a community where that disease is known to be prevalent and (2) to allow for building decontamination or cleaning. Again, given when the prevalence and duration of a COVID-19 outbreak in any given community is unknown.”
Ackell said if the district had to close suddenly, it would be treated like a weather closure: make-up days would be utilized and the graduation date moved if need be.
“At this time, there has been a small number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Pennsylvania. As a school district, we will continue to closely monitor the situation and take guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” Ackell wrote.”
“Remember, we all play a role in reducing the likelihood of a coronavirus outbreak in our school district community,” he continued. “We encourage everyone to practice good habits, including:
● Wash your hands regularly, especially after using the restroom and before preparing or consuming food. Using soap and hot water, wash for about 20 seconds. Be sure to also wash your fingertips.
● Avoid coughing or sneezing into your hands or in the air. Always try to cough or sneeze into a tissue, and then throw the tissue away. If you don’t have a tissue, cough/sneeze into your arm.
● As much as you can, avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose.
● If children are feeling sick, please keep them home from school. Allow them some time to feel better so that they do not risk infecting others.”
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