October 23, 2020
Dear Independence School Families,
The Independence Local School District is committed to the safety and health of our students and staff. We want to inform you that today we received information that a behavior technician from Independence Primary School tested positive for COVID-19. The employee was last in school Thursday, October 22 and was exhibiting symptoms by the end of the day.
We are working closely with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and anyone identified as a close contact has been notified by the health department or school administrators as a part of COVID-19 investigation. Close contacts are individuals who have been within six feet for 10 minutes or more with the person who tested positive. Individuals who are determined to be close contact will be instructed by the school administrator and/or Board of Health to begin a 14-day quarantine period and are not permitted to attend school or any school functions; these students should remain home during this time. To reiterate, the Board of Health and/or school administrator has already individually contacted families of students needing to enter into the quarantine period. In this particular case, the employee worked with a specific student in a 3rd grade class: This specific student, 4 additional students, and 4 additional support staff members who have been determined to be in close contact with the positive-tested employee will begin the quarantine process.
Because this positive test is in the same grade level as the positive test we received earlier this week, the entire 3rd grade will be placed in a remote learning setting through Wednesday, November 4. If symptom-free, all students may return for in-person instruction Thursday, November 5. We will continue our reporting and collaboration with the Board of Health while we monitor these incidents.
Cleaning and disinfecting of all primary school classrooms will be completed.
Independence Primary School and the other classrooms will be open Monday for school.
If you have any questions, contact Tom Dreiling at 216/642-5852, me at 216/642-5850, or the Cuyahoga County Board of Health at 216/201-2000. Thank you for helping to keep people safe and to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community and school.
For answers to your COVID-19 questions, call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634) or visit coronavirus.ohio.gov. Resources from the CDC include:
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. If you or a loved one are experiencing anxiety related to the coronavirus pandemic, help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call the COVID-19 CareLine at 1-800-720-9616.
Sincerely,
Ben Hegedish
Superintendent
Independence Local Schools
