November 5, 2020
Dear Independence Local Schools' Families,
The Independence Local School District is committed to the safety and health of our students and staff. We want to inform you that late yesterday we received information that a staff member from our transportation maintenance team tested positive for COVID-19. The staff member was last at work Tuesday, November 3 and was exhibiting symptoms by the end of the day. The employee had no contact with students and was not in any of our school buildings.
We are working closely with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and anyone identified as a close contact has been notified by 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 employee who tested positive. Individuals who are determined to be close contact will be instructed by the school administrator to begin a 14-day quarantine period and are not permitted to attend school or any school functions; these staff should remain home during this time. To reiterate, a school administrator has already individually contacted staff members needing to enter into the quarantine period. In this particular case, five members of our maintenance and transportation teams have begun the quarantine process.
Cleaning and disinfecting of the buses will continue to be a top priority.
This positive test and quarantine process may have an impact on our ability to provide the same level of transportation services we have delivered to this point in the school year. We are developing plans utilizing temporary and substitute drivers - all of whom may not be able to work the needed hours during this quarantine period. We are working to rearrange and adjust routes to ensure students needing transportation can continue. If there is a temporary adjustment to your student’s bus route, we will contact you directly.
Thank you ahead of time for your understanding with these staffing and transportation challenges. An unfortunate reality during this school year is staff availability may determine whether we are able to provide in-person instruction. We currently have multiple employees who clean and drive quarantined for potential non-school related exposure to COVID-19. The duty to transport students and keep our buildings clean is essential to the operations of our schools and I will continue to monitor staff availability. Additional infections and quarantine among staff may result in a time of remote learning.
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
