November 6, 2020
Dear Independence Local Schools' Families,
I want to inform you that today we received information that a first-grade student from Independence Primary School tested positive for COVID-19. The student was last in school Tuesday, November 3, attended after care at IPS, and was showing 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 school administrators as a part of COVID-19 investigation. Close contacts are individuals who have been within six feet for 15 minutes or more within a 24 hour period with the person 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 students should remain home during this time. To reiterate, the school administrator has already individually contacted families of students needing to enter into the quarantine period. In this particular case, 8 first-grade students and 5 after-care employees will begin the quarantine period.
Cleaning and disinfecting of all primary school classrooms will continue to be completed.
Independence Primary School will be open next week 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
