January 15, 2021
Dear Independence Local Schools’ Families,
I want to inform you that yesterday evening we received information that a teacher from Independence Middle School tested positive for COVID-19. The employee was last in school Thursday, January 14. The employee started showing symptoms by the end of the day.
With every school-based positive test, we work closely with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, and anyone identified as a close contact is 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. In this incident, there are no close contacts.
Cleaning and disinfecting of all middle school classrooms will continue to be completed.
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
