Community Health Message
As a district, we are committed to the safety and well-being of all our students, employees, and families. As some of you may have heard, SUNY Cortland recently had a confirmed case of mumps on the college campus. The situation is being monitored closely. The college and community partners, which include our school district, have and continue to take steps to minimize risk. Health officials indicate there is a low risk for community transmission.
Nearly all school age students are fully immunized against mumps. Immunizations provide protection, but individual students may have other medical conditions which may result in a student being immunocompromised. We ask parents who have concerns regarding an individual student’s risk to consult with their primary care physician for guidance.
Simultaneously, there are on-going discussions and planning within our community, state, and country focusing on the coronavirus (COVID-19). The district is partnering with the County Health Department and many community agencies to be proactive in our planning and preparedness and to ensure practices within our schools promote healthy habits. The district is purchasing additional hand sanitizers in all of our buildings and have employed additional cleaning measures.
Like with all viruses and illnesses, there’s a tremendous reliance on individual precautions. As best practice for overall health, the CDC recommends that we engage in everyday, proactive measures to prevent the spread of germs and avoid illness, such as:
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid sharing cups, water bottles, food, utensils and other similar items.
- Avoid spreading the disease through airborne particles; Sneeze and cough into a tissue or elbow.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
We will continue to emphasize healthy behaviors with our students to promote a healthy environment. Please help us teach and reinforce these practices to our students. If a student is exhibiting flu symptoms, such as a fever and a cough, we have asked that families keep their child at home and visit their doctor.
Superintendent Hoose recently posted a letter to the district website with information pertaining to current health issues in our community. The letter is being sent home to parents/guardians, K-6 as backpack stuffers and to families of students in grades 7-12 via mail. We want to make sure that all faculty/staff are informed about the community health issues and also ask that you take some time to re-teach and reinforce the good health habits described in this message.
If you have questions regarding mumps or the coronavirus and/or the district’s steps to minimize risk, please contact your school principal or nurse.
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