News Release                                                                     September 21, 2020

The Monroe County School District considers the health and well-being of its children and staff to be of the utmost importance. School officials continue to work in close contact with public health officials to ensure everyone's safety.

On Monday, September 21st, school officials learned that a student at Mary Persons High School, a student at Monroe County Achievement Center, and a staff member of Monroe County Middle School have been diagnosed with Covid-19.  School officials have identified those students and/or staff who may have been in close contact with the affected, but unrelated, individuals. Following pre-established protocols, school officials have worked with the Department of Public Health (DPH) to notify the parents of students of the situation.

Under DPH guidelines, close contact includes being within six feet of the person with Covid-19 for 15 minutes or more.  As a precaution, parents of affected students are being asked to quarantine their children at home for a specified period of time. Appropriate information from public health has been provided to the parents as guidance.

Superintendent Dr. Mike Hickman reiterated that school staff members have planned for and prepared well to handle these situations.  "We continue to closely follow the guidance of our local and regional public health officials," said Dr. Hickman. "Our first and primary goal is and always will be to maintain the safety and health of our students and our staff, along with their families."

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