April 27, 2021
Dear Independence Local Schools’ Families,
I want to inform you that we received information that in unrelated cases, an 11th-grade student and a 3rd-grade student tested positive for COVID-19. The students were in school last Thursday and started showing symptoms the next 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 the COVID-19 investigation. Close contacts are individuals who have been within six feet for 15 minutes or more with the person who tested positive. If close contacts are in the classroom and/or school bus settings and are masked, they do not need to quarantine.
In these cases, we had seven 3rd-grade students determined to be close contacts, none of whom need to quarantine, and one high school student who must quarantine. These families have already been contacted by a school administrator.
Cleaning and disinfecting of all buildings 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
