Dear Shaker Heights Schools Community,
The District continues to monitor health warnings and travel advisories surrounding the novel coronavirus or COVID-19. We have established a coronavirus emergency response task force of District administrators and health professionals who have been meeting and communicating regularly to prepare for potential impact to our District.
While there are no reports of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ohio, we are still taking a number of precautions:
- We are asking all of our families to monitor their student’s health, as well as their own. If their child is sick with flu-like systems, we are recommending that parents and guardians seek medical treatment and keep the child home from school. We are also asking staff and visitors to follow these same precautions.
- Our custodial staff is doubling its effort to ensure that high-touch surfaces are being disinfected. The products we use are hospital-grade cleaners and peroxide based. Additionally, our Transportation Department cleans and disinfects buses daily.
- We continue to evaluate all upcoming District-sponsored domestic and international travel, including trips scheduled to occur during spring recess.
- We are developing plans in the event that we are forced to close schools.
We realize that there are families, students and staff who travel domestically and internationally, and that these numbers may increase during the upcoming spring recess. To monitor travel guidance and receive the most up-to-date information, we remain in close communication with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH), other health agencies, student travel partners and other school districts.
We also continue to encourage families and staff to observe guidelines provided on the CDC website.
Recommendations include:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content.
- Stay at home if you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, and throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Currently, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that travelers returning from mainland China, Iran, Italy and South Korea spend 14 days in home quarantine. Students and employees who have traveled to Level 2 Travel Health Notice Countries included in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Coronavirus Disease 2019 Information for Travel have been asked to monitor their health for two weeks and can opt to self-quarantine. Absent such a voluntary choice, such students and employees must be accepted into school.
We understand the gravity of COVID-19 and its potential global and local impact. Given the fluidity of the situation, we will be sending out District-wide updates as information becomes available.
Sincerely,
Dr. David Glasner, Superintendent
Shaker Heights City School District