September 8, 2020—The Ohio Department of Health has issued an order that requires K-12 schools to report and notify parents/guardians and local health departments when students, teachers, staff members or coaches test positive for COVID-19. The order is effective today, Tuesday, September 8, 2020.
Please note:
Parents and guardians are encouraged to report positive student COVID-19 cases to schools.
If a student tests positive for COVID-19, please notify the student’s building principal immediately. Building principals will then share that information with Director of Exceptional Children and the District’s COVID-19 Coordinator Elizabeth Kimmel, [email protected], 216.295.4311.
The Ohio Department of Health order states that within 24 hours of becoming aware of a student, teacher, staff member or coach who has tested positive or been diagnosed with COVID-19, schools are required to report the existence of cases in writing:
To the parents or guardians of all students who share classroom space or have participated in a school activity during the student, teacher, staff member or coach’s COVID-19 infectious period.
To all parents or guardians of students at the school building notifying them of a positive test result, which can be provided via email or posted on the district’s website and can be consolidated if necessary.
To the school district’s local department of health.
In compliance with this order, the District will notify appropriate families and staff by email when a staff member, classmate, teammate and/or bus rider (if applicable) tests positive for COVID-19.
Additionally, each day at 4 p.m., the District Communications Team will post an updated COVID-19 Dashboard that indicates the number of active and cumulative reported COVID-19 cases among students and staff at Shaker Heights Schools. The Dashboard will also show COVID-19 cases by school building.
If you have additional questions about COVID-19 reporting, please contact Director of Exceptional Children and the District’s COVID-19 Coordinator Elizabeth Kimmel, [email protected], 216.295.4311.