School Operations Update 6.4.21

 Lewis County Metrics

Cases in Lewis County fell this week, however we are still well-above the state case rate of 140.5. In addition, while 63% of the state's population has had at least the first dose of vaccine, 35% of Lewis County's population has done so. 

To date, there have been 194 COVID cases recorded in the 98591 zip code.

What Does This Mean for Toledo School District?

I will be reporting the following to the Board of Directors at their special meeting tomorrow:

Between March 29 and May 6, TSD recorded no positive cases of COVID amongst staff and students.

Between May 7 and June 3, TSD has received notification of 28 COVID positive cases and 62 close contacts. A close contact is someone who has been within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes in a 24 hour period. There are currently 10 people associated with TSD that are COVID positive. Six of them reported in the first three days of June. Five of them are associated with THS.

While our cases have not crossed Lewis County Public Health and Social Services (LCPHSS) thresholds for closing classrooms or schools, we have reason to believe that elements of our community are not following public health guidelines and are placing students and staff at risk.

·         108 people attended a privately-sponsored Prom on 5/22. One attendee had family members who tested positive for COVID on 5/19. The attendee quarantined on 5/20 and 21 and then attended Prom. The attendee tested positive for COVID on 5/24. This potentially exposed 107 others. The attendee cannot say with certainty who may be a close contact.
·         There is reason to believe that there are students who have tested positive and have not reported their positive status to the TSD.
·         We have reason to believe that students and parents who are close contacts are not quarantining according to LCPHSS guidelines.
·         We had several elementary students arrive at school without masks.
·         Students are reporting that their parents have COVID and are sending them to school anyway.
·         Students are arriving at school with symptoms and reporting that their parent is aware and sending them to school anyway.
·         We have had a staff member who was reported to be symptomatic at work who later tested positive, even though a mandatory health attestation to the contrary was provided to the TSD.
·         LCPHSS disease investigators are currently inundated with cases and they report that reports of students with positive test results are coming in   several days after the positive test--if at all. (Lewis County currently has the fifth-highest case rate in the state) 

Concerns:

1.       It is highly likely that the health and safety of our staff and students is being compromised by elements of our community who are choosing to ignore or to willfully violate reasonable efforts to reduce the spread of infection.

2.       Commencement is currently planned to be an outdoor activity for THS and an indoor activity for CPA. Given the emotional importance of this event to graduates and families, I am concerned that the issues described in the paragraph immediately above may have the effect of making Commencement a more at risk event than was initially anticipated by the TSD.