Dear Garfield Heights City Schools Community,
Recent news reports regarding COVID-19, known as Coronavirus, prompts this email to inform the entire Garfield Heights community about precautions the District is taking to promote healthy environments for our students and staff.
As of earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that a total of 1,000 individuals have been diagnosed with Coronavirus in the United States. Currently, there have been several confirmed cases in Ohio. To learn more, please visit the
CDC,
Ohio Department of Health, and
Cuyahoga County Board of Health websites for updated news and information regarding the Coronavirus. Additional resources from the above health organizations have been posted on the District website.
The Garfield Heights City Schools continues to monitor this particular global health issue and is currently taking the following precautions to ensure a healthy and safe school environment:
- Ongoing implementation of daily cleaning procedures recommended by the CDC, inlcluding the use of hospital-grade disinfectants proven to kill the COVID-19 virus.
- Building custodians and custodial staff members wipe down high-touch surfaces such as desktops and door handles daily using disinfectant.
- Transportation department, including all bus drivers, wipe down high touch bus/van surfaces daily.
- Reviewing existing use of building spaces to identify ways to increase distance between students when possible. This includes flexible lunch scheduling and having students sit in every other seat when in large rooms such as the Auditorium.
- Placement of visual reminders on importance of handwashing and other preventative measures.
In addition to the above measures, building and District administrators are monitoring student attendance numbers on a daily basis and working with school nursing staff to ensure that protocols are in place to address students who exhibit signs of colds or viruses. We seek to partner with our parents to keep our buildings as safe as possible. Over the next several months, the District encourages all parents to inform their building’s Main Office if their child shows flu-like symptoms, including a fever, cough or shortness of breath. Concern over this new virus can cause children and families to feel anxious. Parents can find tips on talking to children about the Coronavirus in this
helpful resource provided by the National Association of School Psychologists.
Parents, students and staff of the GHCS are also encouraged to take the following everyday actions, as recommended by the CDC to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your nose, eyes, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick. Students and staff are not to return to school until they are fever free for 24 hours without medication.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects/surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least twenty seconds, especially after using the restroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing and/or sneezing.
If faced with the decision to temporarily close a school building due to a confirmed case of the Coronavirus, the Garfield Heights City Schools will consult with the Ohio and Cuyahoga County Departments of Health. We will continue to provide parents and the community regular updates on the District’s emergency preparedness regarding this important public health issue. Additional information, including helpful links and a Frequently Asked Questions handout will be posted on the District website in the coming days.
Thank you for your continued partnership with the GHCS.
Sincerely,
Chris G. Hanke
Superintendent of School