Dear Families and Staff:
This letter is to inform you that individuals at Illini Central High School and Illini Central Middle School have tested positive for COVID-19. We are coordinating our efforts with the Mason County Health Department to promptly identify and monitor individuals who have had recent contact with the COVID-19 positive individual(s) to prevent further spread within our school and community.
Illini Central High School and Middle School will remain in remote learning through Friday, November 13. We will resume in-person learning on Monday, November 16, 2020. Illini Central Grade School and Pre-Kindergarten will continue in-person learning as planned.
As our cases have increased, please remember the importance of our screening process. It is vital that students and staff report symptoms and respond to the questions in our screening process appropriately. It is imperative that everyone answer the questions honestly to avoid the possibility of creating a number of close contacts and in spreading the virus.
If you have someone in your household who has been tested for COVID and is awaiting results or who is waiting to be tested, everyone else in the household should not attend school until a negative result is returned. We recognize the inconvenience of this requirement; however, in order to reduce the spread of COVID, all students should remain home.
The health and safety of Illini Central students and staff is our highest priority, and we recognize the uncertainty and concern regarding the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In this case, the individual who received the positive test has not been in the building this week.
To prevent further spread of the disease, Illini Central is taking the following steps:
Placing staff members and students who are identified as having prolonged close contact to the COVID-19 case(s) in quarantine for 14 days. Close contacts will also receive a separate notification from the Mason County Health Department.
Ongoing monitoring of students and staff for signs and symptoms of illness and evaluation of illness reports to promptly identify possible outbreaks.
Conducting a deep clean and disinfection of the areas impacted by potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus.
We will continue to enforce safe practices to prevent, promptly identify, and respond to potential COVID-19 cases, as follows:
Students and staff who are ill with COVID-like symptoms will promptly be placed in a separate supervised area away from others until they can be sent home.
Students are required to wear face masks or cloth face coverings at all times, as previously directed and per school policy.
Staff are required to wear face coverings at all times while in contact with children and other staff in the facility.
We are continuously sanitizing high-touch surfaces including door handles, stair rails, sink faucets, etc.
We have removed plush toys and other toys that cannot be properly or frequently disinfected.
We are teaching students the importance of face coverings, social distancing, and proper handwashing:
Students are discouraged from sharing personal items, e.g., water bottles.
Students are learning new ways to greet each other without touching as in handshakes, fist bumps, and high fives.
Students are reminded to avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth, and to cover coughs and sneezes.
Students will be taught to wash their hands frequently and properly, following CDC guidelines on handwashing.
As we receive more information from the Department of Public Health and other entities, we will implement additional recommendations and guidelines.
As always, everyone should monitor their health and stay at home if they develop symptoms1. Sick persons should contact their health care provider to determine if testing is needed. Anyone who develops severe symptoms2 should seek medical care immediately. If your child has had close contact with a known case of COVID-19, keep the child at home and notify your primary healthcare provider, Illini Central CUSD 189, and your local health department.
We are committed to providing your child and our staff with a safe and healthy environment. Thank you for your understanding and ongoing cooperation with our COVID prevention policies and procedures as we work to help protect your children, your families, and our staff and their families. For any questions or concerns, please contact us at 217-482-5180
Sincerely,
Mr. Mike Ward
Superintendent
1 Symptoms of COVID-19 include: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.
2 Severe symptoms of COVID-19 include: trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, bluish lips or face.