Yesterday, Governor DeWine announced that there are three confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Along with that announcement, there were some recommendations regarding travel and large gatherings. Recently, county superintendents, along with district school nurses, met with the Pickaway County Public Health Department and Pickaway County Emergency Management Agency and plan to work with the Ohio Department of Health and other government agencies to determine the best course of action for staff and students in our school district.
You can be assured that Westfall Local Schools is taking this matter seriously. We are taking precautions by disinfecting school facilities, including buses, regularly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that we follow precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus, such as:
Proper hand-washing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers
Cover coughs/sneezes with arm or tissue
Avoid exposure to others who are ill
Disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
We will continue to work with the Pickaway County Public Health Department and the Ohio Department of Education to make informed decisions that focus on the safety and well-being of our students and staff.
We are aware of the possibility that local and state agencies could direct us to close our schools for a period of time. Therefore, we are working on a plan that would enable our staff to continue educating our students remotely in the event of an extended closure.
We are also aware that several school groups have plans to travel out of the state. We will be monitoring that issue closely and, again, working with local agencies to follow guidelines provided by them. We want to stress that it will be our goal to err on the side of caution. In all situations, our actions will demonstrate that our decisions will be made with our students’ best interests in mind. We will continue to stay alert to the evolving situation and keep you updated with any further information.