Superintendent Letter Regarding COVID-19 Cases

Dear Staff and Families of the Willamina School District,

Today, we became aware of two students, one in elementary and one in high school, that have been diagnosed with COVID-19. As members of the school community, we understand that this might raise concerns alongside a caring response. We are working closely with Yamhill County Public Health Department to respond to this news and protect the health of our community by having afternoon riders from the black bus route quarantine (both students rode this bus Friday afternoon), temporarily closing an afternoon classroom at third grade, and identifying and informing high school students and staff that may have been exposed. Exposure is defined as: closer than six feet for more than 15 minutes cumulative per day.

Each situation calls for different protocols. In this case, we will follow these steps: 1. Require all students and staff that have been exposed to quarantine for a minimum of 7 days, provided they have a negative test, as advised by the Oregon Health Authority. If a person chooses not to get tested, the quarantine requirement is 10 days provided no symptoms arise. If a person develops symptoms the quarantine time is 14 days. 2. Provide rapid testing for any student or staff that requests testing and has filled out the appropriate permission forms. 3. Deep clean classrooms and common areas in the school.

The best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is through staying home when ill, wearing face coverings, physical distancing, and practicing good health hygiene habits. Be sure to wash your hands frequently with soap and water, cover your coughs and sneezes, and avoid contact with people who have signs of illness. Get plenty of rest, exercise, and eat a healthy diet. We will keep you updated with any new information as it comes out, while meeting the requirements to honor everyone's right to privacy. More information can be found on the Oregon Department of Education’s Ready Schools, Safe Learners page and the Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 page. If you have any questions, please email me, carrie.zimbrick@willamina.k12.or.us, or call 503-876-1501.

Sincerely,

Carrie Zimbrick, Superintendent

Page updated: 04/14/2021