State briefs school districts on threat of coronavirus outbreak
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has sent out information to school districts to help them prepare for COVID-19, commonly known as coronavirus.
A spokeswoman for the state Department of Health and Senior Services said Sunday night that about 100 people have been monitored in the state and all tests have come back negative.
The education department sent a statement to schools with resources for staff and faculty about the outbreak on Wednesday after getting requests from several local education agencies, which the department calls LEAs.
LEAs may wish to begin discussing ways to provide alternate educational opportunities in the event schools are closed due to COVID-19 during the 2019-20 school year.
It is important to reiterate that there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Missouri at this time. This communication is preventative in nature, and in the spirit of hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. We thank you for your continued leadership.
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's statement to school districts from Wednesday
According to the guidance, staff and students traveling from any area of China might be monitored by public health agencies. The school districts do not need to report student or staff travel.
Schools may be asked to work with students and families that are being monitored or in isolation to provide makeup work so students do not fall behind.
The education department recommends staff and students follow the same precautions that are recommended during the flu season.
Columbia Public Schools shared information from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education about the outbreak with its faculty and staff along with information about the district's plan for outbreaks.
The school district has a plan should schools be impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19) or any other epidemic or pandemic-level illness. In all health-related crises, lead direction would come from the CDC, state health agencies and our local city/county health department.
Columbia Public Schools guidance to faculty and staff
CPS spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said the district is continuing to follow standard practices when it comes to any sort of spreadable illness, not just COVID-19.
"As we receive more information from lead government agencies we will share relevant information with parents," Baumstark said.
Southern Boone School District Superintendent Chris Felmlee said he is keeping a close eye on the reports and looking over his district's protocols in case an outbreak were to happen in Mid-Missouri.
He said the district is paying more attention to the flu as attendance has dropped because of ill students.
"There are many similarities in how you would address those concerns as you would say the influenza A or B," Felmlee said. "Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands!"
He said because of the flu and the other health concerns, the district has been calling in custodial crews for extra time to disinfect the school district's buildings.
"That's low tech, that's easy to do, but that really goes a long way," Felmlee said. "Just reinforcing with our kiddos to cover your mouth when you sneeze and things like that."
Felmlee said this has not become a critical issue to relay to parents yet, but the administration has a plan if an outbreak happens.
"If we would have to, god forbid, take a look at closing schools because of low attendance and concern with the flu or whatever that bug may look like, those are all steps we would take," Felmlee said.
Felmlee said the information from the state education and health departments gave the district guidance on how to better educate staff, parents and students about the risks of the disease.
"I think it's important that administrators, we kind of keep it practical and easy for people to understand," Felmlee said. "I think right now the best that we can do is just relate it back to influenza A and B, those are the same protocols that we would use in general."
