WESTFIELD – Westfield Public Schools Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski sent a letter to families on March 11, updating them on the district’s response to the threat of Coronavirus, now officially called Covid-19 by the Centers for Disease Control.
Czaporowski began the letter by saying the potential for possible exposure in the district is low. When asked, he said there have been no cases of Covid-19 in the district.
He said the district has received guidance from the local Health Department, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to ensure they are ready in the event this pandemic becomes more widespread in the Commonwealth.
Czaporowski said the district will maintain ongoing cooperation with the city’s Health Department, the primary point of coordination for any communicable disease outbreaks.
“Their work is informed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control. We will continue to follow their direction and guidance,” Czaporowski said.
Czaporowski said the Maintenance Department has been, and will continue to, sanitize and disinfect school buildings and school buses on a daily basis.
All international trips have been canceled for the Spring/Summer 2020 as recommended by state and federal agencies.
Local and out-of-state trips will be evaluated on a case by case basis, Czaporowski said, adding that any questions regarding trip cancellations should be directed to the building principal. He said some local field trips, such as scheduled visits to Springfield museums, have not been canceled
As with any medical information, confidentiality about staff, students and families must be maintained at all times according to federal regulations, Czaporowski said. Information about reasons for absences, travel history and illness cannot be given out and must be protected.
“We will continue to monitor illness in all of our schools. Anyone who is ill should remain home. We ask that you please consult with your primary care physician if you have any questions or concerns about sending your child to school,” Czaporowski said.
Symptoms of Covid-19 mimic the flu and other viruses. They include fever, cough and difficulty breathing. Other symptoms include chills, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. The CDC recommends monitoring your health for at least 14 days after possible exposure.
Czaporowski encourages families to practice preventive measures, including washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth; cover your mouth or nose when sneezing or coughing with a tissue or elbow, never with your hands.
Other preventive measures include staying away from people who are sick and staying home when you are sick. Clean and disinfect hard surfaces and regularly “touched” surfaces such as door handles and railings. Use cleaning products that contain the appropriate concentrations of disinfectant for disease prevention.
“Any time there is an outbreak of a virus or illness, it can be very unsettling for families and staff. Keeping everyone informed, safe and healthy remains our priority,” Czaporowski said.
DESE has also sent out a communication to districts regarding Covid-19, and its impact on the remainder of the school year.
Czaporowski said that schools may use their remaining snow days and Blizzard Bag days for school closures related to Covid-19. He said Westfield has two snow days and five Blizzard Bag days which may be used if needed. All days lost to health, weather, or safety emergencies between March 16 and June 1 must be made up to ensure a 180-day school year or until the district has reached its previously scheduled 185th day, whichever comes first.
Districts will not be expected to make up any days lost to health, weather, or safety emergencies that occur after June 1.
The longest that any school district will be required to go is its scheduled 185th day. No schools will be required to be in session after June 30.
For accountability purposes, DESE will calculate chronic absenteeism as of Monday, March 2, 2020 and will not use attendance data for the remainder of the school year.
“With this in mind, districts can be assured that there is no penalty for reporting accurate attendance data in the coming weeks and months. Districts will report attendance data for every day that schools are in session through the end of the school year, but the data after March 2, 2020 will not be considered in calculating the chronic absenteeism rate. If you choose to close schools, you would not need to report any attendance data for those days,” wrote DESE Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley.
Riley said the Department would also revisit this guidance if the situation warrants it.
