Dear District 58 Community,
We wanted to provide you with updated information about the COVID-19 strain of coronavirus (Español) and our efforts to maintain a healthy school environment. The DuPage County Health Department continues to monitor the COVID-19 virus in our area. At this time, there are no identified cases in our county, and there are no recommendations for school cancellation.
District 58 is committed to providing accurate and timely information to families and staff. To that end, District 58 schools will send families and staff weekly COVID-19 updates via our weekly principal newsletters, for as long as there is community concern regarding this virus.
In the meantime, if conditions change significantly and there is an immediate need to update our community regarding COVID-19, District 58 will send out a timely and direct family and staff email. If the Health Department were to detect COVID-19 in a school and/or recommend a school or district closure, we would promptly communicate this information via email, text, phone, website and social media. To opt in to receive District 58 text messages, text YES to 68453.
District 58 staff is actively participating in various Health Department information sessions and trainings regarding COVID-19, as well as receiving regular communications from the Health Department and other major health agencies, to ensure we are prepared to respond should COVID-19 directly affect our community. We are also working with the DuPage County Regional Office of Education to prepare for the unlikely, but possible, event that schools be closed due to this virus. While we certainly would never close our schools unless recommended by the Health Department, it is important to be prepared for the worst case scenario.
In addition, here are some preventative measures District 58 is implementing and/or continuing to ensure a healthy environment for our schools.
- Custodial staff continue to provide routine cleaning and disinfection of common, high-touch areas, such as student desks, doorknobs, drinking fountains, cots and lunch room tables. These ongoing efforts help prevent the spread of any illness.
- School nurses are visiting every classroom to review healthy handwashing techniques with students and staff. They’ve shared Health Department training resources to support this effort, such as this hand washing graphic.
- Staff has increased its reminders to students about common sense actions (Español) to reduce the spread of germs:
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid food and beverage sharing.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue; then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Nurses continue to follow protocols for students with fever and respiratory symptoms.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has placed a Warning - Level 3 Travel Notice on Italy, China, South Korea and Iran and recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to these countries. The CDC has also placed an Alert - Level 2 Travel Notice on Japan and recommends that older adults and those with chronic health conditions postpone travel to this country.
If you or members of your family have traveled recently to Italy, China, South Korea, Iran or Japan within the last month, please contact your school nurse. We ask that you speak with your child about healthy habits and the common-sense actions listed above to help keep our students and staff safe. Additionally, if your child is ill with fever, please make sure he/she remains at home until he/she is fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication. If you have medical questions or concerns, please contact your medical professional or the Illinois Department of Public Health's hotline at 1-800-889-3931.
For additional information, please click the links below.
- District 58 COVID-19 resource page
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Illinois Department of Public Health
- DuPage County Health Department
Thank you for your help in keeping our learning environments healthy.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kevin Russell
Superintendent of Schools