Joint Press Release from Spartanburg County Superintendents Consortium
March 9, 2020
Spartanburg County School Districts Release Joint Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
SPARTANBURG, SC -- Yesterday afternoon, the Department of Health and Environmental
Services released news of a presumptive positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Spartanburg County. All seven Spartanburg County school districts have been closely monitoring and
planning for the potential arrival of the coronavirus in our community, and we wish to share
important information about our response as well as ask for your partnership in helping
prevent the spread of this and other illnesses.
While this is an evolving situation, let me assure you that our districts have been preparing. We are following guidance from the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), local response planners and agencies, and the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDOE). In addition to maintaining close communication with these organizations, all seven districts are working in tandem and communicating on an ongoing basis to insure the safety of our students and community.
An outline of the steps we are taking now, our response if the local outbreak increases, and
important steps we are asking our employees and families to take now are listed below.
How are our Schools Preparing
Specific Steps Being Taken
Potential Responses
Travel
Those Experiencing Illness
Each district will provide timely updates, recommendations and next steps if a case of
coronavirus should be confirmed by DHEC among its students, staff or families.
At present, upcoming field trips and activities are continuing with the exception of offsite
learning activities scheduled to take place in medical facilities and nursing homes, which have been temporarily discontinued as a precautionary measure.
We are following this guidance provided by the South Carolina Department of Health and
Environmental Control, which was released yesterday in conjunction with news of the possible cases of coronavirus in South Carolina including Spartanburg:
“In line with CDC guidance, [DHEC] does not recommend closing schools or canceling public
events at this time. DHEC will monitor absentee rates in schools and businesses as well as
reports of illness in the community to determine if or when closures may be recommended.
DHEC also is providing updated recommendations to schools and day care facilities, colleges and
universities, and organizers of large events. That updated information is publicly available
at scdhec.gov/COVID-19. DHEC continues to be in communication with state agencies and
community partners.”
All students and staff who are experiencing illness – particularly fever, cough or shortness of
breath – are asked to remain at home until their symptoms have cleared. This is not the time to power through; it is the time to act calmly with caution and flexibility for the good of our community. DHEC has advised that MUSC Health is providing free telehealth screening to all South Carolinians. Anyone experiencing symptoms can visit MUSC.care and use the promo code COVID19 and be screened without having to leave your home.
The CDC has also providedseveral fact sheets on COVID-19 in English, Spanish and Chinese.
Families within each district should follow their home district’s website and communications for updates and information as there are more developments to share. Our school districts
appreciate the partnership of our families at this important time as we work together to keep our community healthy and safe.
How are Spartanburg County School Districts preparing for COVID-19?
All seven district are closely monitoring and following guidance from the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), local response planners and agencies, and the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDOE). In addition to maintaining close communication with these organizations, we are working in tandem and close communication with one another. Our primary focus is to keep our students and our community safe while providing continuity of service to students.
All districts will provide updates to our communities as new information becomes available or as there are developments to the coronavirus’ impact within our schools.
Specific steps being taken include:
•Reviewing our emergency response plans with key personnel across schools and
departments
•Monitoring field trip destinations to ensure students are not traveling to or through cities
experiencing an outbreak (as defined by the CDC)
•Monitoring the enrollment of new students and responding accordingly
•Reminding students and staff to limit physical contact, follow appropriate respiratory
etiquette, and to regularly and thoroughly wash hands
•Reminding parents and employees that students or staff who have symptoms of a
respiratory illness should not come to school or work
•Requesting that students who have a household member who has been recommended for
home isolation not return to school until the isolation period has ended in their household
•Monitoring absenteeism and notifying local health officials about large increases in
student or staff absences
•Strengthening procedures to isolate and send home students and staff who are sick at
school as soon as symptoms present
•Enhancing existing cleaning and disinfecting processes and frequency
How will Spartanburg County School Districts respond in the event of a local outbreak?
We will follow all available guidance provided by DHEC, the CDC and the SCDOE in addition todetermining specific responses that may be appropriate and in the best interest of our students and staff.
Such responses could include:
•Increased communication with families
•Coordinated student handwashing and enhanced screening of people with respiratory
symptoms or potential exposure within our schools
•Further increasing the frequency and methods of cleaning hard surfaces such as
doorknobs and desks
•Postponement or cancellation of extra-curricular events and after-school activities
•Closure of one or more schools with implementation of remote learning procedures
and/or other methods of academic instruction at home
Should a case of coronavirus be confirmed by DHEC among a district’s students, staff or
families, that district will immediately notify all employees and parents and provide
recommendations and next steps. If the closure of one or more schools should become
necessary, our districts are prepared to implement approaches that allow learning to continue in an academically appropriate manner. Maintaining our students’ educational experience will be a priority, particularly as this positive focus would provide important stress-relieving benefits during a time when students may feel anxious.
Travel
If a member of a students’ household has traveled in an area of outbreak, has come into
contact with someone who has been diagnosed with coronavirus, or is diagnosed themselves
with Coronavirus, families are urged to report this information to their child’s school
immediately.
Experiencing Illness
All students and staff who are experiencing illness – particularly fever, cough or shortness of
breath – are asked to remain at home until their symptoms have cleared.