Searsport ● Stockton Springs
Office of the Superintendent
6 Mortland Road
Searsport, ME 04974
October 20, 2021
Message from Superintendent Chris Downing
Re: COVID-19
Enclosed, please find detailed information regarding the Maine CDC determination of an outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) at Searsport District Middle/High School.
Quick look
- Outbreak
- Location: Searsport District Middle High School
- Notification per Maine Department of Education and Maine Department of Health and Human Services Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
- Close contacts will be contacted by a school representative
- RSU #20 response
- All students working remote per Maine CDC recommendations
- Deep cleaning of schools, classrooms, and buses
- Students returning to school
- Students identified as a close contact will remain quarantined and return on their original date per notification by Nurse Monica and school administration
- Students not identified as a close contact will return to school on October 25, 2021
- Maine CDC
- Guidance on signs and symptoms of COVID-19
- Prevention guidance
- How you can get more information
October 20, 2021
Dear Staff, Students, and Families:
This letter is to inform you that there is an outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) at Searsport District Middle/High School. An outbreak means that there are three or more confirmed cases of COVID-19 within a 14-day period that are epidemiologically linked. Based on recommendations from the Maine CDC, we are deep cleaning the schools, classrooms, and buses and pivoted to remote learning to help prevent further spread of COVID-19.
Your child may return on:
- Students identified as a close contact will remain quarantined and return on their original date per notification by Nurse Monica and school administration.
- Students not identified as a close contact will return to school on October 25, 2021.
Please monitor yourself/your student for signs and symptoms. Call a health care provider if symptoms start. It is important that you call a healthcare facility before you show up in person.
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that ranges from mild to severe. It can be more severe in adults 60 years and older and in those with underlying conditions. The virus mainly spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes and an uninfected person breathes in the virus. Signs and symptoms include:
Please keep in mind that many things can cause respiratory illness, so students and staff should be up-to-date on influenza and routine vaccinations. A school representative will contact you directly if you are identified as a close contact of someone who tested positive. Close contacts will be asked to quarantine for 10-days from last exposure to the positive individual. A negative test result does not get an individual out of quarantine.
Maine CDC recommends prevention measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These measures include proper handwashing with soap and warm water, which is especially important after using the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. When soap and water is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands and avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay home while you are sick and avoid close contact with others. Wear a cloth face covering in public indoor spaces, especially if you are not vaccinated. Cloth face coverings are recommended in schools and childcare settings for people over 5 years of age. Get a COVID vaccine when it is available to you. When in public, avoid social distances of less than 6 feet and direct physical contact.
Questions may be directed to:
Searsport Elementary School:
Principal: Larry Clement, 207.548.2317
Searsport District Middle/High School:
Principal: Josh Toothaker, 207.548.2313
For general COVID-19 questions, dial 211 (or 1-866-811-5695). You can also text your ZIP code to 898-211 or email [email protected]. Call a health care provider for questions about your symptoms. More information can be found at www.maine.gov/dhhs/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.
Sincerely,
Chris Downing
Superintendent of Schools, RSU #20