On October 29th, the Cheltenham School District notified families that an in-classroom employee had a “presumptive positive” test result for COVID-19. According to the CDC, “presumptive positive” is when someone has test positive for the virus, but testing was done at the local or state level, and still needs to be confirmed by testing at the CDC. We haven’t heard that term used since the start of the pandemic, so we are going to look into why it was used in this case.
Due to the situation, Cedarbrook Middle School will be closed from October 30th through November 1st for intensive cleaning.
Below is the notice to families:
This evening, the Montgomery County Department of Health informed CSD administration of a “presumptive positive” COVID-19 case of an in-classroom employee at Cedarbrook Middle School. The district was instructed to begin contact tracing protocol, and employees and students who came in close contact with the employee have been informed and will quarantine for 14 days before returning to the building. The employee will be isolated for 10 days per guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Out of an abundance of caution, the building will be closed from Friday, Oct. 30 through Sunday, Nov. 1, and will be cleaned, vented and disinfected at levels which exceed health department guidelines on Monday, Nov. 2. Since Tuesday, Nov. 3 is Election Day, and Wednesday, Nov. 4 is an asynchronous day, the building will be reopened for evaluations on Thursday, Nov. 5.
Per CSD’s health and safety plan, the district’s certified school nurse continues to stay in contact with the Montgomery County Office of Public Health, which has assisted us throughout this ongoing process.
The health, safety and well-being of our school community remains a top priority. We are following sound protocols aligned with expert health guidance to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect the health of all students and staff. We also want to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the importance of wearing masks, staying six feet apart from others, and regularly washing your hands. When you are not feeling well, please stay home.
Please know we are here to support the community. We appreciate your collaboration and support as we work together to mitigate risks. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 215-881-6300 or wmarseille@cheltenham.org.
As always, we will continue to keep you informed. Stay safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
Dr. Wagner Marseille
Superintendent of Schools