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Urgent News
Update Center
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information
October 5th, 2020
Polson High School Confirmed Positive Test for COVID-19
The following letter was mailed to all PHS parents today (Monday 10/5):
Dear Parent or Guardian,
Today, October 5, 2020, the Polson School District was notified that an individual associated with the District had a confirmed, positive test for Covid-19. According to the Lake County Health Department, the District’s staff and students may have been in contact with the individual during the period of possible exposure.
The individual last had contact with others in our school district at Polson High School, and on our girls’ soccer bus to Columbia Falls on September 29, 2020, two days prior to the individual’s first symptoms. Identified close contacts are in the process of being notified by CSKT and/or Lake County Health Departments. They will be following the Outbreak Response Protocol K-12 created by the Montana Department of Health and Human Services to determine a safe and appropriate course of action, including quarantine measures.
At this time Polson High School is still operating and no additional restrictions are in place from the Lake County Health Department or the CSKT Health Department, hence we are open for all staff and children not under quarantine restrictions. If you are receiving this letter and do not receive a call from the CSKT or Lake County Health Department, your child has not been identified as a close contact.
Please note that we will strictly adhere to privacy laws during a health pandemic outbreak and will not disclose identifiable information of those that have been affected. It is still recommended that any person who feels sick should seek out their medical provider for specific instructions. Our schools continue to implement all of the mitigating factors, including mask wearing, hand washing, social distancing, extra cleaning measures and various other measures.
School officials will continue to monitor the situation and will provide further information if and when it becomes available.
Tom DiGiallonardo
Interim Superintendent
Polson School District
September 8th, 2020
Lake County Public Health and CSKT Tribal Health COVID 19 FAQ
This document is intended to help parents and school staff gain a general understanding of what to expect if a student or staff person experiences symptoms of COVID-19, has an exposure to COVID-19, or tests positive for COVID-19. There can be some variability in these situations based on the specific circumstances and school strategies used to reduce the spread of illness. Please contact the Lake County Health Department at (406) 883-7288 or CSKT Tribal Health at (406) 745-3525 ext. 5423 if you have any questions.
Previous Updates
July 15, 2020
Guidelines for Reopening of Schools and Parent Survey
Greetings Polson School District Families. We’re excited to share these plans for reopening our schools on-site this fall. It is important, however, that we note that this is a draft plan and is subject to change as conditions with Covid-19 continue to change as we move towards school startup.
School leaders in the Flathead and Mission Valley have been meeting and discussing plans throughout the spring and summer for the opening of schools this fall. We continue to meet regularly and work closely with state leaders and the County Health Departments. As a result of these meetings, the Polson School District Administrative Team has developed the Polson School District Guidelines for Reopening of Schools included with this letter. Outlined in this document, you will find a plan for each phase, should conditions change for Montana or our community. Attached you will find supporting information from the Governor’s Office, County Health Department, the Centers for Disease Control, and other sources for your information.
Our plan is to have students return to school in the fall at 100% capacity (currently under Phase II). Phase II allows for groups under 50, which allows us to have regular classes, but does bring some changes throughout the school day to stay under that limit (lunch and assemblies would be examples).
At this stage in the planning, it is critical that we hear from you by July 31. Your information provided will help us make decisions as we move towards school startup. To finish the survey, please push DONE at the bottom of the page to submit.
Polson School District Family Survey
Know that the safety and wellbeing of our students, families, staff, and community continue to be our highest priority. In the governor’s guidelines and many of the other documents, you will note a number of recommendations to maintain community health. We encourage you to maintain proper handwashing, practice physical distancing, and consider wearing a mask in public when you cannot maintain social distance.
Throughout the COVID-19 event, we have appreciated your cooperation and understanding as we work through this together.
Sincerely,
Rex M. Weltz
Superintendent, Polson School District #23
July 28, 2020
Summer Meal Program Temporarily Suspended
The Polson School District summer meal program has been temporarily suspended effective immediately. A district food service worker tested positive for COVID-19. The district has notified the Lake County Health Department and will follow their guidance in responding to this incident and will restart the meal program on August 11th.
The food worker has been isolated, and contact tracing is ongoing. All food preparation staff wear masks and gloves, and we do not believe that anyone who received and/or consumed food products prepared by this worker is at an increased risk of exposure to COVID-19. There is no evidence that food or food packaging is associated with the transmission of COVID-19 regardless of the status of the worker.
Concern or question?
Student and staff safety is our top priority. If you have a question, concern or comment about any health or safety issue, please let us know.
Email us at: covid19-team@polson.k12.mt.us
Lake County Public Health