Launch the media gallery 1 playerCOVID 19 UPDATE as of November 13, 2020
October 19, 2020
Meridian Public Schools is calling with important information.
There have been some positive cases of COVID in our communities. We are calling to ask that any student, parent or staff member who is not feeling well stay home and if you are experiencing any of the COVID symptoms like loss of taste or smell, fever over 100, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, body aches, please get tested and stay home until you get your results.
Today, we were notified that a secondary student tested positive and one staff member tested positive on the quick test.
Public Health Solutions will be doing contact tracing and they will notify any individuals if they need to quarantine.
You will need to quarantine if you live in a household with an individual who tested positive or if you have spent more than 15 minutes in close contact with someone who tested positive if both people were not wearing a mask.
Once again...
If you are not feeling well, do not come to school. We have had positive tests within our communities. Public Health will notify anyone who needs to quarantine.
Meridian started requiring masks last week to help our students and staff remain with in person instruction.
Everyone please continue to wear your mask. We will be requiring masks at our home volleyball game on Thursday.
Tuesdays CRC Volleyball game will require masks and to keep them on the entire time. If you are unable to make the game, it will be strived as well as our Thursday Parents Night volleyball game and Fridays Parents night football game.
There is no school on Friday.
October 10, 2020
The Nebraska Department of Education, The Nebraska Association of Local Health Directors, and our local health department, Public Health Solutions, have all changed their stance on who will have to quarantine in the event that a school student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19.
Previously, a person wearing a mask would not have to quarantine after coming into close contact with an unmasked infected person. Now, a person wearing a mask still has to quarantine for 10-14 days after coming into close contact with an unmasked infected person. Before as long as a person was wearing a mask they were protected from having to quarantine. Now, even if a person is wearing a mask they will be sent home if they come into close contact with an unmasked person who tests positive for COVID-19.
I have attached an infographic, provided by Public Health Solutions that explains this as well.
This is a significant change for us, and forces us to change our policy on face coverings. As a result, starting Monday, October 12, masks will be required for all K-12 students and staff in our school district. Please talk with your child(ren) about this change as all children will now need to wear a face covering when social distancing is not possible or when requested to do so by a staff member.
At the beginning of the school year and since Meridian Public Schools provided masks for all students. We will once again deliver an additional mask for all students K-12. Students are permitted to bring their own face covering as well.
This decision was made with reference to other neighboring districts that have had to close in person instruction for the entire school for 2 week periods. We want to keep students coming to school in a safe and nurturing environment. We do not feel that remote learning is the best option but that is an option that still may be implemented down the road if we do not make this change at this time. We will lift this requirement as soon as possible!
If we are able to continue in person instruction over the next 4 weeks, we are evaluating options to give students a strategic break as needed.
Thanks again to all the support from the Meridian family as we work through this together.
COVID-Investigations -PreK-12th Grade Setting - Click to view
