Community Update - November 30, 2020

Dear Annville-Cleona School District Parent(s)/Guardian(s):

Tomorrow, we are excited to welcome the students and staff back; we hope you had a relaxing few days!  As stated in the communication prior to break, here is the updated information we have regarding new positive COVID-19 cases in our district and the new Mitigation Orders from the State.

On November 23, we were notified that a Secondary School staff member tested positive for COVID-19 after exposure outside of school.  This staff member was quarantining the majority of the week prior to break, so there was no contact tracing needed.

On November 24, we were notified that a High School student tested positive for COVID-19 after exposure outside of school.  This student will not be in school until he/she has isolated and recovered.  The individuals who were in close contact will be quarantined at home for 14 days from their last exposure so that they can monitor their health and avoid spreading the illness to others.  

On November 27, we were notified that a Middle School student tested positive for COVID-19 while on break.  This student will not be in school until he/she has isolated and recovered.  There were no close contacts in the schools since the student exhibited symptoms over break.  We wish all of our students and staff who are in isolation and/or quarantining well.

On November 23, the Governor provided updated Mitigation Orders along with an Attestation Form for districts to sign stating they will comply with the Mitigation Orders in order to remain open after November 30.  ACSD has signed and submitted that Attestation Form since we plan to remain in compliance with the Orders.  The recommendations from the State are no longer guidelines, but rather mandates since we’ve signed the Attestation Form.  That means, ACSD will be complying fully with all of the mandates from the State, as we have been.

As part of the Orders, we must continue to wear a face covering (mainly a face mask with face shields only being permitted as an accommodation for qualified reasons) at all times.  Also, depending on the number of positive COVID-19 cases in each of our buildings, we may need to close a building for contact tracing and cleaning.  The State has provided the Recommendations for Pre-K to 12 Schools Following Identification of a Case(s) of COVID-19 (linked here), when cases of COVID-19 occur within the public school entity.

For our District, Cleona Elementary and Annville Elementary Schools are both classified as small schools.  So, at a minimum, if we would have 2-4 cases of positive COVID-19 staff/students in the same building, we would need to close that building for 3-7 days for contact tracing and cleaning purposes (unless this can be achieved quicker).  The Secondary School is in the medium category.  So, at a minimum, if we would have 4-6 cases of positive COVID-19 staff/students in that building, we would need to close for 3-7 days for contact tracing and cleaning purposes (unless this can be achieved quicker).

We have been doing a great job at ACSD, and we thank you for your diligence in complying with all of the mitigation measures.  If at any time, a building needs to close, we will be in contact regarding how the instruction will continue for the students in that building.  

At this time, all buildings will be open and our official building case counts will begin at zero starting on Tuesday, December 1, 2020.

For additional questions about COVID-19, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health website at health.pa.gov.  If you have any questions or concerns about the information contained in this letter, please feel free to contact me.

In order to assist with keeping track of the cases Annville-Cleona School District has, here is a chart that will be updated each time a notification is sent: