Letter from the Superintendent
Dear CCISD Parents and Guardians:
CCISD takes the recent health issues related to the Ebola virus, or any other illness, very seriously. Therefore, I would like to share with you information about the precautions being taken by CCISD to safeguard the health and safety of your children and district staff. In response to these concerns, the CCISD leadership team met Thursday morning. In the meeting, we discussed the need to share current, accurate information, the preventive measures in place and those being under taken by the district, and how CCISD will continue to provide up-to-date information to our community.
Currently, there are no reported cases of the Ebola virus in Central Texas or in Bell or Coryell Counties. Two students attending Belton ISD (BISD) were on the same plane as the health care provider who contracted Ebola in Dallas. These students are not displaying symptoms and are being closely monitored. BISD has closed three schools pending further direction. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continues to provide current and updated information regarding the transmission of the Ebola virus and measures of prevention. This information continues to indicate that Ebola is transmitted through bodily fluid contact. Please to go to the CDC website at www.cdc.gov for more information.
The University Interscholastic League (UIL) has advised us to continue with extracurricular activities as normal. The UIL has appointed a liaison to share information with the CDC and has directed districts to follow their monitoring plans for students engaged in extracurricular activities.
CCISD already implements a number of preventative measures to include all Copperas Cove ISD employees must undergo training based upon our Blood Borne Pathogen Exposure Control Manual each school year. In addition, we are working with our custodial staff to provide a heightened disinfectant plan for all CCISD buildings. This plan includes the disinfecting of all door handles, water fountains, bathroom fixtures and other common areas multiple times a day. CCISD will continue to provide personal protection equipment for all high risk programs and staff who serve in those areas. Each CCISD campus is assigned a school nurse who will continue monitoring students and staff for signs and symptoms of acute illness and will immediately report any concerns to the local health authority in Bell and Coryell Counties.
It is very important that everyone be provided accurate and timely information and that CCISD makes decisions based upon facts. Therefore, a copy of this letter will be sent home to parents and guardians of all elementary, junior high school and high school students Friday. In addition to the letter, we will include a copy of the recommended universal health and safety guidelines to assist parents in making sure students are aware of things they can do to minimize their exposure to unhealthy situations.
In CCISD, we place a high priority on the health and safety of our students and staff. Please continue to check on the CCISD website, Facebook or Twitter for further information. If you have further questions or concerns, I encourage you to contact the school nurse on your student’s campus or contact Cindy Hutcherson in the CCISD Student Services Department at (254) 547-1227.
Focused on children,
Joe Burns, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Copperas Cove I.S.D.
RECOMMENDED HEALTH GUIDELINES
These guidelines are intended to be helpful safeguards to keep your children healthy.
Here are some ways to stop the spread of germs and sickness.
- Teach your children to regularly wash their hands all the way up to the elbows with soap and water for 20 seconds. We encourage our students to wash their hands while they sing the A,B,C Song twice to ensure they have washed for the appropriate length of time. Help CCISD reinforce this by washing your hands for at least 20 seconds at home.
- Teach your children to sneeze or cough into their elbows rather than covering their mouths with their hands. Throw the tissue away immediately after you use it.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
- If you become ill, stay home from work, school, and social gatherings. In this way, you will help prevent others from catching your illness.
- Try not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs often spread this way.
In addition, students who exhibit the following symptoms for any illness should not attend school.
· Fever
· Diarrhea
· Vomiting
· Red, inflamed, or discharging eyes
· Weeping skin lesions
· Earache accompanied by drainage
· Nosebleeds
· Suspected contagious disease
· Or a combination of symptoms
In order for students to attend school, they must be fever-free for 24 hours without the administration of fever-reducing medication, and they must have no nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea for 24 hours.
Thank you for your diligence in working with CCISD staff to keep your children safe and healthy. If you have questions, please contact your campus nurse or Cindy Hutcherson, Director of Student Services, at (254) 547-1227.