On Tuesday, the Chambers County School District announced that Valley High School will transition to virtual learning due to the outbreak of cold and flu virus amongst students and staff. CCSD Superintendent Casey Chambley sent out a press release to Gator Media regarding the virtual transition.
"Currently, we at the district office are closely monitoring a cold and flu outbreak at Valley High School that began with an uptick in student absences in the latter part of last week. Last Thursday, 9/29, we had 75 students out and 4 staff. On Friday, 9/30, we had 158 students out and 7 staff. The numbers dropped slightly on Monday, 10/3 as we had 150 students out and 5 staff. Today, the number of students absent with illnesses increased to 163, but staff numbers dropped to just 2.
Since it is always our desire to focus on the health and safety of our students and staff, we are announcing plans today to transition to virtual learning for both Wednesday and Thursday, October 5th and 6th at Valley High School. It is our hope that this brief transition to a virtual learning model at VHS will give us the opportunity to see the virus subside at the high school with the forty-eight our break from campus. The two virtual learning days will allow us a break from face-to-face instruction to reduce the spread of the virus on our campus. Mrs. Groover, our testing director will reschedule the ACT WorkKeys for our 12th graders later this month.
Of course, we in the CCSD are committed to traditional in-person instruction as the best medium for maximizing achievement levels for all of our students across Chambers County. We have considered all options to help reduce the recent surge of illnesses among both students and staff at VHS in order to quell the spread of cold and flu in our high school student body", said Chambley.
In order to help reduce the spread of illness, the Chambers County School District will adhere to the following safety measures:
Promoting hand hygiene for both students and staff. (This would include stocking all hand sanitizer stations with adequate supplies and ensuring that stations are in the lunchroom and other vital areas for students to use).
School nurses will be collecting information on confirmed cases of flu for both students and staff.
Share reminders with both staff and students on flu-symptom recognition to reduce spread.
Symptoms include fever + 100, headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, diarrhea, or vomiting.
Encouraging ill students to remain at home to ensure they are symptom-free before returning to school.
Custodial staff will ensure that restrooms are stocked with soap with paper towels or working hand dryers.
Custodial staff and faculty will be supplied with wipes or disinfectant to ensure that frequently touched surfaces are being sanitized to reduce transmission.
Custodial staff will be encouraged to utilize disinfectant foggers in classrooms after dismissal to provide extra protection for sanitizing classrooms to prevent the spread of transmission.
"The district has partnered with Health Heroes (or HNH Immunizations Inc) to offer free Flu Vaccines in all of our Chambers County Schools on Tuesday, October 11th. Forms will be sent home for parents to complete to authorize participation for their children. Each school’s campus nurse will be able to provide more detailed information.
Thanks again for your service and commitment to the Chambers County School District. Our students are worth it and you ARE making a difference. Please continue to keep those impacted by this cold and flu outbreak in your thoughts and prayers", added Chambley.
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