3/10/20 Coronavirus (COVID-19) Parent Update and Frequently Asked Questions

 

March 10, 2020

 

Dear Rowland Unified Families:

 

The safety and health of our students, staff and community is a top priority for all of us.
Information and recommendations from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Los
Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH), and Los Angeles County Office of
Education (LACOE) regarding the coronavirus/COVID-19 is being very closely monitored by our
staff, allowing our District to respond to this current and serious situation.

 

There are NO cases of the coronavirus/COVID-19 in the Rowland Unified School District or
surrounding school community reported to us from the Los Angeles County Department of Public
Health.

 

At this time, according to the LACDPH, the immediate health risk of COVID-19 to the general
public in Los Angeles County is considered low. Our District, in working with Los Angeles County
Department of Public Health, is proactively taking steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As
shared in previous letters, there are actions that you can take and that our District has taken to
be proactive and prevent the spread of this virus.

 

Preventative Actions
All students, families, and staff are expected to take preventative actions, including:
 Stay home when sick.
 Remain at home until fever has been gone for at least 24 hours without the use of feverreducing medicines.
 Seek immediate medical care if symptoms become more severe, e.g., high fever or
difficulty breathing.
 Use “respiratory etiquette” including covering cough with a tissue or sleeve.
 Wash hands frequently. Students and staff are encouraged to wash hands frequently. The
supply of soap and paper towels at our schools are regularly monitored and restocked by
site custodians.

 

Proactive Actions
As a school district, we have taken precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Since the
onset of the virus, our District has taken proactive measures and instituted the following:
 Our District Lead Nurse has and will continue to work closely with the Los Angeles County
Office of Education, Centers for Disease Control and the Los Angeles County Department
of Public Health, including participating in regular conference calls with local agencies, and
will keep our health professionals and school leadership informed of the latest updates.
 Since February 4, 2020, our District has followed the direction of the Los Angeles County
Department of Public Health requiring that any person who has returned from mainland
China is required to be on a mandatory 14-day self-isolation/social distancing period and
is not permitted to be in school. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will
continue to monitor the health status of all individuals during and after the selfisolation/social distancing period.
 The District has increased daily cleaning protocols, with our custodial staff cleaning highfrequent areas such as doorknobs, tables and playground equipment more frequently.
Additional cleaning teams have been added to operate Clorox 360 electrostatic cleaning
system machines. These machines spray disinfectant mist throughout the classroom and
school facilities, including our school buses, on a rotating schedule. Again, this cleaning
system is in addition to our regular daily cleaning and disinfecting.
 All of our restrooms, including elementary classroom sinks, are well-equipped with soap
and towels, and custodial staff are continuously checking to ensure they are stocked so
that students can wash hands regularly including before/after lunch and during breaks.
Hand sanitizer is also available in every classroom.

 

 

Again, at this time the immediate health risk of COVID-19 to the general public in Los Angeles is
still considered low. Our District, in working with Los Angeles County Department of Public Health,
is proactively taking steps to prevent the spread of this infection.
If you have further questions, please contact our Student Services Department at (626)935-8281.

 

Thank you for your support and working with us to continue to keep our students and schools
safe.

 

Sincerely,
Julie Mitchell, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools