Orofino Elementary School closed Wednesday, Thursday due to increasing COVID-19 cases

Orofino Elementary School Principal Denise Pomponio issued the following letter concerning the closure of the school due to increasing COVID-19 cases:

Dear OES Families,

OES is seeing an increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases and quarantines for students and staff. In particular, Wednesday and Thursday last week we saw student absences at 54 and 61 respectively. Today we saw student absences at 92 and identified direct exposures to three entire classrooms. This exceeds our threshold of 25-30% absence rate for closure. We currently have staff members out on quarantine and an unknown number of students and staff who may have been exposed last week to unknown positive individuals.

It is extremely difficult to accurately trace and assess the levels of close contact that each of these individuals may have had with other staff and students.

As we navigate through this pandemic, we are continuing to learn and adjust as necessary to provide a safe learning environment for our students and a safe work environment for our staff. As a result, we have decided to temporarily close school.

There will be no school for students at OES tomorrow, 9/8/21 and Thursday, 9/9/21. We will take the morning tomorrow to look into all individual absences that we were not able to contact today, gather the exact data, and make a decision about next week.

I am hopeful that these days of school closure will effectively push the reset button on COVID-19 infections and associated quarantines. We will ensure the building is disinfected and ready for school to resume on the designated date.

During this 2-day emergency closure for this week, there will be no online school for any grades. Teachers will not be assigning work or providing instruction. I will be contacting you by the end of the day tomorrow (Wednesday, 9/8) to inform you if it is determined that we will remain closed next week, and if virtual instruction will be provided.

If your child develops symptoms consistent with COVID-19:

• Continue to keep your child home from school and avoid other activities around other people.
• Seek medical advice from your doctor regarding recommendations for testing
• Notify the school

NO SCHOOL 9/8/21, 9/9/21
SCHOOL RECONVENES: TBD

If you have any questions, please contact your child's teacher or call the office.