An Ounce of Prevention

A Word From David James

Posted on 03/11/2020

Dear APS Families, Staff and Community:

In much the way we do every year with influenza outbreaks, Akron Public Schools has been working with public health experts in Summit County and the state of Ohio to create and communicate to you the most important considerations disease experts in America have for the novel coronavirus, now better known as COVID-19.

We believe you will find the information we are including here helpful, as well as the links to live, regularly updated factual information and advice our health experts want us to convey.

Health officials and governing authorities have advised institutions to prepare for the potential impact of the COVID-19 virus in the United States. Please be assured that Akron Public Schools is preparing to quickly respond to this public health development. Although there is no immediate or current threat of a coronavirus outbreak in our community, school administrators are assessing all existing school protocols and making adjustments accordingly to meet the possible future needs of our students.

As superintendent, I will communicate directly with the APS community if changes to school routines are warranted during this evolving situation.

As we undertake preparation efforts, we remind our families to follow the illness prevention guidelines as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control to avoid being exposed to a virus. Of particular importance now is to stay home when ill. Keeping a sick child at home prevents the spread of illness in the school community and allows the child an opportunity to rest and recover.

Daily environmental cleaning processes continue on all campuses with regular disinfection of buses and frequently touched surfaces at school; we are prepared to accelerate such cleaning practices as needed.

Please utilize the resources below for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19.

APS coronavirus and helpful hygiene tips poster
Situation Summary from CDC
CDC FAQ on COVID-19
Johns Hopkins Research Resource Center
Ohio Dept. of Health COVID-19 Updates
Centers for Disease Control (CDC): Traveler's Health page for the most up-to-date information
Comprehensive presentation on COVID-19 from Cuyahoga County Board of Health (The number of cases reported in this PowerPoint presentation was accurate as of March 8, 2020.)

Sincerely,
Image of David James signature

David W. James, Ed.D.
Superintendent