• March 6, 2020

    Dear T/E Staff and Families,

    As we shared last week, the T/E School District continues to monitor, plan and implement how to best serve our students and community in response to coronavirus or COVID-19. The health and safety of our students, staff and community is important to all of us. Information about responding to COVID-19 is continually evolving, and our plans must change accordingly. Today we write to provide an update on our efforts and to share information about this public health challenge.  The District continues to monitor guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PDH), and the Chester County Health Department (CCHD).  We continue to rely on these agencies to provide direction.  At this time, there are no reported cases of COVID-19 among students or staff members in TESD, nor are we aware that any student or staff member has been in contact with an individual known to be infected.

    Updated travel guidance

    • In accordance with CDC guidelines, students and staff members who have traveled to countries identified as Level 3 Travel Health Notice (currently China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea) will be required to stay home for 14 days after returning to the United States. Please notify the school if you are in this situation, and we will develop a plan to provide support.
    • As we look ahead to spring break, authorities advise deferring non-essential international travel and monitoring the CDC travel guidelines. Be aware that CDC guidelines may change at any time.

    School contingency plans

    • The District has developed plans with guidance from public health agencies to respond to confirmed cases of COVID-19. Although authorities continue to recommend preventive measures as the best current response to COVID-19, we will be ready in the event that trips and activities need to be canceled or rescheduled, or if schools need to be closed for a short or long period of time.
    • Discussion and further details of these plans will be added to the Education Committee agenda scheduled for Wednesday, March 11 at 7PM in the District Administration offices. Agenda materials will be finalized and posted on the District website prior to the meeting.

    Continued prevention

    As we shared in previous communications, the CDC recommends prevention as the first line of defense against any virus.  We encourage our students and staff to actively wash their hands and take the same precautions they would normally take to avoid illness: 

    • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
    • Stay home if you are sick.
    • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
    • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
    • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

    In addition, our custodial staff continues to disinfect surfaces on a daily basis and will continue with cyclical “deep cleaning” for added sanitization. 

    Information to discuss with students

    Our children may have questions about COVID-19.  The National Association of School Psychologists has published suggestions, including recommendations about being mindful in television viewing and use of social media.

    Information is evolving rapidly, and we expect guidance to change. To address this, we will provide updates as needed at www.tesd.net/coronavirus, where additional resources are available. Communication will be shared as the need arises. Should you have specific questions or concerns about District plans related to COVID-19, please feel free to contact Dr. Chris Groppe, Director of Individualized Student Services, at groppec@tesd.net or by calling 610-240-1919.

    At this time, we recommend staying informed, following guidance from local, state and national health agencies, and focusing on prevention. Thank you for your continued cooperation and support.

    Sincerely,

    Dr. Richard Gusick
    Superintendent of Schools

    Links:

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
    PA Department of Health
    Chester County Health Department