SMMUSD Dismisses Students After Parent Exposed To Coronavirus

SANTA MONICA, CA — The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District announced Thursday that students will be dismissed from attending school Friday and Monday and the schools will be thoroughly cleaned after a parent with a child in the district was exposed to the new coronavirus.

"We are taking this action to thoroughly clean our schools and evaluate the state of illness in our communities in order to make an informed decision for Tuesday into next week," Superintendent Ben Drati said in a letter to the SMMUSD community. "We are aware of a community member with children in our schools who was exposed to coronavirus."

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Teachers and staff will still report for duty on campus, but students won't be on campus "for any purpose," the letter said. This includes all schools and programs in Santa Monica and Malibu including childcare, infant toddler programs, preschool, grades TK-12 and the adult school.

"We have noticed a higher than normal absentee rate on our campuses today and will take this time to determine if students are ill, with what type of illness, or if parents are keeping students home during the coronavirus pandemic," Drati said. "This allows us time to consult with our local agencies and consider the status of this health emergency in LA County and the communities we serve."

Staff and teachers will prepare for possible school closures next week, he said.

For more information, visit the SMMUSD coronavirus webpage.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when 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.
• Follow CDC's recommendations for using a facemask.
  • CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
  • Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

For updates and information about the coronavirus visit the LADPH website and the CDC website.

Superintendent Ben Drati's full letter is below:

Dear staff, parents and guardians of all SMMUSD schools, preschools, child care and Infant Toddler Center,

In an abundance of caution, we are “dismissing” students from attending school Friday, March 13, and Monday, March 16, 2020. A dismissal indicates teachers and staff will still report for duty on campus, while all students will not be on campus, for any purpose. This includes all schools and programs in Santa Monica and Malibu including childcare, infant toddler program, preschool and grades TK-12 and our adult school.

Staff and teachers will receive additional instructions from your school administrator or director, later today. Please plan to report to work tomorrow.

We are taking this action to thoroughly clean our schools and evaluate the state of illness in our communities in order to make an informed decision for Tuesday into next week. We are aware of a community member with children in our schools who was exposed to coronavirus. We have noticed a higher than normal absentee rate on our campuses today and will take this time to determine if students are ill, with what type of illness, or if parents are keeping students home during the coronavirus pandemic. This allows us time to consult with our local agencies and consider the status of this health emergency in LA County and the communities we serve. Staff and teachers will prepare for possible school closures next week.

We will continue our frequent communications with you.

Please visit our dedicated Coronavirus webpage for previous communications and our FAQs.

Please stay healthy.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ben Drati, Superintendent