Coronavirus Outbreak At Palatine School Halts In-Person Learning

PALATINE, IL — Gray M. Sanborn Elementary School in Palatine is closed to in-person learning until Nov. 16 due to an outbreak of the coronavirus in the building, Community Consolidated School District 15 Superintendent Dr. Laurie Heinz announced in a letter to families Wednesday morning. In the letter, Heinz said the decision for an adaptive pause and therefore closing the building was "made out of an abundance of caution after a COVID-19 outbreak in a central location within the building."

The decision to close the school temporarily was also a result of a probable case, connected by time and place to confirmed cases, and the cases being related to a central location within the building that isn't contained within a classroom.

According to the District 15 COVID-19 Dashboard, there is one new student case and one new staff cases reported for the week of Nov. 2 through 6. The cases were listed under Wednesday's date.

Heinz added that an outbreak is defined by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) as two or more cases connected by time and place, and as permitted by the IDPH, districts may "pause in-person learning at the classroom, building or District level at their discretion to prevent disease transmission during a pandemic."

"I want to assure you that all of our schools adhere to and exceed all health and safety measures recommended by the Health Department, including keeping 6+ feet of distance whenever possible, wearing face coverings, washing hands and sanitizing the building more frequently," Heinz stated, in the letter. "We are working closely with the CCHD and are prepared to implement any additional measures they recommend."

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Heinz also said should similar situations arise at other buildings within the district, then they won't hesitate to implement an adaptive pause where needed, and due to the unpredictable nature of the coronavirus, these decisions can be made with little warning.

"As I have continuously stated during the course of this pandemic, please have your contingency plans in place should a closure occur at the classroom, building or District level," Heinz added.

Heinz said new information that arises will be communicated as soon as possible.

>> Read entire statement

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