Boulder Valley School District

Coronavirus Situation at Centaurus

Coronavirus Situation at Centaurus
Carolyn Nohe

Dear Centaurus Families and Staff,

The safety of our students and staff is our top priority.

Out of an abundance of caution we want to notify you of a situation with a substitute staff member, who has been working at Centaurus for the past 5 school days.

We learned today that this individual has been notified by a cruiseline that there was a small cluster of COVID-19 cases on a cruise they took in the middle of February. 

The individual has not experienced any symptoms of the virus. Based on what we know about this disease to date, it is extremely unlikely that someone would transmit the virus without having symptoms. In fact, the CDC guidance states that as long as the person is not symptomatic they can continue to work, however, as a precaution, we will not be allowing the staff person to return to work until the 14-day exposure window has passed.

While we do not believe there is a significant risk of our students getting sick, we are dedicated to doing everything possible to protect our students and to keep you informed. BVSD has been updating resources about Coronavirus and staying healthy here

We will continue to monitor the situation and we will let you know if there are any updates. In the meantime, if you have questions or concerns about Coronavirus in general, call CO-Help at 303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911 or email COHELP@RMPDC.org, for answers in English and Spanish. You may also review local information at www.boco.org/COVID-19.

 

Centaurus Coronavirus Questions

On March 4, 2020 we were informed of a situation at Centaurus. A substitute staff member was notified by a cruise line that there were cases of COVID-19 on a cruise they had taken in mid-February. Out of an abundance of caution, a message was sent to families and staff. 

We have been fielding calls from the Centaurus community as well as staff and parents at other BVSD schools. Here are some of the frequently asked questions and answers:

Does the staff member have any symptoms?

The staff member has not experienced any symptoms but will stay out of work until the 14-day exposure window has ended, which will be on March 6.

Is the staff member being tested?

Since the individual has not experienced symptoms they are not being tested - this is the health department’s protocol. See the Colorado Health Department’s criteria for testing for the virus here.

Is there any more information you can provide about the staff member?

We are not providing any additional information about the staff member at this time. If the situation changes (eg. they become ill), we'd take guidance from public health on notifications. 

How can I know if my student interacted with the staff member?

The substitute staff member served in a variety of capacities during their few days at Centaurus. It would not be possible to know exactly who they may or may not have come in contact with. We feel they were throughout the school frequently enough to have alerted the entire school community.

Has the staff member worked at any other schools since returning from the cruise?

No, the employee has not worked at any other school other than Centaurus since returning from the cruise.

Is there an update on the staff member's health status?

This substitute staff member completed the 14 day monitoring period without exhibiting any symptoms. Additionally, we have not received any reports of additional sicknesses at Centaurus to date.


 

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