News Release September 24, 2020

Key Contact: Alpena Public Schools Interim Superintendent Susan Wooden

Email: woodens@alpenaschools.com / Phone: 989.358.5042

RECAP OF INCIDENTS & APS COVID-19 COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL

Dear Parents/Guardians,
On Monday, September 21, 2020, the District was notified by District Health Department
No. 4 about one student in Ella White Elementary School and one student in Sanborn
Elementary School being identified as COVID-19 “probable cases.” ​Probable cases ​are
treated the same as ​positive cases ​per District Health Department No. 4​ g​ uidance, as these
students ​had been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 and began to present
symptoms. The District immediately implemented its COVID-19 Preparedness & Response Plan.
District Health Department No. 4 informed all “close contacts” of both students per the
Center for Disease Control guidelines. Both classrooms, their teacher, and an instructional
assistant were sent home to self-quarantine for 14 days.
The Board of Education and District administrators, including all K-12 principals and
departmental supervisors (transportation, food service, technology, and maintenance)
were informed of the incidents by Interim Superintendent, Susan Wooden.
Principals of both schools sent a letter to parents of the affected classrooms’ cohorts
instructing them to monitor for onset of symptoms related to COVID-19, including fever,
cough, difficulty breathing, headache, diarrhea, new fatigue or loss of taste or smell and, if
there was any change in the health of their child, to contact their regular medical provider.
A detailed robo-call was sent to all parents of both elementary schools on Tuesday,
September 22nd notifying them of the incidents.
Quarantined students will continue their learning remotely at home with lessons delivered
by their third grade teacher. They are expected to return to school on Monday, October 5,
2020.
Confidentiality laws prevent the District from providing any personally identifying
information of students or employees who are deemed a “probable case'' or who test
positive for any disease including COVID-19.
Please see the outline below for future COVID-19 communications from the District:
 COVID-19 District Communication Protocol
Scenario A:
1. The ​school​ learns about the COVID-19 case.
2. School calls the health department to report the case.
3. APS Superintendent’s Office sends a general notification to the Board of Education,
administrators, K-12 parents, K-12 staff, department supervisors, district nurse, and
media, protecting confidentiality. Notification may include, but shall not be limited
to a letter, robo-call, email, posting on APS Website home page or APS Facebook
page.
4. Principal of the affected school sends a letter to the cohort of affected parents
outlining important instructions.
5. School district and health department work together to identify close contacts. Close
contacts are notified by the health department and placed into a 14-day quarantine
based on their last exposure.
6. Close contact does not develop symptoms, completes quarantine period, and
returns to school.
OR...
7. Close contact becomes symptomatic or tests positive for COVID-19 and is now a
probable or confirmed case.
Scenario B:
1. The ​health department​ learns about the COVID-19 case.
2. Health department calls the district's COVID-19 liaison. Two liaisons (staff
members) have been identified in each school building throughout the district.
3. APS Superintendent’s Office sends a general notification to the Board of Education,
administrators, K-12 parents, K-12 staff, department supervisors, district nurse, and
media, protecting confidentiality. Notification may include, but shall not be limited
to a letter, robo-call, email, posting on APS Website home page or APS Facebook
page.
4. Principal of the affected school sends a letter to the cohort of affected parents
outlining important instructions.
5. School district and health department work together to identify close contacts. Close
contacts are notified by the health department and placed into a 14-day quarantine
based on their last exposure.
6. Close contact does not develop symptoms, completes quarantine period, and
returns to school.
OR…
 7. Close contact becomes symptomatic or tests positive for COVID-19 and is now a
probable or confirmed case.
OR...
8. Health department interviews the case and determines the isolation period and any
non-school contacts. Case completes their isolation period and returns to school.
NOTE: If someone is placed in quarantine, they may decide to get a COVID-19 test, but a
negative result will NOT shorten the length of the quarantine period. The health
department can issue an official letter or other documentation releasing people from
isolation or quarantine. Schools may use this letter to determine when to allow return to
school.
For general questions related to COVID-19, you may also contact District Health
Department No. 4 at 1.800.221.0294.