May 6, 2009
 
 
Dear Parents and Concerned Citizens:
 
I hope this letter finds you well and enjoying the spring season.
 
As a means of keeping the school district and community informed of all information related to the recent press regarding the H1N1 virus, this letter is being written to make you aware of information and its possible impact on some students in the district.
 
Yesterday, we learned and later confirmed that a grade 1 student attending an elementary school in the Harvard, Massachusetts Public Schools was diagnosed with a confirmed case of the H1N1 virus. This student has a preschool aged sibling attending the preschool program in that same district.  I confirmed this information through a direct conversation with Harvard's Superintendent of Schools Thomas Jefferson, Ed.D. with whom I have been personally and professionally associated with for many years.  Dr. Jefferson also shared that he was closing the elementary school in which the diagnosed student is enrolled for one day and would be re-opening school today, May 7, 2009.  He continued with his decision recognizing that the most recent advisory published by the Center for Disease Control now advises not to close schools when there are probable or confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus.  They are now advising to implement steps that would ordinarily be engaged with a more traditional "seasonal flu."
 
The connection of this information to our school district lies in the fact that grade 5 students from the Harvard Public Schools were recently at Nature's Classroom in Ivoryton this past week.  They completed their experience and returned back to their homes yesterday.  As you may or may not know, our grade 6 students (200) are scheduled to attend the same location of the Nature's Classroom beginning on Tuesday of next week.
 
As a precaution, Linda Kauffman, District Nursing Supervisor, Mim Wagner, Principal of HKMS and I conducted a conference call with a representative of Natures' Classroom to discuss any/all information related to what we learned and what steps could and would be implemented as proactive steps to ensure an uninterrupted experience for our grade 6 students.  During this conversation, we agreed to the following:
 
·         Nature's Classroom staff would complete a thorough cleaning of every building located on its property to ensure that the facilities have been properly sanitized
·         The District requested that Nature's Classroom staff be individuals other than those who managed the group from the Harvard Public Schools
·         The district would ensure that Linda Kauffman, District Nursing Supervisor, speak to all of our grade 6 students prior to their departure this coming week and remind them of appropriate health practices such as the importance of hand-washing etc.
·         Nature's Classroom agreed to providing an extra ordinary number of hand sanitizers for our group during their stay
·         The District would notify all parents of grade 6 students to advise them of what we learned regarding the Harvard Public School and to give them the option to have their child not participate.  We are asking that permission forms be obtained from every parent of every grade 6 student so we maintain the appropriate record of all parent decisions
·         I, as Superintendent of Schools, would maintain appropriate communication with the Harvard Public Schools and be advised of any change related to its initial plan as reported
·         Linda Kauffman, District Nursing Supervisor, would review our plan with officials from the Department of Public Heath, Center for Disease Control as well as the district's medical advisor and Director of the local Health District serving our communities.  I have been informed that they are in full support of our plan as outlined and have commended the district for its communication regarding this most recent information  
 
With all this said, I am comfortable with announcing that we will continue the plan to send our grade 6 students to Nature's Classroom next week and provide an option for parents to exclude their child from the experience if they choose to do so.  In order to facilitate this process, I have requested that the HKMS administration design and distribute an additional activity consent form for all parents of our sixth graders. This form will need to be signed by a student's parent or guardian and returned to the school.
 
If you wish to read the most current information released by the Center for Disease Control, you may access it through http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/site/default.asp (Latest News).
 
As always, we continue to be available to answer any questions you may have regarding this or any other issue.  Please feel free to contact me directly at (806) 345-4534, Linda Kauffman at (860) 345-4584 or Mim Wagner at (860) 663-1241.
 
Thank you for your continued support.
 
 
Very truly yours,
 
 Gary
 
Gary S. Mala
Superintendent of Schools
 
 
Cc:      Board of Education Members
           All District Administrators
           File (Memo Book, H1N1 Virus)