COVID-19 Information
There are many questions surrounding the COVID-19 virus and its impact on North Miami Community Schools.
This dedicated area provides related communications, including answers to several common questions. Please know that we are actively monitoring the situation on a daily, and even hourly, basis and will continue to share information and update content regularly.
March 16, 2020 Gov. Holcomb Announces More Steps to Slow the Spread of COVID-19
INDIANAPOLIS — In a continuing effort to slow the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Governor Eric J. Holcomb has announced additional efforts.
The governor and other state officials will conduct a COVID-19 briefing today at 2:30 p.m. in the south atrium of the Indiana Statehouse with the latest updates on testing and cases.
Here are additional directives from Governor Holcomb.
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Indiana will adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for large events and mass gatherings. The guidance recommends no in-person events of more than 50 people. Here is a link to the guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/mass-gatherings-ready-for-covid-19.html
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Under the current guidance for schools, 273 public school districts are closed, using e-learning days, or on spring break and have announced a future closure. The Department of Education is working with the remaining 16 school corporations to determine their next steps and needs
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Bars, nightclubs and restaurants are required to close to in-person patrons and may provide take-out and delivery services through the end of March
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Hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers should cancel and/or postpone elective and non-urgent surgical procedures immediately. This action will help the healthcare system conserve resources and personnel necessary to meet emerging health needs
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The state’s Emergency Operations Center has been raised to a Level 1 status and will work in conjunction with the incident command center at the Indiana State Department of Health for planning, coordination, predictive analysis and other functions
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State employees will maximize the use of remote work and meet virtually whenever possible while maintaining operations. Non-essential in-person meetings will be limited to 10 persons or less and should meet virtually whenever possible. High-risk individuals should not attend meetings in person
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State employees over the age of 60 with underlying health conditions are advised to work from home, and agencies should identify work that can be accomplished remotely for those individuals
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The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, which are closed on Mondays, will close to the public beginning Tuesday
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The visitors center at White River State Park will close
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Indiana state parks and recreation centers, including state park inns, remain open. Restaurants will convert operations to take-out and delivery
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State agencies already are developing remote work plans for employees and will continue to implement them while maintaining necessary state services. Employees who work outdoors are encouraged to practice social distancing
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The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has suspended rules requiring certain unemployment insurance claimants to physically appear at a Work One location to engage in reemployment services for the next four weeks. This will ensure that individuals who may be symptomatic do not have to physically appear to continue their unemployment insurance eligibility
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Communities are encouraged to work together to provide child care options for all who need assistance and delivery services of meals and other necessities for senior citizens
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Hoosiers who can donate blood are encouraged to visit local blood centers. Blood supplies are low. Please follow the guidance at www.redcross.org
More information may be found at the ISDH website at https://on.in.gov/COVID19 and the CDC website athttps://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
March 13, 2020 From the Desk of Mr. Hanson
North Miami Community Schools Staff and Parents,
As you are aware, we have been closely monitoring information the Indiana State Department of Health and we have
been working very closely with our local Miami County Health Department regarding the Coronavirus (Covid-19).
Upon the advice of the Miami County Health Department today, North Miami Community Schools will close starting
Monday, March 16 , 2020. Please note the following information:
EVENTS & ACTIVITIES:
Effective Friday, March 13th, NMCS has cancelled all extra-curricular, co-curricular, events, practices, and activities at our buildings/district until Sunday, April 5 .
SCHOOL:
March 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 : NMCS WILL conduct eLearning. School will be closed.
March 23rd - April 3rd: School closed, no eLearning. These 10 days will be waived per Gov. Holcomb’s memorandum.
April 6 – April 10th: Spring Break
April 13th: School re-opens
Please be aware that these precautions are being taken to reduce or limit our community’s exposure to the virus. As a
reminder, those practices include:
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Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
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If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
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Avoid close contact with people who are sick
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Stay home when you are sick
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Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw the tissue in the trash
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Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
The Indiana State Department of Health has also established a hotline for the public. Should you have questions or
concerns regarding the Coronavirus (Covid-19), please contact the following phone numbers for assistance:
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P:317-233-7125 from 8 AM – 8 PM
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P:317-233-1325 from 8 PM – 8 AM
Thank you for your support as we all work together to do what is best for our students, staff and families during this
unprecedented health crisis. Please refer to our website for additional information and resources.
March 12, 2020 From the Desk of Mr. Hanson
North Miami Community Schools Parents,
We continue to receive new information about COVID-19 daily from the Miami County Health Department and the Indiana State Dept. of Health. Based upon the guidelines of these health organizations, North Miami Community Schools will continue to conduct school and planned activities as normal, with the exception of activities travelling outside of Indiana. All school sponsored trips scheduled outside of Indiana have currently been cancelled or postponed through Friday, April 10th. If MCHD/ISDH would advise us to close school, NMCS would comply and implement an eLearning plan.
We have created a section on our website that will provide updated information about COVID-19 and any communication from NMCS. Because new information is being shared quickly, we will continue to update our website.
The preventative actions taken by our schools to manage the flu season are the same precautions we are using for COVID-19. Prevention is important. Keep your child(ren) home if they are sick. In addition, here are steps you can take to protect yourself:
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Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
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Cough into an elbow or sleeve, not your hands and avoid touching your face
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Clean frequently touched areas like doorknobs, desks, phones and keyboards with disinfecting wipes daily
We understand the magnitude of these decisions. All of us have the desire to continue with business as usual, and we are implementing actions to create the conditions necessary for continuing as such. We are prepared to take additional steps as public health officials deem necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19, so a vaccine and treatments can be developed to protect our most medically-vulnerable community members. NMCS will be working on more guidance for students and families in the coming days with the intention of keeping school open unless advised to do otherwise by the MCHD or ISDH.
Respectfully,
Kenneth Hanson, Superintendent
March 12, 2020 Gov. Holcomb Announces New Steps to Protect Public from COVID-19
COVID-19 Resources
Center for Disease Control website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus
Indiana State Department of Health website: https://www.in.gov/isdh/28470.htm.
Click to read the Miami County Health Department Release
FAQs
What Happens if a Student or Staff Member is Exposed to or Diagnosed with COVID-19?
If we have a direct, confirmed case of coronavirus we will coordinate with the MCHD and ISDH to determine our course of action.
What Can I Do to Prepare for Possible Extended eLearning?
If we choose to close school, we would move to a modified e-Learning model. We encourage staff to take home computers/materials and all students to take home devices every night in case we need to quickly move to eLearning. Parents with younger students should also be considering a contingency plan regarding childcare.
How Can I Explain Coronavirus to my Kids?
Talking with children about COVID-19
How Can I Disinfect my School Device?
iPads:
- Ensure the device is turned off and unplug all cables.
- Do not remove the iPad from the case.
- Do not spray anything directly on the iPad.
- Using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you may gently wipe the hard, nonporous surfaces of your Apple product, such as the display, keyboard, or other exterior surfaces. Don't use bleach. Avoid getting moisture in any opening, and don't submerge your Apple product in any cleaning agents.
- Learn more on how to clean all Apple products at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204172
Dell 3190 2-in-1 Laptops:
- Ensure the device is turned off and unplug all cables.
- Do not spray anything directly on the laptop.
- Using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you may gently wipe the outside and keyboard of the laptop but not the screen. Avoid getting moisture in any opening, and don't submerge your laptop in any cleaning agents.
- Many cleaning solutions are sold specifically as LCD Cleaners. You can use these to clean LCD screens on Dell laptops. Alternately, you may use a 50:50 isopropyl alcohol and water mixture applied with a clean, lint-free cloth. Microfiber cloth such as those used to clean eyeglasses are excellent for this purpose.
- Learn more on how to clean all Dell laptops at: https://www.dell.com/support/article/en-us/sln153766/how-to-clean-the-lcd-panel-on-your-dell-laptop-all-in-one-computer-or-monitor?lang=en