Update: March 6, 2020

Administrators are closely monitoring recent media reports and information related to COVID-19 (Coronavirus). We are in regular communication with state and local health departments which are evaluating the risk of possible exposure in our schools. Decisions regarding the operation of our schools will be made in collaboration with state and local health officials.

Daily measures are being taken to ensure that our buildings are sanitized and that we lower our risk of transmission for any infections as much as possible. Also, the custodial staff has increased their daily cleaning in high traffic areas as a precaution against the spread of all germs.

As spring break (Mar 23-Apr 3) approaches, please monitor and follow travel-related guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Students or staff who plan to visit a country that is under a Level 3 Travel Health Notice should remain home and not return to our schools or offices until 14 days after their arrival back to the United States. Countries with a Level 3 Travel Health Notice currently include China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea, and the CDC may add other locations.

To reduce the spread of germs, please adopt the following practices:

• Regularly wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (that’s the length of time it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song TWICE)
• If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer
• It is important to have correct information about the Coronavirus:
  Click here to access CDC information.
  Click here for information from the Indiana Department of Health.
  For students in Grades 3 and up: BrainPop

General information about our general practices can be found below.

Perry Township Schools is working closely with state and local health departments to review and update emergency preparation plans in the event of a pandemic. Our schools will continue to operate as normal until notified by local and state health officials of a health-related concern.  Once notified, Perry Township Schools would implement restrictions or policy guidelines based on local or state recommendations.

It is important to have correct information about the Coronavirus.

Click here to access CDC information.
Click here for information from the Indiana Department of Health.

Current student contagion illness practices:

• Encourage students and staff to practice good handwashing and to cover their coughs and sneezes.
• A student with an oral temperature measuring 100 degrees Fahrenheit or greater is excluded from school. The student must remain fever-free without use of a fever reducer for 24 hours before returning to school.
• A student who has vomited or had diarrhea due to illness is excluded from school. The student must be symptom-free for 24 hours before returning to school.
• A student with a rash suspected to be contagious is excluded from school and referred to a physician for evaluation.
• A student suspected to have conjunctivitis (pink eye) is excluded from school and referred to a physician for evaluation.
• Attendance is monitored for illness with similar symptoms. The local health department will be notified if the student absent rate for illness reaches 20 percent or more for any of our school buildings. This is per 512 IAC 1-2-2 that states “public and accredited nonpublic schools are required to report to the local health department and the state attendance officer the percentage of student absences when the percentage of students absent from a school is equal to or greater than 20 percent of the enrolled students.”

Notification of health illness concern in our area:

• Continue to follow our current student illness practices as stated above.
• Follow local and state health department recommendations.
• Students who present to the school clinic with signs and symptoms of a respiratory infection accompanied by a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher should have a mask placed to contain secretions until parent pick up.
• Encourage students to stay home if having signs and symptoms of illness. Students must be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school after illness.
• Custodial staff will follow flu protocol cleaning procedures.

In the event of a Pandemic-type of illness:

• Perry Township Schools would follow the direction of the local and state health departments, who are guided by the recommendations of Centers for Disease Control.
• Marion County Public Health Department would be notified and buildings would be closed if the 20 percent student absence rate were reached.