Coronavirus Fears Trigger Peninsula Private School Shutdown

ATHERTON,CA — A San Mateo County private school has closed for the rest of the week after learning a staff member had contact with a relative who tested positive for the coronavirus, the school announced on its website on Wednesday.

Students, faculty, and staff at Menlo School will not be permitted on campus during for the duration of the closure, Head of School Than Healy said in a statement.

“The School is working closely with the San Mateo County Department of Health and the CDC,” Healy said.

“Out of an abundance of caution and for the safety and well-being of our community, we have decided to close the School through the weekend.”

The school has cancelled all classes and extracurricular activities including athletics, arts, clubs, and planned field trips, the school announced on its website.

Healy said the school will be in contact with public health officials in an effort to learn more about the employee’s condition.

The school has hired an outside firm to “deep clean” the Peninsula campus.

“We know this news may cause understandable concern,” Healy said. “While it is not our intent to cause undue alarm or disruption to our students’ learning, the School has decided to act
conservatively and in the best interest of our community members in announcing this closure.”

Healy said the school would provide updates on the situation later Wednesday evening.

“Our desire is to continue to be transparent with you and communicate what we know as frequently as possible,” he said.

Menlo School was established in 1915 and enrolls 795 students according to its website, 222 in its middle school (grades 6-8) and 573 in its upper school (grades 9-12).