Fulton School System Shares Plan To Fight Ebola

Editor’s note: the following letter was submitted by the Fulton County School System

Dear parents and community members:

Watching the news unfold about the Ebola virus can be unsettling. Rest assured that Fulton County Schools is working closely with local and state health agencies to stay informed and prepared to maintain the safety of our children. Even though official projections on the spread of the Ebola virus tell us that it is contained, it is always good to run your own ’what if’ situations and projected next steps in the event such a tragedy hits our school community.

This message is not intended to alarm you but to make you aware of our policies and processes and to assure you of our diligence toward the health and safety of our students, staff, and community. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed. Below you will find a detailed list of what we have already done and how we are staying informed about this issue.

• Our coordinator of Student Health Services has met with the Fulton County Department of Health & Wellness (FCDHW) medical director and district epidemiologist to discuss preparation and planning for our district.
• The Office of Student Health Services (SHS) is continuously monitoring, tracking and keeping abreast of updates and recommendations from local and state health authorities as well as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
• The Office of SHS is conducting ongoing meetings with district school nurses to provide updates and review current guidelines and recommendations issued by the Georgia Department of Public Health (Ga. DPH) and CDC.
• The Communications Department and Office of SHS developed a communication letter and Ebola Fact Sheet to share with parents and school communities.
• Copies of the communication letter have been posted on district and SHS websites and the information is available in four translations.
• SHS has developed new processes and guidelines to address Ebola for use by the school district, school health team and school clinics which are consistent with Georgia Public Health recommendations and CDC guidelines for schools, colleges and universities.
• Trainings on the new processes and guidelines are being conducted with school health teams.
• The coordinator of SHS has met with all principals to provide an update and share information on district preparation and planning.
• We are currently purchasing additional safety equipment and supplies for school clinics and school health teams.
• SHS is launching a special page on the SHS website dedicated to providing updates and pertinent information to share with parents and staff.
• We have updated our protocols for new student enrollment.SHS will immediately contact local health authorities and proceed with our Communicable/Infectious Disease Protocol.
• FCS will remain engaged with our local health authorities and SHS will continue to work closely with FCDHW and Ga. DPH on any potential or actual Ebola concerns and to ensure proper protocols and procedures are being followed.
• FCS will continue to monitor the Ebola situation and provide the district with updates as the health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority.

We hope that you find this information helpful. Please feel free to contact us at Communications@fultonschools.org if we can share additional information. Also visit the Student Health Services website for updates.

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