Coronavirus Case Announced At South Park Elementary in Deerfield

DEERFIELD, IL — In a letter to parents and families, Deerfield District Public School District 109 revealed Friday a person at South Park Elementary School has tested positive for the coronavirus. The district said the person is in isolation since the onset of symptoms.

Students in the district began returning to in-person learning last week. Kindergartners went back Sept. 24, followed by first and second grade students on Tuesday, third-graders on Thursday and the target date of Monday for students in fourth and fifth grade. The hybrid learning plan breaks up the school day into halves.

Middle school students are scheduled to begin the hybrid learning plan at the end of October.

"We know that you may have many questions, but federal and state privacy laws prohibit us from sharing more detailed information about any individual case. In the interest of transparency, we are sending this notification to all District 109 stakeholders," said Ed Rafferty and Dr. Jane L. Westerhold, co-interim superintendents of schools, in the letter.

Officials said the district is working closely with the Lake County Health Department on contact tracing. The health department will contact the individual who tested positive directly and any close contacts will be identified, contacted, and provided guidance from either the school administration or the Lake County Health Department.

"If you are contacted directly by the school administration or the Lake County Health Department, we ask that you please cooperate in providing information to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our school community," the letter reads. "The health department will never disclose identifying information to close contacts."

The district is reminding parents to beware of scams as contact tracers will never ask for a social security number, money, bank or credit card information, or any form of payment. They will not ask for immigration status or threaten consequences for not participating or answering questions.

"Given the spread of COVID-19 in Lake County, we should not be surprised when presumed positive or positive test results are identified within our community," the letter continues. "It may continue to occur, and this is a major reason why mitigation strategies such as maintaining physical distance, masking, and hand washing are all still very important."

Visit the Lake County Health Department’s website for additional information on mitigating the spread of COVID-19.

Related:
District 109 Moves To Hybrid Schedule For Middle School
Kindergartners Return To Classrooms Thursday In Deerfield 109
Deerfield Parents Demand In-Person Learning