Message From Belmont Public Schools' Superintendent

Press release from Belmont Public Schools:

December 1, 2020

Dear Members of the Belmont Public Schools Community,

"I write to inform you about four new cases of confirmed COVID-19 in our school community. We received confirmation from the Belmont Department of Health today, 12/1/2020, regarding these cases.

This is what we know for certain at this time:

• The Department of Health received confirmation of a laboratory testing report indicating that four school community members (i.e., student or staff) -- two at Belmont High School, one at Chenery Middle School, and one at Butler Elementary School -- have been diagnosed with positive cases of COVID-19.
  • The two BHS cases are unrelated to any of the others.
  • The Chenery and Butler cases are related to each other.
  • The two BHS cases involve “in-person” community members who participated in Phase II learning at BHS. However, neither entered the building during their infectious periods.
  • The Chenery and Butler cases occurred over Thanksgiving break. Neither returned to school after the holiday, so neither entered the building during his/her infectious period.
• According to MA Department of Public Health (MDPH) guidelines, the infectious period used for determining close contacts for COVID-19 is two days prior to becoming symptomatic or, if asymptomatic, two days prior to testing, up until the time the student/staff is isolated.
  • In all four cases, no close contacts were identified among the school community.

We will continue to be vigilant in adhering to all of the protocols that have been put in place in an effort to continue our current educational program. To further prevent transmission of the virus to other staff and students, we have sanitized the school with a focus on the areas frequented by the community members that tested positive. Although we cannot provide specific information about our school community members who tested positive, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms, and keep your child home if he/she/they show any symptoms or is not feeling well.

If you have any questions or concerns about the investigation process, protocols, or contact tracing please refer to: Daily Symptom Check for Student

I am grateful for the proactive, swift, and responsive measures that have been taken by the Belmont Health Department and our Nursing Department to ensure the safety of everyone in the Belmont Public Schools community, and I thank you for your partnership.

We wish all members of our community continued good health. Please let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns."

Respectfully,

John P. Phelan
Superintendent of Schools

CC: J. Darias, Assistant Superintendent
B. Rumley, BPS Director of Nursing
W. Chin, Belmont Health Department
I. Taylor, Belmont High School Principal
K. Koza, Chenery Middle School Principal
D. Betancourt, Butler Elementary School Principal

This press release was produced by the Belmont Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.