SCC CSD issues statement on COVID-19 positive case

Editor's Note: SCC Superintendent Brad Anderson released a letter to staff, parents and the community on Monday afternoon, informing the public that a staff member had tested positive for COVID-19 this past weekend. As of Monday afternooon, the Iowa Department of Public Health has reported that there are 39 active cases of COVID-19 within Calhoun County.

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Dear SCC Families and Staff:

A member of our South Central Calhoun Community School community has self-identified as testing positive for COVID-19.

A staff member who is involved in multiple school buildings shared the news with both school and district this weekend. This individual has also been in contact with Calhoun County Public Health. The individual was working at SCC, and was involved with multiple sites from August 24 to August 27. All individuals that have been identified as being exposed have been notified and quarantine efforts put into place.

In working with Calhoun County Public Health, they have agreed to notify the District of a positive COVID-19 case, as the situation could have a larger impact on the health and safety of the general public. The school district is able to share this news only because the individual self-identified. There may be cases where the school district will NOT be able to report each time a member of the SCC community tests positive as there are specific privacy protections afforded under federal law.

There are many questions that still surround who and when testing should occur. Recent guidance suggests that you do NOT need to be tested unless you experience direct contact with someone who has tested positive AND have symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing). Testing is still currently very limited in Iowa however, anybody can be tested at a TEST IOWA site.

There is a Test Iowa clinic site in Carroll and a drive through site in Storm Lake. To register, go to the Test Iowa website (https://www.testiowa.com/en).

Your primary health care provider can help determine if you need testing or treatment. In addition, you can call 211, the state’s Coronavirus hotline, for more health-related information. If you believe you may have been exposed to the virus or are experiencing symptoms, DO NOT go immediately to a clinic, emergency room or doctor’s office. Instead, either call 211 or your primary health care provider for guidance.

At this time, all SCC schools will remain open and the District will deal with COVID-19 on a case-by-case basis. We cannot stress enough the importance of basic good health practices, such as regularly washing your hands, covering your cough and staying home any time you feel ill. 

Making sure you have access to accurate information – and not relying on a random person’s latest social media post – is critical during this time. Please go to www.scc.k12.ia.us and/or sign up for text alerts, not only for information about SCC, but also links to the latest COVID-19 information.

This is a very unusual time, one none of us has ever experienced, but we pledge to do everything we can in support of our communities and students.

Sincerely,

Brad Anderson

Superintendent