Arlington Heights Staffers, Students Stay Home After Possible Exposure To Coronavirus

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ARLINGTON HEIGHTS (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Two northwest suburban school district staffers and their children are staying home for now, because of possible exposure to the coronavirus.

According to Arlington Heights Elementary School District 25 Superintendent Lori D. Bein, it is out of an abundance of caution that she shared with parents Sunday night news about two staffers and their children. The staff members and children learned that their babysitter has a relative, who is a hospital employee, who has been exposed to a patient with coronavirus. The babysitter had contact with her relative.

Superintendent Bein said the staffers, their children and the babysitter do not have any symptoms of the virus, but they are staying home for the time being. 

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"None of these people have any symptoms currently," Bein wrote. "Our employees/students will stay home and self-monitor their symptoms, and they have been in contact with their physicians."

The District said the Cook County Department of Public Health said there is nothing more the district needs to do right now.

The employees and students work at or attend Dryden, Ivy Hill, Greenbrier, and Olive-Mary Stitt elementary schools, the letter states.

Read the full letter below:

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Dear District 25 Staff and Families:

Out of an abundance of caution, I am contacting you to share the following information.

This evening I was notified that 2 staff members and their children (who work at/attend Dryden, Ivy Hill, Greenbrier, and Olive Mary Stitt) were contacted by a babysitter.  A member of the babysitter’s family, a hospital employee, was exposed to a patient diagnosed with coronavirus.  None of these people have any symptoms currently.  Our employees /students will stay home and self-monitor their symptoms, and they have been in contact with their physicians.

I’ve been working directly with the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) and the Village of Arlington Heights.  CCDPH has informed me that there is nothing additional that District 25 should do at this time.

It is important, however, to remind everyone of the following:

  • Students should stay home if they are sick until at least 24 hours after there is no longer a fever or signs of a fever (without the use of fever-reducing medications).
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away after use and wash your hands. If a tissue is not available, cover your mouth and nose with your sleeve, not your hand.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
  • Do not share eating utensils or drinking containers.
  • Try to avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • If your child is absent from school, please leave a detailed reason (describing symptoms) on the absence line.

Again, I am sharing this information with you to be proactive.  I will update staff and families as new information becomes available.

Sincerely,

Lori D. Bein, Ed.D.

Superintendent