Superintendent Webb makes statement regarding COVID cases in the school

||| FROM ERIC WEBB, ORCAS SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT |||

Dear Students, Parents, Staff, & Community,

Please know that you have gone above and beyond to creatively provide instruction to our students while keeping them safe.  You have been diligent about observing and modeling safety measures on campus.  We should be so proud of all we have accomplished in these last months despite the challenges we have faced and continue to face.  Please know that the positive cases that have been detected in the community are not for lack of effort on our part as a district or as a community.

As our country is experiencing a third surge of COVID-19 and Washington State alone is reporting a  47% increase in cases, we have found that our Orcas Island bubble is no longer impenetrable. A few more months of sacrifices in our personal lives and travel plans, as well as maintaining our household bubble will be necessary to avoid a serious surge on Orcas Island.  Our community has kept this virus at bay over the past months, and I have no doubt that we are up to the task to protect our island community as we enter into the holiday season.

I have been in constant contact with the County since yesterday and receive updates every few hours.  Please find the most current information below:

• The district has two confirmed cases of COVID-19.  The positive cases are linked outside of the school district.
• At this time, contact tracing is underway for 30 district students and staff members.
• Camp Orkila employees will no doubt add to the total number of individuals screened, which could bring the number of those contact traced to 40.
• Those identified as close contacts of the positive individuals will be contacted today. If you are not contacted by the county today, you are not considered a close contact.
• The county will advise that all close contacts need to be quarantined for 14 days.
• COVID-19 testing is being conducted for close contacts tomorrow (Sunday) at the Senior Center.  Appointments are being made by the County’s health investigators and contact tracers.
• If any of the close contacts test positive tomorrow, contract tracing will commence for those that are positive.

Given the latest developments and identified cases that have led to a spread to our school campus –

• OISD will transition K-2nd grade and Montessori Public back into the Distance Learning Model effective Monday, November 16.
• OISD will remain in the Distance Learning Model until mid-January.  
• Camp Orkila Days will be suspended until mid-January.

Our hearts go out to those impacted by COVID-19,