Public Information and Announcements

This will be my last COVID-19 letter for the year, and unfortunately it is to let you know of two additional cases of COVID-19 in the district. This is a reminder that although things are vastly improved, we head into the summer needing to be mindful that the virus still very much exists in our community.

Today we learned that a staff person in the district has tested positive for COVID-19. District nursing staff and administration worked throughout the day to confirm the positive case with Maine CDC and to identify close contacts. All individuals having to quarantine as a result of these positive cases were contacted during the day today. In total, four students were asked to quarantine.

Separately, we were notified of a case on Tuesday of this week at North Elementary School. Our nursing staff worked with Maine CDC to verify that a student tested positive for COVID-19. Four staff and 15 students were identified as close contacts and were asked to quarantine. I made a mistake and failed to report this case on Tuesday evening.

MSAD 54 will again be closing early as a result of the extreme heat index and heat in our buildings today.  We will be dismissing at 12:00PM.  This is a move we wouldn’t make in a normal year, as our staff can utilize fans and tough it out by moving throughout buildings to cooler areas, going outside, etc.  This year that simply isn’t possible.  Below I want to highlight how we came to the decision today, and why this year is different (something I’m so very tired of saying, and I’m sure you’re tired of hearing me say…). 

What’s Different This Year:  So many things… but with heat, it’s the masks and the fans.  The DOE has said that we cannot use fans to oscillate air indoors.  This means we couldn’t put fans in classrooms and turn off the lights like we have in the past.  We’d have kids in the afternoon heat, wearing masks, without fans.  To top it off – going outside is not recommended per the state, based on the heat index.  Another perfect storm. 

I am writing to inform you that MSAD 54 was notified earlier today that a student at SAMS has tested positive for COVID-19. District nursing staff and administration worked over the course of the day to confirm the positive case with Maine CDC and identify close contacts.

All individuals having to quarantine as a result of this positive case were contacted today. In total there were 9 students and 1 staff member who will have to quarantine.

I’m writing to inform you that we confirmed today that a student from Bloomfield Elementary School (BES) tested positive for COVID-19. District nursing and administrative staff contacted Maine CDC and determined that 18 students will need to quarantine as a result of this exposure.

All individuals needing to quarantine were contacted by district nursing staff over the course of the day today. At this time there is no recommendation that we close school or take additional actions beyond those described above.

We will be holding a COVID-19 Vaccination clinic for students on June 1, 2021. Any students who have not yet registered for the clinic by filling out the forms above may do so and bring them to school on Tuesday.

All vaccinations will occur in the Skowhegan Area Middle School (SAMS) Gymnasium beginning at 9:00AM. Students interested in being vaccinated will be transported from their school to SAMS, and back. If you have questions please contact Michele Clukey at 207-474-3339.

I’m writing to inform you of four positive cases of COVID-19. Complete information on these cases, which were related and associated with cases outside of school, came in over the weekend.

District nursing staff and administration worked both Saturday and Sunday to get details around these most recent cases. Nursing staff were able to connect with the families of those individuals testing positive as well as Maine DOE/CDC. Close contacts were identified and all individuals having to quarantine as a result of these positive cases were notified at some point during the last two days. In total, there were four positive cases including one at MSES, one at SAMS, and two at SAHS. Fifty-three students have been asked to quarantine as a result of these most recent cases. As we have throughout the pandemic, we will continue to update our website and provide additional information should anything change.

I’m writing to inform you that we confirmed today that a student from Somerset County Technical Center (SCTC) and a student at Skowhegan Area High School (SAHS) have tested positive for COVID-19. District nursing and administrative staff contacted Maine CDC and determined that 1 staff member and 7 students will need to quarantine as a result of these exposures.

All individuals needing to quarantine were contacted by district nursing staff over the course of the day today. At this time there is no recommendation that we close a school or take additional actions beyond those described above.