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Dear Mellen Community,
This has been an unparalleled year so far! The staff, students and families have been so amazing during these trying times. While we continue through this year and the quickly approaching New Year, we still need to remain vigilant with the health and safety protocols for the well being of everyone. While the media and different social media sites have a wide variety of information and opinions with what is “right” with quarantining of individuals who have been exposed to or test positive with COVID-19, the District has created and will continue to follow an extensive plan that is periodically reviewed by our Liability Insurance carrier and with the information from Department of Center for Disease Control, Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Ashland County Department of Health and Human Services.
The School District of Mellen’s plan is based on all conservative recommendations by the agencies listed above. Not everything is known or understood with regards to COVID-19, and how and why people are affected so differently. Scientists and health care professionals continue to learn new things each day. While the Districts biggest responsibility during the COVID-19 pandemic is to protect the health and safety of each and every person in the school building. Surveys were taken by the parents of each student at the end of last year, and the overall main concern for parents was to have their student(s) face to face with their teacher(s) IF it could be done safely, and with all health and safety precautions implemented to protect the health of everyone. The District Administration, School Board and staff have worked tirelessly to do just that.
For the well being of everyone and to provide the highest health and safety protections possible for onsite education, the District will continue to have staff and students quarantine for 14 days if they are exposed to or test positive for COVID-19. This is to ensure that we can continue to remain open and have face to face education with students and teachers. While surrounding districts have closed for weeks or months, the School District of Mellen, has remained open for on-site education, because we feel confident that the practices we are following, and will continue to follow to the best of our ability, will protect the health and safety of each and every student and staff member in the building.
The school district is aware of the growing fatigue and impatience that comes from these long months of wearing face coverings, following state mandates and restrictions. We work with families that have to quarantine, to provide meals, school supplies and any other assistance when needed.
During this upcoming holiday vacation, (December 21- January 3rd), please follow the State of Wisconsin’s recommendations of staying within your immediate household. In the event that you do travel and/or get together with individuals outside your immediate household, the School District of Mellen Administration ask that you do so in a timely manner that will allow for a 14 day quarantine before you send your student(s) back to school on January 4th or that you keep them home to quarantine for a full 14 days before they return to possibly expose other students and staff in the school to the COVID-19 virus. Please remember that we do have students and staff that have health issues that may make them more susceptible to a serious health reaction to an exposure to the coronavirus. We need to be respectful and thoughtful to those individuals that are following all the precautions and are relying on others to do the same.
Everyone’s corporation, patience and diligence now, will continue to help ensure the Mellen School remains open and students are in front of their teachers, where children are most successful!
As a reminder, there will be no school for students on 12/21 and 12/22. Happy Holiday’s and please remain healthy and safe!
Rhonda Elmhorst-Friemoth
Superintendent
Mellen School District
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