Monitoring Coronavirus (COVID-19) developments and assessing possible changes to Lexington Two school and district operations is taking place on a day-to-day basis.

We continue to work closely with the Centers for Disease Control and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to stay informed. We will implement their recommendations and share their information with our employees, students, families and the wider Lexington Two community.

As we write this, the state of South Carolina has several confirmed cases and continues to investigate others. For the latest updates from DHEC, go to scdhec.gov/COVID19. 

SCHOOL STATUS: All schools and district facilities are currently operating on normal schedules.

CLEANING AND DISINFECTING IN SCHOOLS: Right now, our custodial staff is continuing to thoroughly clean and disinfect schools and district facilities as part of our daily routine, using flu-season protocols and EPA-approved products. We also continue to emphasize healthy habits among employees, students and families to help prevent the spread of germs and respiratory illnesses. That includes washing hands often for at least 20 seconds with soap and water; covering coughs and sneezes; and staying home when you’re sick.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND FIELD TRIPS: As of Thursday, March 12, there have been no cancellations of regularly scheduled athletic events or club activities because of the Coronavirus. This is something we are assessing daily, in conjunction with guidance and recommendations from the SC High School League, DHEC, the governor’s office and health officials. Any information regarding cancellations, postponements or delays will be communicated directly by schools and the district.

However, we have made some modifications regarding student activities:

— We have asked coaches/advisors of clubs and athletic teams to advise student participants to avoid handshakes, high fives, fist-bumps and the like, and to instead offer a verbal greeting or a “good game” at the conclusion of an event. We also have asked them to remind students about healthy habits like hand washing.

— In our elementary schools, we continue to emphasize healthy habits as key in preventing the spread of germs. We also are asking teachers to emphasize to children to avoid high fives, hugs and other contact in favor of positive words, smiles and the like.  We ask our families to help us by reinforcing this message at home!

—  We have reviewed a list of already-approved student field trips through the end of the school year. Out of an abundance of caution, we have cancelled some of those involving out-of-town and out-of-state student travel. We will continue to assess those scheduled at later dates to determine courses of action. We also are reviewing upcoming in-town field trips and are evaluating those based on guidance and recommendations from local and state health officials. In some cases, the hosting organizations are cancelling events out of an abundance of caution.  As always, parents reserve the right to limit their children’s participation in field trips due to concerns. 

— We have suspended until further notice a high school program for community-based training at area hospitals.

SPRING BREAK: At this time, we have no plans to cancel, change or expand spring break. The current dates are April 6-10.

EMERGENCY OPERATING PLANS: As we continue reviewing our emergency operating plans, we are fortunate to have 1:1 mobile devices for students and the eLearning program as options to continue school lessons remotely.

LEXINGTON TWO OFFERS DAILY UPDATES: Finally, as previously shared, we continue to update daily this document, posted to our district and school websites, with Coronavirus information and links about prevention, symptoms and risks. We are sending weekly notices to our parents through the schools as well. We will continue to add new information from the SC Department of Education, SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, US Centers for Disease Control, and other agencies. We encourage you to share this information widely within your communities.

HEALTHY HABIT REMINDERS

• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Check out these useful CDC tips about when and how to wash hands: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or use a tissue and throw it away after use.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Avoid contact with sick people.
• If your child complains about not feeling well, please check your child’s temperature before sending him/her to school. If your child has a fever of 100 degrees or more before you give him/her Tylenol, Motrin or some other appropriate fever-reducing medication, keep your child at home.  Please remember, too, that your child should be fever-free for 24 hours before he/she returns to school.

RESOURCES

What you need to know about Coronavirus (COVID-19): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-ncov-factsheet.pdf

Coronavirus and Children: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/children-faq.html

Talking with students of all ages about Coronavirus: https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/coronavirus.html?ET_CID=20200304_SN_BreakingNews_Coronavirus_EC_RET_28199&ET_RID=1086051370 CDC: How to prepare for a health emergency: https://www.cdc.gov/cpr/prepareyourhealth/index.html CDC: How and when to wash hands: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html

What to do if you are sick with Coronavirus: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html