BEAUMONT, Texas — The Beaumont Independent School District has confirmed that an unspecified number of staff members at four schools have tested positive for coronavirus.
The staff members with the virus worked at Smith Middle School, Guess Elementary, PLA Jones-Clark Elementary, and Martin Elementary, according to an email obtained by 12News.
Per CDC guidelines, the infected employees have been instructed to quarantine at home. All employees who were in contact with the infected staff members have been notified, a district spokesperson said.
The Martin Elementary and Guess Elementary distribution lines have been temporarily closed until disinfection is complete.
The Jones-Clark Elementary and Smith Middle School cases were contained to certain areas of the building, a district spokesperson said. Those areas were closed off to employees and sanitized immediately.
The district plans to continue providing meals for students with protective measures in place to ensure the safety of families and staff.
"All staff reporting to campuses are required to practice social distancing. Distribution staff have been required to wear PPE at all times and have minimal contact with parents, students and other staff members," said a BISD spokesperson.
The district encourages anyone, who has visited the schools mentioned, to monitor their health as a precaution.
Full Beaumont ISD news release..
Staff members that work at Smith Middle School, Guess Elementary, PLA Jones-Clark Elementary, and Martin Elementary tested positive for COVID-19. All employees who may have come in contact with confirmed cases have been notified and the district is taking appropriate action to disinfect each campus.
In accordance with CDC guidance, the employees that tested positive for the virus are not reporting to work and have been directed to quarantine in their homes.
Currently Martin Elementary and Guess Elementary distribution lines are closed until disinfection is complete. The Jones-Clark Elementary and Smith Middle School cases were contained to certain areas of the facility.
These areas were closed off to employees and sanitized immediately. Any members of the public who have visited these sites are encouraged to monitor their health out of an abundance of caution. We are continuing to work in conjunction with the health department in following all proper protocols at this time.
We are committed to the health and safety of all staff and students. We have been tasked with ensuring that students continue instruction and that meals are provided. In order to accommodate this, our district, along with most others in the state have instituted meal service and instructional continuity plans for students in the community.
While we are fulfilling this requirement, we want to ensure our staff and families that we are taking all possible measures to keep them healthy and maintain their well-being.
All staff reporting to campuses are required to practice social distancing. Distribution staff have been required to wear PPE at all times and have minimal contact with parents, students and other staff members. Social distancing practices are monitored at each site. Traffic in buildings has been limited and the custodial staff has implemented routine disinfection processes at all sites.
