SOSD to require students and employees to quarantine if they have gone out of country or on cruise

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The Starkville Oktibbeha School District has decided to close all schools for the week of March 16-20 as part of our public health response plan to Covid-19.

All athletic and extra-curricular events and practices are also cancelled for the week of March 16-20.

SHS prom is also postponed.  Alternative dates are being considered, and students will be notified when a new date is chosen.

As a School District, our team will use this week to add hand sanitizer in hallways, clean high-touch surfaces including desks, doorknobs, light switches, and other classroom surfaces, and disinfect and deep-clean schools and offices as we prepare for students and staff to return.   Our District will also be partnering with Mississippi State University for training for our custodial staff to address special cleaning techniques that are specific to preventing the spread of this virus.

Meanwhile, the District is also working on a plan to offer meal services, similar to our summer feeding program, while our schools are closed.  We will provide additional details and information about this service on Monday.  We anticipate that it will begin on Tuesday, March 17.

Please understand this week of closure is not an extended spring break.  It is imperative that our students, families and employees follow recommended guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and the Mississippi State Department of Health regarding social distancing and key preventative measures:

• Avoid close contact with sick people.
• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands; germs spread this way.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub with at least 60% alcohol.

This is a challenging time for all of us, and our school district remains on 24-hr alert.

The decision to close our schools was a difficult one, but based on the most recent information and the President’s declaration of a national emergency, we believe this is the right decision at this time.  The health, safety and well-being of our students and staff are our top priorities, and we have a responsibility to create a safe,  healthy learning environment for them.  As a school district, we will continue to monitor the situation and take guidance from the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).