Mahomet-Seymour to remain open after spring break, Hall outlines restrictions

The Mahomet-Seymour School district has announced that they will stay open after spring break ends on March 23, 2020.

Superintendent Lindsey Hall joined area Superintendents on a phone call with Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department’s Julie Pryde this morning for updates on  COVID-19. 

“The evolution of demands for public safety and health concerns dealing with COVID-19 (coronavirus) have been rapidly changing and as a result we are seeing unprecedented restrictions and regulations on individuals, communities, and institutions,” Hall wrote to parent. “We have been actively monitoring the suggestions, recommendations, and demands on K-12 Education.”

As of 10:00 am March 12, 2020 Public Health has recommended the following of all citizens and specifically K-12 Education.

1. Keep Schools Open- where confirmed cases of COVID-19 are not present
2. Continue to emphasis mitigating measures to minimize the spread of illness
3. Discourage unnecessary travel
4. Avoid congregations of more than 50 people outside the school day
5. Limit visitations of non-school personnel to schools
6. Encourage high risk individuals to minimize contact

The decision to remain open was made in collaboration with and in conjunction with the Champaign Urbana Public Health District based on the following factors:

• Healthy children are not known to get seriously ill from COVID-19
• Closing schools may not be effective because some children may congregate anyway, at other locations
• Many parents, such as healthcare workers, need to be at work. If these critical workers stay home with children it causes significant impacts on the healthcare system and other institutions that are essential for our community to function
• If schools close, some children might have to stay home with alternate caregivers, such as seniors, who are more vulnerable
• We don’t know how effective children are in spreading the disease
• There are approximately 9,500 students in Champaign County that are enrolled in free and reduced lunch program.  We have 650+ students in this category. 

“Due to these clear recommendations from Public Health, and the rapidly evolving national restrictions the Mahomet-Seymour Schools will immediately cancel all travel, competitions, and community gatherings from Thursday, March 12 through Sunday, April 5, 2020 in an effort to minimize risk and garner further understanding of appropriate actions for the remainder of the school year,” Hall wrote.

“Practices for athletics and fine arts will be allowed. 

“This decision is being made across our region for all schools, we are not alone in the disappointment of lost opportunities, but have appreciation for the necessity of this decision.  At this point and time we hope that this temporary moratorium on events and activities will allow for future events, contests, and celebrations to occur.”

Hall said that parent-teacher conference will go on as scheduled on March, 12, 2020.