Public Information and Announcements

There were a total of five new cases of Covid-19 today; one case at Mill Stream Elementary School, one case at Somerset Career and Technical Center, one case at Skowhegan Area High School and two cases at Skowhegan Area Middle School. As a result of these 5 cases, 14 individuals have been required to quarantine.

At the MSAD 54 School Board Meeting of 8/12/21 I recommended the board require the use of masks in school for everyone in school, regardless of vaccination. The Board supported this recommendation and committed to reviewing the decision monthly throughout the year. At the Board meeting of 10/21 the Board affirmed the decision and my recommendation that masks continue to be required for this school year unless the following criteria were to change. Below is a summary of why the recommendation stands and the key items that would each need to change for that recommendation to be adjusted.

I am writing to you this evening to share that the district was informed of three additional cases of COVID-19 today at Canaan Elementary School Mill Stream Elementary School and Skowhegan Area High School. Thanks to individuals following protocols and staying home, two individuals needed to quarantine from these cases.

Our pooled testing program is going well and families can add their child at any time. If a student is in pooled testing, does not have symptoms and is a close contact at school or while taking part in a school activity, they will need to quarantine in the community but are able to attend school and take part in school activities. In the first four weeks of the pooled testing program, 63 students have been able to continue to attend school and school activities even though they were a close contact at school. If you are interested in having your child sign up for this opportunity, see this letter.

I’d like to begin by sincerely thanking our nursing staff for their efforts over the past few weeks. It isn’t easy to handle cases of Covid-19, assist with pooled testing, coordinate flu clinics, shift to a Covid clinic, and manage the regular day to day of the job, and yet they keep stepping up and amazing us. Thank you sincerely to our nurses!

Below are several updates, beginning with an update from today and yesterday regarding cases of Covid-19 in the district.

There were a total of eleven new cases of Covid-19 over the past five days; one case at Bloomfield Elementary School, one case at Margaret Chase Smith Elementary School, one case at North Elementary School, one case at Skowhegan Area Middle School, two cases at Canaan Elementary School, and five cases at Skowhegan Area High School. As a result of these 11 cases, 36 additional students have been required to quarantine. 

Below are several updates, beginning with an update from today and yesterday regarding cases of Covid-19 in the district. There were a total of seven new cases of Covid-19 over the past two days; one case at Mill Stream Elementary School, one case at North Elementary School, one case at Skowhegan Area Middle School, two cases at Skowhegan Area High School, and two cases at Margaret Chase Smith Elementary School. In one instance, we do believe there potentially could have been spread of the virus as a result of in-school contact. 

I’m writing this evening to let you know that the district was informed of seven additional cases of COVID-19 today; one case was at Skowhegan Area High School, two cases at Skowhegan Area Middle School, two cases at Mill Stream Elementary School, one district case and one case at Bloomfield Elementary School.

Nursing staff and building administrators worked through the day to contact trace and follow-up with all close contacts associated with these new positive cases. Individuals identified as needing to quarantine from school have been contacted. A total of 25 individuals were asked to quarantine from school as a result of these three positive cases.