LAPS Superintendent Kurt Steinhaus

LAPS News:

Los Alamos Superintendent of Schools Kurt Steinhaus sent the following letter today to LAPS staff and parents:

Dear LAPS Families and Staff,

Coronavirus in New Mexico and the Los Alamos Public Schools

This is the second in what will be a series of updates about coronavirus and what LAPS is doing to support healthy learning environments.  Click here to read the first letter.

Let me begin by stating that, as of today, we have no confirmed cases of coronavirus in New Mexico. However, testing for the virus has only recently begun in the United States and only a small number of people have been tested in NM so far. Coronavirus has begun to spread within the US and we must be prepared for such spread in New Mexico and in Los Alamos, as well.

With this is mind, we are reviewing reliable information and taking proactive steps to prepare, as noted below.

Preparing and Planning Ahead

Here are the six efforts in which we are already engaged:

1. Increasing handwashing and updating cleaning routines. We are reviewing requirements for handwashing with all of the schools in the district to ensure full compliance. Since viruses can live on surfaces after they’ve been touched, custodians are also being trained about how best to disinfect and regularly clean high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, light switches, and countertops.
2. Updating the LAPS Safe Schools Plan to include a checklist and information about COVID-19. The school district and every LAPS school has a safety plan with over 100 pages of important information about prevention and training for staff and students.
3. Developing protocols for a school closure in the event it is deemed necessary. We could be directed by a state or federal agency to close schools to prevent community spread of the infection. If that should happen, the LAPS leadership team will work with health and education officials to discuss when to close schools and for how long. We understand that the competent authorities, including the New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) and New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) would base this decision on a number of factors, including reported infection rates and staff and student attendance.
4. Keeping the learning process moving forward. We are reviewing technology-based and other options to support student learning at home. If a school closure is required, we will do everything possible to encourage and support ongoing learning and growth.
5. Considering limits on large-group gatherings and travel. As COVID-19 spreads, it may be best to limit student exposure to large groups of people and also limit travel.
6. Monitoring absenteeism patterns. We are fortunate to have a full-time nurse in every school. Since abnormal spikes in absences over a short period can indicate the spread of disease in school, we are closely monitoring student and staff attendance and discussing with NMDOH as necessary.

Actions for Parents and Families

Please help prevent others from getting sick. To do so, it is important to focus on basic public health approaches:

• Focus on handwashing. Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds and strongly encourage your children to do the same, including at appropriate times at school.  Please encourage your children to frequently wash their hands, especially after using the bathroom, after using a tissue, before they eat, and after they have been playing outside.
• Students should stay home when they are sick and not return to school until they have been fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications. If antibiotics have been prescribed for any illness, it’s important to be on them 24 hours before returning to school.
• Encourage your children to avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
• Ask your children to use a tissue to cover coughs and sneezes, then dispose of the tissue. When a tissue is not available, ask them to cough or sneeze into an elbow.
• Unless contraindicated medically, have your children get the flu shot if not already vaccinated.

Click here for an info graphic on preventing the spread of respiratory diseases that you may wish to print, post, or share.

Parents and families should please make plans now regarding who will care for their children if schools should close. If schools are closed due to the coronavirus, the Los Alamos Teen Center, Aquatic Center and other public facilities will also be closed.

I encourage you to stay informed. Below are some reliable information sources that I follow myself. I am also in communication with Los Alamos doctors and LANL Health Sciences Division since the complete clinical picture with regard to COVID-19 is not fully known.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• New Mexico Department of Health
• COVID-19 coronavirus testing now available in New Mexico
• Symptoms Associated with COVID-19

We will continue to update staff, parents, and students with relevant information. At the same time, we will follow the Family Education Rights to Privacy Act to protect the privacy of student records.

Rest assured that as circumstances continue to develop, one thing will remain the same: we will make decisions with the health and well-being of students and staff as a top priority.

Thank you for helping to keep our students safe and healthy.