An individual associated with Harrison Middle School (HMS) tested positive for COVID-19 this weekend. While we have been attempting to confirm this result with the Maine CDC, we know their offices are understaffed this weekend. I am sending you this notice out of an abundance of caution. It is a near certainty that CDC will confirm this case within the day, and we want to move students and staff into quarantine as soon as possible. If CDC informs us that this is a false report, we will be happy to notify families of that fact – but we do not anticipate that will be the case.

 Staff at HMS will be making calls to families throughout the day to inform them of the need to quarantine for 10 days from the last contact with this individual, who was at the school this week. If you do not receive a call this afternoon, then your child was not one who had close contact with this individual. 

 Due to the need to quarantine significant numbers of staff, it is likely that this case will result in significant disruption to specific grade level schedules at HMS. Principal Joan Adler will be sending a follow-up communication today, explaining the schedule for the week.

 We ask that families continue to remain in contact with the school if they have a positive case or quarantine in their household.  While the schools eventually receive notice from the Maine Department of Education regarding any cases of COVID-19 among our students or staff, having the information provided by families allows us to begin our contact tracing much sooner.