No School for Ellsworth Elementary-Middle School on Tuesday November 9

There will be NO SCHOOL for Ellsworth Elementary-Middle School on Tuesday, November 9th because of the fact that 11 individuals associated with the school have been diagnosed as having COVID. This DOES NOT affect Ellsworth High School, HCTC or Adult Education classes.

Superintendent Dan Higgins sent the following letter.

"Dear ESD Staff and Parents of ESD Students:
This communication is intended to inform you that Ellsworth School Department received confirmation today that eleven individuals associated with Ellsworth Elementary-Middle School tested positive for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). After receiving the report of the positive test results staff initiated our response, which included multiple communications with the Maine CDC and following the Maine CDC Standard Operating Procedure for investigation of COVID-19 in PK-12 Schools.
Based on the timing of the notification of the positive test results, (many late this afternoon) that the contact tracing process, including communication with staff members and families of close contacts cannot be completed before morning, and that we already have multiple students and staff members in quarantine, there will be no in-person or remote instruction tomorrow for students and staff in grades Pre-K through 8.

EHS, HCTC, and Ellsworth Adult Education students and staff will have school tomorrow as regularly scheduled. This decision is being made to protect the health and safety of all students and staff and permit our staff to properly and thoroughly complete the contact tracing process and contact families of close contacts. We
will provide an update on this situation once the contact tracing process has been completed.
Our intent is to return to full in-person instruction for staff and students in grades Pre-K through 8 on Wednesday November 10, 2021. If you have any questions, please contact EMS Principal Travis Wood, EES Principal April Clifford, EEMS Assistant Principal Scott Baillargeon, or School Nurse Joe Merrill at 667-6241 or me (Superintendent Higgins) at 664-7100."

The intent is for in-person learning to resume on Wednesday, November 10th. There is no school on Thursday, November 11th in honor of Veteran's Day. Friday, November 12th is an early release day.