By GLEN WERLING
The ever-evolving reaction to the COVID-19 virus has prompted another change in the way the Northern Wells School Corporation will be treating those diagnosed with the virus.
At Tuesday’s meeting of the Northern Wells Community Schools board, members Corey Krug, Gene Donaghy, Angie Topp, Karen Harris and Chad Kline agreed to the following recommendations from Superintendent Mike Springer:
• If a student or staff member has experienced a fever of 100.4 degrees or greater and has exhibited one or more symptoms of the virus including persistent cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, body aches, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea — and has tested positive for COVID — that student or employee will be allowed to return to the school after at least five days have passed since the first symptoms appeared, has improved symptoms, and has not had a fever for 24 hours.
• If a student or staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 but has been asymptomatic, that student or employee may return after at least a five-day period has passed from the date of the positive test and there has been no fever or symptoms.
The changes were made based upon the recommendations of the Indiana Department of Health, Springer said.
In other business, the board members passed on second reading 19 new policies in two sections of the school corporation’s policy manual. Those new policies will replace 78 obsolete policies that were included in five sections of the policy manual.
The policies were listed in the Feb. 9 edition of the News-Banner and are available for viewing on the school corporation’s website at nwcs.k12.in.us
The board members also approved of leaves of absence for Lancaster teachers Andrea Johnson and Allison Norman.
The board members also hired Adam Herber as an Ossian Elementary cleaning assistant, Darren Denney as the Ossian Elementary head custodian, and Lisa Miller for food service.
The board members also approved the roster of coaches for spring sports at Norwell High School.
glenw@news-banner.com
