Madison Central Superintendent updates school board on COVID-19 measures

The Madison Central School Board received an update on several issues related to COVID-19 during its meeting on Monday.  Superintendent Joel Jorgenson told the board during his administrator’s report that G&R Controls is getting started on installing the new air purifier system in the district’s buildings.  

The board approved G&R’s proposal for installing the system at its August meeting.  Jorgenson said that along with the school buildings, he’s asked that the system be installed in the gymnastics building as well.  He said that he’s hopeful that money the district is receiving in coronavirus relief funding will cover the cost of the system.  Jorgenson said that the district is supposed to receive approximately 580-thousand dollars in funding, but will be finding out more information on what the money can be used for. 

Also in his report, Superintendent Jorgenson praised the students of the district for their cooperation since starting school nearly four weeks ago.  

Jorgenson said that sentinel testing of staff began on Monday.  He said the testing is a random sampling and is voluntary.  

Jorgenson said the staff members and the district will receive the results of the testing, which should take 24-to-48 hours.  He said the school’s nurse is administering the testing, and it is not a cost to the district.

In his report also to the board, Jorgenson said that as of Monday, Lake County has moved into substantial spread instead of moderate, so that could mean a change in when a student or staff with symptoms would have to be tested.  He said they are working on getting more clarification on it in order to provide the information to parents.  

Jorgenson also outlined a couple of additions to the district’s Back to School Plan, including within the requirements for Level Three a lack of substitute teachers for classrooms and within Level One, a fourteen day timeframe without any active cases or pending tests within the school district.  The district is currently operating in Level Two of the plan.  One positive COVID-19 case was reported within Madison Middle School last week. Â