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ALBANY, N.Y. (October 19, 2007)
-- City School District of Albany Superintendent Eva C. Joseph, Ed.D.,
sent the following letter to families of students Friday:
Dear Parents and
Guardians,
In response to this week’s attention to the
illness Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), I would like
to inform you of the procedures the City School District of Albany has
been taking to ensure the health and safety of all of our students and
staff.
First, let me say that
our school district has had no reported cases of MRSA. All members of
our district’s custodial staff have been receiving ongoing
communication, training and supervision regarding thorough disinfection
of schools and facilities. Routinely at this time of year, the district
implements a disinfecting protocol to reduce the potential for exposure
to a wide variety of illnesses such as colds and flu. At this time, all
disinfecting procedures are being closely supervised and monitored in
response to this heightened awareness of MRSA.
The district’s routine
procedures at this time of year when illnesses such as colds and flu are
more prevalent include more frequent cleaning of desktops, doorknobs and
telephones, among numerous other high-contact surfaces. We also have
provided all of our athletic coaches with information provided by the
New York State Department of Health regarding control and prevention of
MRSA in athletic settings.
The Department of Health
and the New York State Department of Education are collaborating on
additional guidance regarding MRSA. We will make this information
available to you through the district’s Web site.
Sincerely,
Eva C. Joseph, Ed.D.
The City School
District of Albany serves almost 9,400 students in 19
elementary, middle and high schools. The district includes several
magnet schools and programs, as well as other innovative academic
opportunities for students in addition to neighborhood schools. The
district is more than halfway through its comprehensive facilities
project to newly build and/or renovate nearly all of its elementary
and middle schools. The ultimate goal of the facilities project is
to provide schools with the resources necessary to help students
succeed in the 21st century.
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