The school department is working closely and meeting regularly with the Town of North Andover Health Department to ensure we have the most up to date information, guidance, and recommendations from the CDC and Massachusetts Department of Public Health.  This afternoon I participated in a conference call for all Massachusetts Superintendents where representatives from both the Department of Education and the Department of Public Health provided guidance on the Coronavirus and answered questions.   In addition, DESE has advised that they will be sharing more information about student and staff absences and school year requirements in the coming days.  I will share the DESE information with you in our next update.

Although the risk of Coronavirus remains low for Massachusetts residents, I did want to provide you with an update on some of the proactive measures and supports that we have put in place here at NAPS.  Most importantly, please be assured that we are following ALL recommendations and guidance from the CDC, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the North Andover Department of Health.  

• As you may know, we already have in place Beyond The Classroom Learning for snow days and should the need arise, we believe we will be able to utilize this program for any school cancellations.

• The news coverage and talk of Coronavirus can cause anxiety in our students.  Our school counselors and school nurses are available to assist students. I encourage you to reach out to your child’s teacher or principal if you have concerns.  Additionally, families can find information on dealing with anxiety in children on our Social Emotional Learning Website resource page.  

• No school-sponsored international trips are scheduled for the spring.  Any school- sponsored domestic travel will be in accordance with recommendations from the CDC and the Department of Public Health.

• We have many individuals who are, or have been, traveling.  North Andover Public Health and our schools are working together with MA DPH and are following the protocols set up by the CDC and other federal agencies to address the emerging issue of Coronavirus. 

• North Andover Public Health  will be contacted by MA DPH should any traveler in the community be identified as requiring quarantine. The NA Health Department will assess and monitor the situation and our normal protocols for illness continues to be followed.  We will take any additional steps as directed by the CDC, MA DPH & NA Public Health. 

• Staff have been asked to remind all students daily to wash their hands before lunch.

Cleaning

• The cleaning products used by NAPS staff already include products that kill the Coronavirus.   

• Heavy-duty electrostatic disinfection application spray guns (you may have seen this on a recent news broadcast) are used as part of our cleaning protocols and as directed by Director of Nursing Cheryl Barczak and/or Town Health Director Brian Lagrasse. 

• We have ordered additional spray guns to have available as a precaution.

• We have soap and hand sanitizer available at all schools and have a backup shipment scheduled to arrive next week.

• Our bus contractor, North Reading Transportation, has advised that they are taking extra precautions including increased frequency of cleaning of vehicles with particular attention to “high touch” areas including handrails, door handles and seats.

I am sharing the recent Town of North Andover Coronavirus update which includes current facts and recommendations regarding the Coronavirus.

We will continue to monitor this situation closely and we are committed to the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families. If you have additional questions, you may call the North Andover Health Department at 978-688-9540.     

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Please be advised that to address concerns of mosquito borne disease, the North Andover Board of Health has made the following decision in regards to local mosquito control:  

The Town of North Andover, in accordance with our state approved Integrated Pest Management Plan,  will be applying a barrier spray to the perimeter of the fields and also applying an adulticide to control mosquito activity.  The areas to be sprayed:  the greenery at the edges of all public schools,  school playing fields and school playgrounds.  The Department of Public Health advises that fields/playgrounds will be safe to use in the morning.  The schedule for spraying is as follows: 

Date:  Tuesday, August 27 Time:  8:00 pm to 3:00 am

The Northeast Mosquito Control’s licensed pesticide applicator is in charge of the barrier and adulticide applications.  The barrier material to be applied is: Suspend SC (EPA Reg# 432-763). Active Ingredient: Deltamethrin 4.75%. Suspend SC is an advanced-generation pyrethroid that fights more than 50 pests including mosquitoes. It works at remarkably low concentrations and provides fast knockdown with a long residual. This product contains no synergist, therefore no Piperonyl Butoxid (PBO).  The adulticide material to be applied is: Zenivex E4-RTU (EPA Reg# 2724-807). Active Ingredient: Etofenprox (CAS #80844-07-1) 4%. Zenivex E4 RTU mosquito adulticide is a high efficacy, reduced-risk adulticide.  This provides quick, permanent knockdown and reliable control of adult mosquito populations in any mosquito habitat flying at the time of application. This product contains no synergist, therefore no Piperonyl Butoxide (PBO). 

Additional information is linked below and hard copies of the documents will also be available at the Superintendent’s office 566 Main Street:

Pesticide Standard Written Notification

Suspend SC Safety Data Sheet & Product Label

Zenivex E4-RTU Safety Data Sheet & Product Label

333 CMR 14.00:  An Act Protecting Children & Families from Harmful Pesticides

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call the North Andover Public Health Director at 978 688-9540.

Dr. Gregg T. Gilligan

Superintendent of School