Teacher at Grimmway Academy Shafter tests positive for COVID-19

Grimmway Schools learned late this week that a teacher at Grimmway Academy in Shafter tested positive for COVID-19. As a result of learning about the positive test, we are following all relevant California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidance in response to a confirmed COVID-19 case infection of a school employee. At this point, contact tracing has not revealed a close contact - as defined by the CDC - with a coworker or with any of our students. All health and safety protocols outlined by the CDPH appear to have been followed by the teacher - including engaging in a daily health screening, wearing a face covering, and maintaining a safe social distance with coworkers and students. At this time, no potential close contact exposures have been identified but we will continue to monitor the situation closely.
We at Grimmway Schools consider the health and safety of all of our students, their families, and our employees to be our most important responsibility each day. We adhere diligently to the health and safety protocols and guidance provided by the CDPH and the California Department of Education - and we continue to maintain regular contact with the Kern County Public Health Services Department (KCPHSD) to ensure that we provide as safe and healthy an environment as possible for our employees and the students we serve.