DATE: March 17, 2020
TO: SCDD Staff
FROM: Matt
Purcell, Superintendent
RE: COVID-19
Our very top priority is the
health and safety of the people we serve and our employees. The Scioto County Board of DD (SCDD) also
feels obligated, as a public entity, to do what we can to reduce exposure and
spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) during this State of Emergency. Therefore, to comply with Governor DeWine’s
directives, as well as guidance from the Ohio Department of Developmental
Disabilities, The Centers for Disease Control, and other top health officials,
the SCDD has implemented alternative work arrangements which will promote
“social distancing” while enabling us to continue to meet the needs of the
people we serve and their families.
Beginning today, Tuesday, March
17, 2020, and until otherwise directed, The Vern Riffe School (VRS) will be on
“Calamity Day” status, meaning teachers are able to access their classrooms if
they need to, but are not required to at this time, and will not be educating
students within the building. The School
staff prepared packets and sent them home with the students on Friday, March 13.
These packets will enable process of education to continue during this
break. Additionally, teachers will be
in contact with families at least weekly during the closure and the school
nurse will be attending to students with intense medical needs when necessary.
The VRS staff has been put on notice that they will serve as “back up”
providers in emergency situations if this becomes necessary.
With the assistance of our school
staff and transportation contractor’s employees, meals are being delivered to
students in need throughout the time of closure.
Furthermore, the following
positions have been granted permission to work remotely, if they are able to do
so: Service and Support Administrators
(SSA’s), other SSA Department staff, Medicaid Services staff, and Developmental
Specialists. Due to some IT limitations,
a few of these staff members will be required to work in their offices from
time to time. These limitations are
being addressed and we hope to have some solutions in place very soon.
Clerical staff has been assigned
to continue their regular schedule as to be able to receive phone calls, direct
phone calls, and otherwise answer incoming questions from the public and
families served. Maintenance staff will
also work their regular schedule to help continue the operations in our
buildings during this uncertain time.
The working arrangements for staff not mentioned above will be
determined by department directors, or designees, on a case-by-case basis
according to the needs of the program.
Visits to our buildings have been
limited to the degree that we’re able.
We’re asking that no face-to-face meetings take place unless absolutely
necessary and that non-employees refrain from entering our buildings for the
time being if at all possible.
We realize that we’re asking a
lot of the people we serve and our employees, so please understand your
cooperation and understanding is appreciated greatly during this unprecedented
event.