3 staff members at Lake in the Hills school test positive for COVID-19

Three staff members at Martin Elementary School in Lake in the Hills have tested positive for COVID-19, and, as a precautionary measure, 15 employees now are in quarantine.

The Huntley Unit District 158 school, which serves about 900 students, has been using a remote learning approach, so no cases have been reported among students, district spokesman Dan Armstrong wrote in a statement Wednesday.

The 15 staff members in quarantine were not "necessarily connected" to the three employees who tested positive but are being asked to stay home as the district is "erring on the side of caution" to prevent further infection, Armstrong said.

Martin Elementary School has been open to teachers and other staff members. Teachers often use their classrooms to conduct virtual classes because it provides "a professional space for teaching, full access to instructional tools, and reliable internet service," Armstrong said.

After the three cases were reported, District 158 conferred with the McHenry County Department of Health for guidance on the necessary cleaning and contact tracing, he said. Martin Elementary School will remain open to the staff.

"We have maintained a weekly call with schools since the start of the pandemic and created a school health task force made up of certified school nurses," health department spokeswoman Lindsey Salvatelli said in a statement Thursday.

"We have identified two liaisons per school in McHenry County to have direct contact with reporting of cases, contact tracing and notification of an outbreak."

District 158 staff members are asked to complete a daily self-screening for virus symptoms and are barred from coming in to work if they report any symptoms, Armstrong said in his statement.

All school buildings within the district have implemented strict social distancing guidelines with signage posted throughout buildings, he said. Teachers who choose to use their building must wear a mask unless they are alone in their classroom teaching.

Martin Elementary School is hoping to start bringing students back in small groups for in-person learning soon and will gradually increase the number of students allowed to come in as safety allows, Armstrong said.

"We want to ensure the safest, healthiest environment for our students when they do start coming back, and part of that is to be proactive in keeping the potential spread of the virus out of our schools," Armstrong said.