September 16, 2020

Dear Harbor Springs Public Schools Community:

As was communicated previously this afternoon, District administration became aware of a Harbor Springs
Middle School student in sixth grade who tested positive for COVID-19. The student has not been in school
since September 11 and does not have siblings in any other school. In accordance with our COVID-19
Preparedness and Response Plan, protocols were immediately put into place and the Health Department of
Northwest Michigan was contacted for assistance and guidance. Working in partnership with the HDNWM, we
identified any students or staff who may have had close contact with the student (15 minutes or more less than
six feet apart). Those students or staff were contacted by the Health Department staff and given instructions
for quarantining.

To protect each person’s private health information, the District does not release the names of anyone
diagnosed with COVID-19. It is our obligation to tell all the families of Harbor Springs Public Schools that we
are moving forward under the guidance of the Health Department of Northwest Michigan. Additionally,
thorough measures have been taken to protect the wellbeing of your child(ren). Common areas of the building
were given a deep cleaning on September 14 when there was no school, and our nightly COVID sanitization
procedures have occurred since then. This evening, extra custodian support is being deployed to our middle
school to do another deep sanitization. Our greatest priority is the safety of our students, staff and community
members.

Following our regular protocol, please continue to monitor your child(ren) for onset of symptoms related to
COVID-19 including fever, cough, difficulty breathing, headache, sore throat, runny nose/congestion, diarrhea,
or new fatigue. If you note any change in the health of your child, please do not send your child to school. You
should call your primary care provider. If you are interested in further information about COVID-19 in our
community or have additional questions related to this pandemic, you may visit the HDNWM website or
MDHHS website. You may also call the Health Department of Northwest Michigan’s Public Health Information
Line at 1-800-389-5959, or the State of Michigan COVID-19 hotline at 888-535-6136.

Please note that it is important to remember that children are greatly influenced by the reactions of adults when
facing difficult circumstances. We encourage everyone to remain calm and to be empathic and respectful to
those affected.

Sincerely,

Michael Behrmann
Superintendent of Schools

800 State Road, Harbor Springs, Michigan 49740 | Telephone (231) 526-4545 | Fax (231) 526-4544 | www.harborps.org