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By JOYANNA LOVE/Senior Staff Writer

Chilton County Schools Superintendent Jason Griffin announced March 13 that all field trips for March 16 to April 30 have been canceled.

In a letter to parents, students and staff, Griffin said the school system is monitoring the COVID-19 situation “and is in contact with our state and local public health agencies, the State Department of Education, and other local experts. We met with multiple agencies on Thursday (March 12) to have a plan of action if the need arises.”

The letter comes on the same day that Alabama’s first confirmed case of COVID-19 was announced in Montgomery.

“We will continue to remind students about effective prevention methods and their role in helping keep our schools and community healthy,” Griffin said. “All school sponsored trips or extracurricular sports trips have been canceled during spring break (but will resume when school is back in session).”

Large events that were thought to have 500 or more have been canceled or rescheduled. This includes Law Day and the Special Olympics.

The annual Raptor Show scheduled for March 16 had already been canceled when Auburn University closed its campus.

Precautions are also being taken in local schools.

“Our district has adopted routine cleaning protocols to further prevent the spread of any flu or virus,” Griffin said. “I and our Lead Nurse have contacted administrators, custodial teams, child nutrition managers, and school nurses to review best practices in the areas of cleanliness and student health.”

As students and staff leave for spring break on March 23, Griffin is requesting everyone review information released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

“If you are traveling to a Level 2, 3, or 4 Country as outlined by the CDC, we respectfully request that you notify your local School Administrator,” Griffin said. “In addition, please communicate with us if you are traveling to a domestic location with a known outbreak or if you are scheduled to travel on a cruise ship. Based on the CDC levels of concern, there may be post travel protocols that apply. If you are traveling, please visit the CDC website for continually updated information on travel risks and recommendations. We are continually monitoring new information and will update you as it becomes available. Please visit the Chilton County Schools website for updates.”