Advisory for novel Coronavirus

Press Release --- Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at 4:30 p.m.

Redlands, Calif. – The 2019-2020 Flu Season has been complicated by recent reports of a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Novel coronavirus is an infection that was recently identified in Wuhan, China. The virus causes respiratory illness. 

The symptoms of 2019-nCoV infection range from little to no symptoms, to individuals being severely ill and dying. Currently, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes that symptoms appear in as little as 2 days or as long as 14 days after being exposed. 

Some symptoms of 2019-nCoV include, but are not limited to: 

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

There is a very low risk to residents of California from novel coronavirus at this time. It is important to note that the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health (DPH) is working closely with the CDC to monitor the spread of coronavirus. To date, there are no known cases that have been reported in San Bernardino County.

According to the California Department of Public Health, face masks are most useful for preventing disease spread when they are worn by people who have symptoms. This is why people are asked to wear a mask at doctors’ offices and hospitals if they are coughing or sneezing.

Schools can take common-sense precautions to prevent the spread of all infectious diseases. These precautions are also helpful to prevent the spread of other common illness such as flu and gastroenteritis.

These precautions include:

Hand washing often with soap and water for no less than 20 seconds.

• If access to soap and water is not available, the use of a hand sanitizer is recommended.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth without first washing your hands.
• Avoid contact with sick individuals.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then immediately dispose of the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are frequently touched as much as possible.
• Stay home if you are sick. Those who have a fever should stay home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medicine. Those who have severe flu symptoms should contact their health care provider.

 For up-to-date information regarding novel coronavirus, see the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

For more news and notifications about the Redlands Unified School District, visit our website at www.redlandsusd.net. Follow @RedlandsUSD on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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RUSD notified of potential civil lawsuit 

Press Release --- Thursday, January 16, 2020 at 3:50 p.m. 

REDLANDS, Calif. – A new law recently enacted by the state of California (AB 218), which went into effect January 1, 2020 – extends the statute of limitations for reporting and filing claims related to the sexual abuse of minors. It affects churches, youth organizations, public schools, and other entities.

Using this new law, lawyers representing three former Redlands Unified students have informed us of their intent to file a civil lawsuit against the District seeking financial damages for abuse by former teacher Sean Lopez that occurred in 1999. Lopez was convicted nearly 20 years ago of 60 felony counts of child abuse and is currently serving out his 74-year prison term. Our sympathies go out to the victims of Sean Lopez. His acts were despicable, and we are truly sorry that these individuals have been carrying the burden of that abuse more than 20 years later.

In the Redlands Unified School District, the safety and well-being of our students and staff continue to be a high priority. We launched our new ACT Now initiative in 2018 to encourage staff and students to come forward to report suspicious or inappropriate behavior. If they “See Something, Hear Something or Sense Something,” they are to alert Child Protective Services and law enforcement. The ACT Now initiative includes the adoption of a new Adult to Student policy defining appropriate boundaries, launched an awareness campaign in every classroom in every school, added school resource officers, trained staff to identify signs of grooming behavior by predators, and provided detailed and enhanced campus monitoring. ACT Now is hyper-focused on prevention, awareness, early intervention as well as integrated internal reporting protocols and physical and structural safety. 

We continue to encourage the entire school community to be vigilant in maintaining the safety of our students and recognize the signs of sexual abuse and harassment and report any suspicions as soon as they occur.

For more news and notifications about the Redlands Unified School District, visit our website at www.redlandsusd.net and follow @RedlandsUSD on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

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