When the Snohomish Health Department announced a new case of novel coronavirus in the Everett School District last week, Everett Public School Superintendent Dr. Ian Saltzman’s excellent communication and decisive action was precisely the kind of leadership our community needed.
Dr. Saltzman communicated openly and frequently with families in the district, and provided regular updates all weekend to the public on the Everett Public Schools website and via his Twitter account. The decision to close Henry M. Jackson High School out of an abundance of caution so it could undergo thorough disinfecting was also the absolutely right call. The health of our kids — and our entire community — is the top priority.
When it comes to fighting this virus, our two best weapons are an informed public and a coordinated effort by elected leaders and health officials. I’m immensely grateful to have Dr. Salzman as one of our partners in this effort.
At the state level, the proposed state operating budget that passed out of the House of Representatives on Feb. 28 — the same day the news broke of the case at Jackson High — includes funding specifically to respond to coronavirus.
I encourage everyone to stay informed with the basic facts and best practices when it comes to protecting yourself and your family from this illness. Our Snohomish Health Department is a great resource, as is the state Department of Health. And thanks to leaders like Saltzman, we know everything possible is being done to help prevent the spread of coronavirus in our schools, and to protect our students from the risk of infection.
State Rep. John Lovick
44th Legislative District
Mill Creek
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