The School District of Osceola County has decided out of an abundance of caution to close down Harmony Middle School after ten staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Currently, there is no evidence of any secondary transmission to students, according to a district spokesperson.

The Osceola School District has been working closely with the Department of Health and has decided to move all face-to-face teachers and students at Harmony Middle School to digital learning starting Monday, August 31, for the next two weeks.

Students and staff will return for face-to-face learning on Monday, September 14. This does not impact those students who have already been engaged in digital learning at Harmony Middle School.

Students and staff who have been identified as having possible direct contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 are being notified directly.

The school day will continue as scheduled today with regular car and bus dismissal this afternoon. However, parents may pick up their child early from school today if they would like to do so. Parents are asked to call the front office at 407-593-0416 if they wish to arrange for early dismissal to ensure social distancing.

Laptops and hotspots will be available in limited supplies for students who may need them starting the week of August 31. Parents of students who need a device are asked to complete the form that can be found at www.osceolaschools.net/HRMSDeviceReservation by Sunday, August 30. The school will notify families of device distribution pick up times at the beginning of next week. Students will bring home instructional materials this afternoon from school to support learning at home.

Breakfast and lunch meals will be available daily Monday through Friday for curbside pick-up for parents from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the school. Parents are encouraged to register their participation in the curbside meal program to expedite distribution by filling out the form found at www.osceolaschools.net/mealreservation as soon as possible. Parents must provide a student’s school ID with name and ID number to pick up meals, and will be charged the regular lunch price of $2.40 for each meal unless parents apply for and are approved for free or reduced priced meals or are directly certified. The Osceola School District provides every student breakfast at no cost. For more information, visit www.osceolaschools.net/schoolnutrition.

In addition, the Department of Health will be offering free drive-thru COVID-19 testing at Harmony Middle School on Saturday, August 29, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., for students and staff members who have been on campus and would like to be tested.