Wilmington 209-U superintendent diagnosed with COVID-19

Superintendent is asymptomatic, quarantining at home

WILMINGTON 209-U SUPERINTENDENT Dr. Matt Swick and a member of the custodial staff have been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to communication sent to families on Thursday.

By: 
Marney Simon
Editor

Three cases of COVID-19 have been reported in staff members of two of Wilmington’s public taxing bodies over the past two days.

On Thursday, Wilmington School District 209-U Superintendent Dr. Matt Swick sent a message to families letting them know that he had contracted the novel coronavirus, as had as a member of the district's custodial staff.

According to the communication, a member of the custodial–maintenance staff received a positive test, and is currently self-quarantining for the required 14 days. Any colleague who was in close contact with the worker has also been directed to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Swick said the worker had spent time in two areas of Wilmington High School recently, and those rooms were closed for disinfection.

Swick said his own positive case came after finding out that his 21-year-old son had been in contact with a possible positive case. After Swick’s son tested positive, the superintendent and his entire family began a self-quarantine, while also directing all other District Office staff to begin working from home.

Swick received confirmation of his own positive test on Thursday, and said he and his son are both asymptomatic.

“District Office staff will be working from outside the office until we can return to work in-person in a safe manner, as recommended by the IDPH and Will County Health Department,” Swick said.

Swick called his diagnosis and the diagnosis of the staff member “a somber reminder of the current reality that we are all facing and will be facing throughout this upcoming school year.”

“I am sorry to have to share this news with you today, but it is a reminder to all of us about the seriousness of the COVID reality that we are facing,” the communication noted. “It is vitally important for all of us to take all recommended safety precautions very seriously, wearing masks, keeping socially distant, washing hands frequently, and daily monitoring for increased temps or COVID-related symptoms. Knowing that there are also many people, similar to my son and I, who are not showing significant symptoms, yet still may be infected, it just intensifies the need to take all safety-related precautions very seriously.”

The school district is currently planning to return to in-person learning for all students on Aug. 17. 

On Wednesday, the Wilmington Public LIbrary District announced that they would be closing their doors until Monday, after a staff member had been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Details regarding that confirmed case have not yet been released.