This afternoon, we spoke with the Sumter County Health Department regarding an increase in reports of suspected Hand, Foot, and Mouth virus across the county.

It’s important to note that these are suspected cases—not confirmed. Countywide, there have been 33 suspected cases, with 15 of those reports spread across our four elementary schools. To keep this in perspective, our district now serves over 10,000 students, meaning these reports represent well under 1% of our total student population.

We want to be transparent and informative, not alarmist. Our schools remain safe and clean, and our custodial teams have been reminded to follow enhanced disinfection protocols as a proactive measure.

Please remember these simple steps to help keep our students healthy:

• Encourage frequent handwashing with soap and water.

• If your child is not feeling well, please keep them home until symptoms improve.

• Communicate with your child’s school nurse if you have any questions or receive a confirmed diagnosis.

Again, we are not sounding any alarm—we simply want to share accurate information, dispel any rumors, and remind everyone of the importance of good hygiene and common-sense precautions.

Together, we can continue to maintain healthy learning environments for all students.