Four staff members in the Pasadena Unified School District have been tested for the new coronavirus, but officials from the Pasadena Public Health Department said they were unaware of the tests until alerted by the media.

It is unclear if the Los Angeles County Public Health Department was aware of the tests. This news group’s requests for comment went unanswered Thursday evening.

District officials said they were in contact with both organizations.

These are not confirmed cases. There are currently no confirmed cases of the disease known as COVID-19 in the Pasadena Unified community, according to the district in a Thursday evening news release.

The individuals are being tested as a result of broadened eligibility criteria issued by the Centers for Disease Control, district officials said.

It is unclear where the staff members work and whether they were teachers or support staff.

“Because of employee confidentiality, that is not something we’re disclosing at this time,” district spokeswoman Hilda Ramirez said in an interview.

It can take several days before test results are available, depending on the laboratory to which they are sent, according to the Pasadena Public Health Department.

The announcement of the tests came hours before the PUSD school board voted unanimously to give Superintendent Brian McDonald emergency powers. Officials say it will allow more flexibility to handle a rapidly changing situation, such as the spread of the coronavirus.

As long as the decision is related to curbing the spread of coronavirus, the superintendent would be able to act unilaterally without board approval. For example, instead of being forced to go to the board for a vote to hire industrial cleaning crews or close schools, McDonald would be able to act immediately.

While board members were supportive of the move, all urged caution and pressed the superintendent to consider the implications of any decision to close schools.

Both board member Lawrence Torres and board President Patrick Cahalan stressed the school district may be some students’ best source of meals, and it could be the only place parents are financially able to leave their children for the day if they work.

It’s not a “singular concern, but a confluence of multiple concerns,” Cahalan said.

McDonald agreed, adding: “We have to be very careful about these decisions because there are also funding implications,” referring to daily attendance because that’s how the state calculates the amount of money for school districts.

Both McDonald and Cahalan believed there soon may be movement at the state or county level, such as an order to close all schools, and perhaps even financial relief if it happened.

If that were the case, it would ease some of the district’s financial concerns over closures, McDonald said.

That said, if any member of the Pasadena Unified community has a confirmed case of the virus, it would push the district to move classes online and close campuses, according to guidance from the county and state.

The district is currently working on a plan do so if necessary, according to the news release.

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