WACO, Texas — Midway Independent School District was notified Wednesday morning that the principal of River Valley Intermediate, Paul Offill, tested positive for COVID-19.
Mr. Offill was involved in iPad distribution at River Valley Intermediate School on March 22-24, the district said. He has been on campus primarily alone most days of the closure.
He also helped with meal distributions at Speegleville Elementary on March 27 from 11 a.m. to noon.
Offill spoke with 6 News Sports Anchor Nick Canizales of email Wednesday and said, "I’m doing ok right now. This has hit our entire family. My wife actually tested positive on Monday and that’s really the only reason I went in for a test yesterday. I felt fatigued over the weekend but didn’t think anything of it. My wife’s symptoms increased over the weekend and we initially thought she had a sinus infection or the flu. Once her symptoms increased this weekend, our doctor recommended her to be tested Monday. Since she tested positive both my children have been tested. My daughter’s test was positive and we’re still waiting on results of my son’s test but are almost certain it will be positive as well."
"All in all we are ok so far. It’s definitely hit my wife harder than it has me or my children. I can say that I’m truly humbled by the amount of encouragement and support we’ve received today. My family and I are blessed in many, many ways and that was apparent today," Offill said. "There’s so many people that have been affected by this and are in much worse shape than we are. I’d ask everyone in our community to continue to pray for all of those who are in the hospital fighting this virus. My family and I are going to continue to trust that God will be with us every step of the way. He’s led us through difficult times before; we’re in His hands and we find great comfort in that."
All staff members who were possibly in contact with Offill are being contacted directly to be placed on a 14-day quarantine depending on when they were in contact with him.
Midway ISD Athletic Director Brad Shelton said Offill's diagnosis is a reminder for everyone to practice social distancing.
The district said the end of the 14-day incubation period for anyone possibly exposed to the employee at River Valley Intermediate is April 7.
The 14-day incubation period for anyone possibly exposed to Offill at Speegleville Elementary is April 10.
The district said River Valley had been closed since March 24 but was undergoing an additional deep cleaning.
Speegleville Elementary will be closed for the rest of the week for cleaning. Food services will be delivered from another campus by a bus to an outdoor area of the school on Friday from 11 a.m. to noon.
Midway ISD Athletic Director Brad Shelton said, "I'm praying for a speedy recovery for him and his family. Also praying that any exposure from him is minimal. This is a reminder that we all need to use common sense and practice social distancing guidelines as best we can. We all need to be socially responsible."
"It's definitely concerning when I found out he had the virus," Kramer Robertson, who played on Offill's team from 2010-2013, said. "I have no doubt he's in good health and that they will fully recover and be ok but it's definitely concerning that you are close with that came down with the virus."