Below are the steps we are taking to ensure the safety of our staff and students for the 2021-2022 school year. The following plan may change and evolve as things change in Kansas and Rice county. Masks are optional for all students and staff, so the below leveled precautions do not include a mask requirement at any level.
Some parents that plan to send their children in masks for the beginning of the school year have expressed concerns about their children wearing their masks properly during the day to maintain protection, and about possible bullying or teasing about wearing a mask. We will not tolerate bullying of any kind. Our administrators will work with teachers to ensure that everyone is being respectful of each family’s choice on this very controversial issue. To help our families that choose to mask their children feel safe about sending their students to school, at SGS we will seat masked students together in the classroom and at lunch. There won't be “two camps” separated across the classroom, but masked students will be seated in the same area or table. If you have any questions or concerns about sending your child in a mask, or any part of the plan below, please email me at gorackej@usd376.com.
COVID Precaution Gating Criteria
Metrics will be the two maps shown here: https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas
The data will be evaluated daily by the superintendent. If Rice county is in the red on both maps and we reach the threshold for positives or quarantines the change of levels will be immediate.
Level 1
Very few to no cases in the county, Kansas 80% or more in the Blue or Yellow for two week positivity and new cases per 100,000
All procedures normal
Level 2
Rice county in yellow or above in both two week positivity and new cases per 100,000 OR over 20% of Kansas counties in red or orange.
Masks optional for all students, staff and visitors at both buildings
Distance when possible in the classroom
Socially distanced lunch seating at SGS
Socially distanced lunch seating available at SJSHS
Band and choir distanced when singing
Enhanced handwashing and sanitation procedures
Level 3
Rice county in the red for two week positivity and new cases per 100,000 and one of the following 1.) 3 or more positives in either building 2.)10 or more students quarantine due to household contact quarantine
Masks strongly encouraged for all students, staff and visitors at both buildings
No outside visitors at either building
Band and choir distanced at both buildings
Distance when possible in the classroom
Socially distanced lunch seating at both buildings
Enhanced handwashing and sanitation procedures
Level 4
Rice county in the red for two week positivity and new cases per 100,000 and one of the following 1.) 10 or more positives in either building 2.) 30 or more students quarantined due to household contact quarantine
Masks strongly encouraged for all students, staff and visitors at both buildings
Cohorting at SHS (last year’s hybrid procedures)
Distance at least 3’ at all times in the classroom if at all possible
Modified lunch seating at both buildings
Enhanced handwashing and sanitation procedures
These guidelines will be revisited at each board meeting and as the conditions in our area change.
Response to school exposure
Students or staff that are a close contact with a covid positive person while at school will be quarantined for 14 days by the Rice County Health Department. The county has approved the following three exemptions:
1. A quarantine exemption for a student or staff member with a close contact exposure may be granted if the following conditions are met:
1. The exposed student or staff member is asymptomatic, and
2. The student or staff member is fully vaccinated. “Fully vaccinated” is defined as two weeks after receiving the second dose of a two-dose vaccine (ex. Pfizer, Moderna) or two weeks after receiving a single dose of a single-dose vaccine (ex. Johnson and Johnson); or
The close contact occurs in school and the exposed person is wearing an approved mask appropriately for the entire duration of the close contact, and wearing of the approved mask appropriately is verified by a teacher present at the time of the exposure.
This policy may be adopted with the following agreed upon principles:
1. It is highly recommended that anyone (whether vaccinated, masked, or not) be tested for COVID-19 three to five days after their close contact exposure (per CDC guidelines).
2. Quarantine exemption is only applicable to COVID-19 and no other reportable infectious disease.
3. A close contact is defined as an event where someone is within 6 feet of a confirmed COVID-19 case for 10 minutes or more cumulatively during a 24 hour period.
4. Household contacts of any positive case do not qualify for this quarantine exemption if unvaccinated and must quarantine.
5. Any student or staff with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis shall be excluded from school for the length of their isolation.
2. A quarantine exemption for a student or staff member with a close contact exposure may be granted if the the student of staff member can provide evidence of having COVID 19 in the past 90 days
3. Students and staff members with a close contact exposure may continue to attend school during their quarantine period if they are masked and tested daily. They may attend activity practices as long as they remain properly masked and can distance 6 feet from others. They may not participate in contact drills.
USD 376 - COVID-19 Testing Procedure
COVID-19 testing will be available as an option for all students and staff K-12 for the 2021-2022 school year.
Per CDC recommendations, viral testing strategies in partnership with schools should be part of a comprehensive prevention approach. Testing should not be used alone, but in combination with other prevention to reduce risk of transmission in schools. When schools implement testing combined with prevention strategies, they can detect new cases to prevent outbreaks, reduce the risk of further transmission, and protect students, teachers, and staff from COVID-19. There are many public schools that are offering optional testing. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/operation-strategy.html#anchor_1616080181070)
Testing will be available to any student of staff member in two different scenarios:
If a student or staff member is quarantined due to a close contact at school. The student or staff member has the option to choose to be tested daily and return to class masked for the duration of their quarantine.
If a student or staff member is exhibiting symptoms at home or school. Parents will have the option to request that their child be tested at school. With a negative test, the child and/or staff member may return to school 24 hours after fever and/or other symptoms resolve.
Testing requirements:
Parental/Legal Guardian consent. It is the responsibility of the parent/legal guardian to ensure the school district is aware of who the legal parent/guardian is. Consent forms can be emailed to the parent and time stamped or signed in person prior to testing.
Parents/legal guardians are required to be present during the test K-6 and encouraged to be present for 7-12.
Testing procedure:
For daily testing for close contact:
Whenever possible, testing will be conducted during the first hour at 8:00am
Whenever possible, student and/or staff member will be held in designated testing area until test results are resulted (approx 12 min).
- Tests will be available throughout the day for any parent/guardian requesting a test for their child who are experiencing any symptoms.