Parents, Guardians, and Students:
“We still need your help!” Our ultimate goal is to have 100% of our students in our classrooms for 100% of our school days this year. Unfortunately, with positive cases still occurring, it is still a difficult time. Our actions can impact others, so we need your help.
Regardless of your beliefs surrounding the COVID-19 – Coronavirus Pandemic, it is important to understand that a single positive case amongst our student body or staff has the potential to quarantine many people. We still don’t enjoy having to implement many of the precautions and safety measures we are implementing, but we need to do all we can to keep our classrooms open. I believe we can all agree that it is better for everyone if our students are participating through in-person learning in our buildings. All other options will cause hardship for everyone involved.
We are not doing temperature checks for students and staff when entering the building. Students and staff should self-monitor themselves prior to coming to school for COVID-like symptoms (attached) and if they are not feeling well, they need to stay home.
Cold vs Flu vs Allergies vs Coronavirus(adults)
Cold vs Flu vs Allergies vsCoronavirus (kids)
We will continue to coordinate with the Bourbon County Health Department on isolation and quarantine protocols.
With all of this in mind, we ask your help in the following:
1. We recommend you wear a mask anytime you are in our school buildings for any reason or any amount of time. (We don’t like them either)
2. If you or your child are awaiting testing results, stay quarantined, do not enter the school.
3. If your child has a fever, keep them home. Children must be fever-free for 48 hours before returning to school. We understand this is a burden on you, but if you send your child to school before that time is up, the potential for a possible quarantine for others is greater.
4. If your student has two or more of the following symptoms, please keep them home: a) fever or chills; b) shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; c) fatigue; d) cough; e) muscle or body aches; f) headache; g) new loss of taste or smell; h) sore throat; i) congestion or runny nose; j) nausea or vomiting, and k) diarrhea.
5. Help your children make healthy decisions by keeping them away from large gatherings outside of school, help them follow good hygiene practices, and make sure they get plenty of sleep.
I also wanted to explain our procedure for quarantine. Any student or staff member defined as a “close contact” has to quarantine for 10 days. Close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of a positive case for 10 minutes or longer. All of our classes have assigned seating and seating charts so we are able to determine this information.
There are currently only 3 ways a close contact doesn’t have to quarantine. 1) Both the person testing positive and the close contact were wearing masks at the time of close contact. 2) Close contact has tested positive for COVID in the last 6 months with either a PCR test or Antigen Test. This information will be verified by the Bourbon County Health Department. 3) Close contact has been fully vaccinated with a COVID vaccine. You will have to provide proof of vaccination in order not to quarantine.
At this time, there are no other ways to not be quarantined.
If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Bret Howard, Superintendent