Dear parents and guardians,
As you are aware, the current surge in the omicron variant is creating immense pressure on our schools and staff members as we work to keep classrooms staffed and in-person learning possible.
To help alleviate some of the pressure on our schools, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), along with the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), support schools implementing a suspension on all contact tracing activities.
What does this mean for you as parents and guardians? As of Tuesday, Jan. 18, our district is no longer participating in the Test to Stay Program. This program consisted of testing students that were considered a close contact, through classroom or extracurricular settings, with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19. We will now be following the Test to Know Program.
If you believe your child has been exposed to a positive case either at school or elsewhere, please consider keeping your child home for five days after the exposure. After that, your child may resume normal activities but should wear a well-fitting mask around others indoors and outdoors for an additional five days. Have your child tested five days after the exposure or immediately if they become symptomatic. Continue to monitor your child for symptoms of COVID-19 for 10 days after the exposure.
If your child is symptomatic, have him or her tested with a diagnostic test if available. If your child becomes symptomatic at school, we will test at school. Do not send your child to school if they are sick or if they test positive. Any student who tests positive for COVID-19 should stay home for at least five days and be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication before leaving home. After that, your child may resume normal activities but should wear a well-fitting mask around others indoors and outdoors for an additional five days. Please notify your school if your child tests positive.
If you have any questions regarding this change to school contact tracing protocols, please contact me at [email protected]. To learn more about this guidance change, visit https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/283/Education-K-12. The updated USD 353 Safety and Operation Plan can be found on the district website at www.usd353.com.
Thank you for your continued support and assistance as we navigate this challenging time for our schools and communities. We will continue to keep you informed as guidance changes are announced.
Sincerely,
Holly Parkey
USD 353 Nurse
Parent/Guardian Expectation Quick Guide
Expectation for all parents:
- Regularly monitor your children for symptoms of COVID-19 disease.
- If your child is symptomatic, have your child tested with a diagnostic test if available.
- Do not send your child to school if they are sick or if they test positive. Everyone who tests positive for COVID-19 disease should stay home for at least 5 days and be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication before leaving home (minimum 5-day home isolation). After that, they may resume normal activities but should wear a well-fitting mask around others, indoors and outdoors, for an additional 5 days.
- Notify your school if your child tests positive.
Expectation for parents of potentially exposed children:
- Consider keeping your child home for 5 days after the exposure (minimum 5-day home quarantine). After that, they may resume normal activities but should wear a well-fitting mask around others, indoors and outdoors, for an additional 5 days. o If a child cannot or will not wear a mask, consider keeping your child home for 10 days after the exposure.
- Have your child wear a well-fitting mask while around others, indoors and outdoors, for 10 full days after the exposure.
- Monitor your child for symptoms of COVID-19 disease for 10 days after the exposure. Have your child tested 5 days after exposure or immediately if they become symptomatic.
- If your child is exposed to COVID-19 disease outside of school, please notify the school