ACTION ITEMS

22-23 Contact Tracing Protocols -must send exposure notices to parents/guardians

While we have shifted many Covid protocols – when someone is positive for Covid who was present during the infectious period - schools must continue sending out exposure notices to impacted classrooms/cohorts as soon as possible.  These exposure notices inform our community to take further steps to protect their health and well-being.

• If you or your team needs a refresher on contact tracing requirements – see the 22-23 Principal Toolkit – Health Services – Contact Tracing Protocols 22-23
• If you need assistance using Infinite Campus Messenger to send exposure notices see the 22-23 Principal Toolkit – Health Services – Infinite Campus Messenger guide folder (video and text directions) 
• Exposure notices may be sent by an Administrator or your designee

December & Jan At-Home/OTC Covid Tests

Starting the week of December 5th, all school sites and departments will be getting another allocation of At-Home/OTC Covid test kits to distribute before the December Winter break and before the January 3-day Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

To prevent individuals from returning to work/school while infectious, we need schools/departments to send out these Covid tests before leaving for these breaks and remind individuals to test before returning. 

Winter Break and MLK OTC Plan

Follow these steps below:

• Print the attached flyer back–to-back with English and your threshold language(s) & pre-bundle test kits & flyers for each class 
• Wednesday, December 21 hand out the kits to all students, staff & contacted staff, with follow-up occurring on Friday
• To ensure everyone gets a kit, hand them out in structured ways:
  • kits should be given to students through a scheduled class
  • secondary schools should pick a common class or period 
  • distribute to staff so all receive a kit (staff mailboxes, or other methods)
• Your assigned Health Aide will assist with these monthly distributions – connect and plan with them and other site-based staff who can support
• As the break comes to an end – send out messages reminding staff and students to test before returning to work/school
• Repeat the steps above the week of January 9th for testing over the Martin Luther King Jr. 3-day weekend.  Send home test kits on January 12th, 2023.

Respiratory illnesses Surging

We are experiencing an extraordinarily high number of respiratory illnesses including flu, RSV, colds and Covid.  Pediatric hospitalizations are beginning to overwhelm our local resources, and schools play an essential part in reducing illness by following the steps below:

• Ensure masks and hand sanitizer are widely available and visible in all classrooms and work spaces
• Encourage mask wearing, especially when working in small groups or closely 1:1
• Make sure additional HEPA filters are turned on and in working order
• Send out monthly At-Home/OTC Covid test kits so everyone has home testing available if they become sick or exposed.  
• Ensure staff and students go home when they are sick and follow the protocols for a safe return – Return to Health Appendix B: Illness and Symptoms Guidelines for Staff and Students.  The short term benefits of coming to school/work sick are far outweighed when the disease is spread to others, causing them to miss work or school
• Send out exposure notices to all classrooms/cohorts and provide exposed individuals testing through the Care Room or an OTC Covid test.  Strongly encourage exposed individuals to face mask.
• Review the Return to Health plan with your team to ensure all safety protocols are being followed – these safety protocols help prevent the spread of Flu, RSV, Cold & Covid.

Immunization Monitoring and Compliance

The district has 6 more working-weeks to ensure all students are 100% compliant for immunization requirements.  The state reporting deadline for student immunizations is January 31, 2023.  This week Health Services will be sending schools their current non-compliant lists and the required steps schools must take to meet this state requirement.