JCSD#1 Video (added October 1, 2021)
September 14, 2021
To Parents, Guardians, Students, and Community Members:
Johnson County School District #1 board, in partnership with Dr. Schueler, our local Public Health Officer, has approved a new protocol for school-related close contact tracing and quarantine. It provides flexibility to schools, parents, staff and students in regards to close contact quarantine when exposure has occurred at our schools.
Why are we making this adjustment now?
Since the start of this school year, we have had less than 1% of students out for confirmed positive COVID-19. A much higher percentage of asymptomatic (healthy) staff and students have been absent due to the currently prevailing close contact protocol. Too many healthy students and staff are missing critical face-to-face instruction or work. In keeping with our philosophy of personal choice, and in an effort to keep healthy students and staff in school, the following changes become effective in our schools starting September 15, 2021.
New Close Contact Protocol (Effective 9/15/2021)
Note: This Close Contact Quarantine Protocol is intended for School Exposures only. All COVID-19 exposures outside of school will be addressed on an individual basis in collaboration with the county health officer.
Parent/Guardian/Staff Choice: If a student or staff member has been identified as a close contact, the staff member or parent/guardian will be required to follow current Wyoming Department of Health guidelines or given the following choice:
- Asymptomatic (healthy) individuals may return to school or work wearing a mask for the duration of the quarantine time frame (10 days from exposure). If they choose to do so, they are required to adhere to the following:
- They must continue to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms throughout all 10 days.
- School-certified staff or nurses will also screen each individual for symptoms 1x/day (morning).
- Students in after school activities will be screened for symptoms by the sponsor/coach before participating.
- They must complete a COVID-19 rapid PCR test on Day 5 after exposure in order to continue to work or attend school with a mask until Day 10.
JCSD#1 will track and monitor ALL students and staff that are considered a close contact according to the protocol outlined in this document. This new protocol will be reevaluated if the number of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases significantly rises over a two-week period due to close contact in our schools.
Dr. Schueler supports this new protocol, which is similar to what has been adopted in other Wyoming districts and surrounding states. It does not violate any Law, Rule, Order, or Policy. In addition, the Wyoming Department of Education has made a similar request to the Department of Health to adopt similar close contact protocol.
This new protocol DOES NOT change quarantine guidelines for any person who is symptomatic or tests positive for COVID-19. These individuals MUST isolate at home for the duration as outlined by Johnson County Public Health AND are symptom-free for 24 hours.
We will continue to support all isolation or quarantine orders issued by Johnson County Public Health and/or Wyoming Department of Health. Those are legally binding, and we are obligated to help enforce them when issued by the county or state. Meaning, if you get a letter from Public Health stating you must isolate or quarantine, you will not be allowed in our buildings for the duration stated in that letter.
Finally, I would like to emphasize to everyone: you must stay home if you are showing signs of COVID-19 or are ill.
Please monitor your students daily and choose to keep them home if they are presenting ANY of the symptoms consistent with COVID-19. If you are unsure of what those are, please visit health.wyo.gov, or call your school nurse. Let’s all do our part to help to keep our schools open and keep our local health care system from being overwhelmed.
We had a great start to the school year. Our goal is to keep this enthusiasm moving forward with kids in school (face-to-face instruction) and school-sponsored activities.
To stay current on COVID-related information for JCSD#1and Johnson County, please visit the following link: https://jococovid.info/
If you have any other questions, reach out to your teachers, principals, school nurse, or myself. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Charles Auzqui, Superintendent JCSD#1