Lorena Independent School District

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22-23 Return to School Plan » Health & Safety Protocols

Health & Safety Protocols

Health & Safety Protocols

 

Updated 8/5/2022

 

*Please note that this plan is subject to change if and when guidelines change. We are committed to updating you as soon as possible when changes are made.*

 

Responsibilities by Role

 

For us to successfully keep our community safe, the district asks that stakeholders adhere to the following set of responsibilities and guidelines:

 

Student Responsibilities

  • Once students arrive on campus in the mornings they will be directed to designated/predetermined areas. 
  • Students will be encouraged to bring a “labeled” water bottle from home.  We are recommending one with a screw off top that allows it to be easily filled. Students may fill their water bottles at school. We have water fill stations at each campus.
  • Students participating in extracurricular activities or athletics must follow any further guidance provided by the UIL (See Extracurricular section under Student Services for Details).

 

Parent Responsibilities

  • Parents/guardians are expected to screen their students for COVID-19 symptoms and any other health concerns each day prior to sending their students to school. We need parents’ cooperation in not sending children to school who are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms or any other illness, especially if they are running a fever.
  • Students may not be dropped off earlier than 7:30 am.
  • Parents are welcome in our buildings.  Parents may begin eating lunch in the cafeteria Monday, August 15th.  
  • If your student tests positive for COVID-19, please keep your students home and  notify the campus nurse.
  • If a parent identifies their child as a close contact to a positive case, they may choose to keep their student at home for a quarantine period.  If this decision is made, the child is required to stay home for the quarantine period and cannot participate (including practices) in extracurricular activities until the quarantine period is over. Otherwise, students are not required to quarantine unless they are symptomatic and/or test positive for COVID-19.

 

Teacher Responsibilities

  • All Lorena ISD staff members are required to self-screen daily for COVID-19 symptoms and any other health concerns before arriving on campus.  If staff members have symptoms or are lab tested positive for COVID-19 they are required to report the information to their immediate supervisor immediately.  
  • Teachers will monitor students throughout the day and refer to the nurse if symptoms are present. 
  • Teachers and staff will limit the use of shared supplies when possible; shared supplies will be sanitized between use. 
  • Teachers and staff will have access to disinfectant wipes to sanitize high-touch and working surfaces and shared objects regularly. 
  • Teachers can move classes outside when appropriate.

 

Campus/District Responsibilities

 
  • Each classroom will be equipped with visual reminders of required guidelines regarding safe practices. 
  • Hand sanitizer will be available in all classrooms and on buses.  
  • Hand sanitizing stations will be available at the main entrance of the building, classroom/hallway areas, cafeteria and other commons areas throughout the campuses.
  • Create and follow Nurse’s Guidelines for Screening and Exclusion


Daily Cleaning and Sanitation

  • Hand sanitizer and/or hand washing stations will be available to all students/staff daily.
  • Each classroom and restroom will be disinfected daily. 
  • School Buses will be disinfected daily.
  • All high touch areas will be disinfected daily. 
  • The cafeteria will be disinfected between lunch periods. 
  • Staff will have access to disinfectant wipes to sanitize working surfaces and shared objects. 
  • Custodial staff will have access to electrostatic disinfectant devices for quick clean-ups.
  • Cleaning products will be stored securely to ensure students do not have access to them.
  • Signage will be utilized to promote appropriate health and hygiene for staff and students.
 

 

Updated 8/5/2022

 

Individuals Confirmed or Suspected of COVID-19 and those who are Exposed

 

When to return to school/work from absence due to being positive for COVID-19 or for COVID-19 related symptoms

 

*This protocol is in effect as of August 1, 2022 and is subject to change according to the number of active cases in the area and mandates and/or guidance issued by TEA and federal, state, and local health agencies.

 

Criteria for returning to work/school activities for staff and students:

  • Individuals who test positive for COVID-19:
    • No symptoms
      • Isolate for a minimum of 5 days following date of positive test.
    • Symptomatic
      • Isolate for a minimum of 5 days following symptom onset.
      • Must be fever-free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medication.

 

*Masking is highly recommended for an additional 5 days after the initial 5-days of isolation for both asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals.

 

  • Individuals exhibiting signs and symptoms:
    • Same as above, except that individuals may return earlier with a doctor’s note stating the individual may return to school/work; or, receive a negative test result from a trained testing facility.

 

Criteria for exposed individuals:

  • Exposed students:
    • Students who are within a 90-day period from testing positive or are fully vaccinated
      • Quarantine not required, but individuals do need to monitor for symptoms. If symptoms develop, individual must follow criteria above.

 

*In the case that COVID-19 case levels become severe, Lorena ISD will move to a 10-day quarantine requirement after last day of close contact or require individuals to present a

negative PCR test result (as long as test was administered after the last day of close contact).

 

  • Exposed staff:
    • Staff who are fully vaccinated or who fall within a 90-day period from testing positive
      • No quarantine required, but individuals do need to monitor for symptoms.
    • Staff who are not fully vaccinated or who are outside of a 90-day period from testing positive
      • Must monitor for symptoms and are required to test twice during a 7-day period following exposure. Testing dates will be assigned by the campus nurse.

*If a person’s symptoms persist for more than 10 days, a note from a qualified medical 

professional is required before returning.

 

**Students who receive a positive COVID-19 diagnosis and who participate in UIL/Extracurricular activities are encouraged to obtain a doctor’s release prior to returning to participation.

 

***If a parent identifies their child as a close contact to a positive case, they may choose to keep their student at home for a quarantine period.  If this decision is made, the child is required to stay home for the quarantine period and cannot participate (including practices) in extracurricular activities until the quarantine period is over. 

 

Parent Contact and Safe Return to Campus

  • Requirement is for parents/guardians to pick-up within one hour after being notified by the nurse of a child’s illness.  Please understand that the student will be isolated and clinics have limited space.
  • Parents will adhere to acceptable/safe return to campuses following illness in accordance with TEA guidelines and current Lorena ISD policy; See “When to return to school/work from absence due to being positive for COVID-19 or for COVID-19 related symptoms” section above.
  • The District will submit required reports of positive cases to the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District and to the Texas Department of State Health Services as required by law. 

 

Parent Notification Regarding Positive COVID-19 Cases

  • Lorena ISD is committed to being transparent.
  • The primary and elementary school campuses will notify parents via email when a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 in your student’s class. In addition, the campus will send a campus wide email informing the campus of the positive case(s).
  • The middle school and high school campus will send an email out to campus parents when a student or staff member tests positive.  The email will include the grade level of the student.
  • We will not send district-wide emails this year.  However, the district will maintain the COVID-19 dashboard on our website.  Positive students and staff cases will be tracked via campus and grade level. The dashboard will provide an overview of the number of positive cases in Lorena ISD daily.