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Parent Information-COVID Prevention, Mitigation, and Response Procedures


Posted Date: 08/11/2020

 

Jefferson ISD COVID-19 Prevention, Mitigation, and Response Procedures

 

August 3, 2020

 

Dear Parent/Guardian,

 

As we plan for returning to school, we recognize that this will be an unusual school year, but we remain committed to supporting your student’s learning, as well as his or her safety.

This document outlines the procedures our campuses will have in place to prevent or mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and to respond if a positive case is identified. We hope this transparency helps you to make a decision about your student’s on-campus attendance.

The virus that causes COVID-19 can infect people of all ages. That said, research from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), among others, has found that while children do get infected by COVID-19 and some severe outcomes have been reported in children, relatively few children with COVID-19 are hospitalized or have severe symptoms. For many children, there are distinct benefits to attending school in person, including instructional, social, and safety benefits. For these reasons, the American Academy of Pediatrics has made a statement supporting on-campus instruction for students in the coming year.

While it is not possible to eliminate all risk of furthering the spread of COVID-19, the current science suggests there are many steps schools can take to reduce the risks to students, teachers, staff, and their families significantly. The JISD strategy for opening and operating is outlined below. A more detailed plan, along with other information, can be found on our district website at www.jeffersonisd.org by clicking on the “Back To School 2020” link.

 

Prevention

To prevent COVID-positive individuals from entering our campuses, your student’s school will have the following COVID-19 symptom screening procedures in place:

  • All staff will be required to self-screen daily.
  • All visitors will be required to screen upon arrival.
  • Parents are asked to proactively identify when their student exhibits COVID-19 symptoms (below) and to keep them home until the re-entry criteria are met (below). Screening for these symptoms should be done DAILY.  

COVID-19 symptoms include: Fever (Should get a temperature check to determine if temperature is equal to or greater than 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit) 

Cough

Difficulty breathing /Shortness of breath

Headache

Chills/Shaking/Shivering

Sore throat 

Significant muscle pain or ache

Diarrhea

Loss of smell or taste

Criteria for Return to School

 

Conditions for return to school after an individual shows symptoms or gets a positive test result:

Either:

  • 24 hours with no fever; and
  • Symptoms improved; and
  • 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared

Or:

Or:

  • A doctor’s note indicating an alternate diagnosis

 

Mitigation

Our district will be taking the following steps across each of our campuses to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

  • Face coverings are required per Governor Abbott’s orders (GA-29), particularly when distancing of at least 6 feet cannot be accomplished, with exceptions.  Exceptions may include when activities are  being performed that cannot be conducted with a mask, such as eating or exercising outside while social distancing.  (Questions related to face coverings should be posed to your child’s principal or other administrator, as appropriate.) 
  • All campus areas/facilities will be continually cleaned and disinfected as much as possible throughout the day, particularly high traffic or high-touch areas.  Staff should assist in this endeavor as much as practical.
  • Hand washing should be routine and expected.  (Hand washing should be done with soap and water and the hands should be rubbed for at least 20 seconds before rinsing.  Proper hand washing techniques should be shared with and taught to the students.)
  • Sanitizer will be available in most areas and all staff and students are encouraged to use it routinely.
  • Symptomatic individuals will be expected to follow all re-entry protocols (mentioned above). 
  • Individuals who have been in “close contact” with a person who has received a lab-confirmed positive test for COVID-19 should not attend school or school-related activities for a period of 14 days from the last date of close contact. 

Close contact is defined as:  a. being directly exposed to infectious secretions (e.g., being coughed or sneezed on); or

b. being within 6 feet for a cumulative duration of 15 minutes;  (If either occurred at any time in the last 14 days at the same time the infected person was infectious).

 

Individuals are presumed infectious at least two days prior to symptom onset or, in the case of asymptomatic individuals who are lab-confirmed with COVID-19, two days prior to the confirming lab test.

 

**Individuals who have had “close contact” with an infected person should contact the school to inform them of such and should not enter school facilities, use school transportation, or attend any school related function for the duration of a 14-day incubation period.  

 

 

Response

In the event of a COVID-positive case on campus, the campus will take the following steps:

  • All areas that were used by the individual with the lab-confirmed case will be closed off until disinfected
  • All teachers, staff, and families of all students in the district will be notified
  • The local health department will be notified
  • All re-entry protocols will be followed

We hope that this information gives you confidence in our systems/protocols and our ability to help stop the spread of COVID-19 on our campuses. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact a school administrator at 903-665-2461.  Again, your patience and diligence are greatly appreciated.  Please let me know if I can be of any assistance to you.   Thank you for what you do.  

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Rob Barnwell

Superintendent

 

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Jefferson Elementary School
301 West Harrison Street
Jefferson, Texas 75657
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