Grayson County Schools has released its COVID-19 guidelines as the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year quickly approaches.
School officials said fully vaccinated staff and students will not be required to wear masks, but those who wish “to continue to wear a mask in any situation should feel free to do so.” The district will provide masks if needed.
It is “highly recommended,” though, that staff and students who are not fully vaccinated wear a mask while indoors.
Students will continue to maintain social distancing of three-feet, officials stated, with each school developing “contact tracing protocols for breakfast/lunch and any other unstructured time outside of the classroom,” the district said.
Below are the complete guidance/recommendations distributed by Grayson County Schools to students, parents and guardians:
We are excited to welcome back our students, families and staff on August 4, as we RECONNECT for the 2021-22 school year.
Our goal is to provide a safe, full-week, in-person learning environment for all students and staff. Many of the health and safety protocols from last year’s daily schedule will be carried into the new school year.
National and state guidelines are currently provided as recommendations, not mandates. They are and will continue to be subject to change at any time based on new information, public health considerations, Executive and/or Public Health Order.
Masks
- Any staff or student who wishes to continue to wear a mask in any situation should feel free to do so. Masks will be provided if needed.
- Staff and students who are fully vaccinated will not be required to wear a mask during the school day.
- It is highly recommended that staff and students who are not fully vaccinated continue to wear masks while indoors.
Social Distancing:
- Students and staff throughout the district will continue to observe recommended social distancing of at least three feet to the greatest extent possible and feasible.
- Each school will develop contact tracing protocols for breakfast/lunch and any other unstructured time outside of the classroom.
- Assigned seating and/or “pods” may be utilized to minimize opportunities for transmission as well as for more efficient contact tracing. Classroom furniture may be adjusted to rows, spaced apart as reasonably possible, and facing in the same direction as much as possible.
- Larger group gatherings may remain limited.
- Sharing of materials will be minimized.
Hygiene and Cleaning:
- Heightened hygiene practices, including frequent hand washing, will be followed during the school day.
- Hand sanitizer will be readily available in classrooms and throughout buildings.
- Maximized facility cleaning to the greatest extent possible. High traffic areas, including stairwells, bathrooms, common areas, and cafeterias, will be cleaned as needed throughout the day. Classrooms will be sanitized in between classes, and buildings will be sanitized nightly following CDC recommended practices.
Symptom Screening and Isolation:
Parents will need to take their child’s temperature prior to leaving home, whether traveling by bus, personal vehicle, or other means. If a student has a temperature of more than 100.4, they should remain at home.
All parents/guardians will also be required to sign a letter of commitment at the start of the school year stating that they will not send their child to school if he or she has a fever (> 100.4), is exhibiting symptoms, or if anyone in the household is being tested for COVID-19.
Symptoms include:
- Fever or feeling feverish (e.g., chills, sweating)
- New cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Sore throat
- Muscle aches or body aches
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- New loss of taste or smell
Students with symptoms will be isolated under adult supervision and parents will be contacted.
Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 should self-isolate away from school for 10 days after the start of their illness (or testing date) or otherwise follow the direction of the local public health department about when it is safe for them to be around others.
District health professionals will work with the local health department to facilitate case investigation and contact tracing to identify individuals who have had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19. A close contact is someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes while the person was considered contagious.
Unvaccinated students, teachers, or staff who are identified as close contacts should be instructed to self-quarantine regardless of whether the exposure occurred within or outside of the school setting.
Quarantine may be discontinued when the local public health department determines the individual is safe to be around others, or:
- After day 7 if the individual is symptom-free and receives a negative COVID-19 test 5 days or later after the last date of exposure to the case.
- After day 10 without testing if the individual is symptom-free.
- Fully-vaccinated* persons do not need to quarantine following an exposure to a person diagnosed with COVID-19 if not experiencing symptoms.
**14 days have passed since receipt of the J&J vaccine or the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
School Bus Safety:
Parents should screen students before allowing them on the bus. Students with a temperature greater than 100.4 should remain home, and parents should contact their home school regarding the symptoms. Students should be symptom free for 24 hours before being allowed to return to school.
During transport:
- Buses will be loaded back to front.
- Assigned seating and family pods will be utilized to the greatest extent possible.
- Seating charts will be maintained for contact tracing.
- Additional shuttle routes will allow for fewer riders on a bus and greater distance between students.
- Window ventilation will be utilized to the extent possible.
- Hand sanitizer will be available to all riders.
- Masks will be available for those students who may want or need one.
- Buses will be cleaned before and after each assigned route.
Food Services/Meals:
Students will have the opportunity to wash their hands with soap and water (preferred) or use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol before and after meal times.
To the greatest extent practical, students will sit at least three feet apart during indoor meals (whether in the classroom, cafeteria, or another location). When it is not practical to maintain a distance of three feet, cohorts or pods will be used to facilitate more efficient contract tracing and minimize opportunities for transmission. Accommodations will be made for students that request greater physical distancing while eating meals.
Cafeteria tables will be cleaned between classes.
Given the very low risk of transmission from surfaces and shared objects (per the CDC):
- Kitchens may provide real trays and utensils for students to consume meals in the cafeteria. Any non-disposable trays and utensils will be washed, rinsed, and sanitized between uses.
- Pin pads may be used to record meals. Pin pads will be cleaned regularly during meal service.
- Students may purchase a la carte items during meal service in the cafeteria. Students are encouraged to preload money on their meal account to minimize money exchange during meal service times.
- Share tables, when implemented, may only include prepackaged items (i.e. fruit cups with lids, milk cartons, wrapped muffins, etc).
Additional Recommendations:
- Visitor access to buildings may be limited on a school by school basis. Visitors should call ahead and make an appointment, and may be asked to wait if arriving unannounced per state policy for Safe Schools.
- Prevention strategies for school-sponsored sports and extracurricular activities will be implemented and continued from the 2020-21 school year based on guidance from the KHSAA.
- The district will continue to monitor local case levels and work with the local Health Department on strategies to help prevent spread.
This plan is subject to change. Grayson County Schools will continue to adhere to guidance as recommended by state and national agencies including the CDC, Kentucky KY Department of Public Health, Kentucky Department of Education and the Governor’s office. The district will continue in partnership with the Grayson County Health Department and reassess practices as necessary. This may include but is not limited to increased wearing of masks, temperature checks, increased social distancing, and other mitigation strategies as directed by the above agencies.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
