𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇 𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄- JANUARY 14, 2022:

We have received new guidance from the state on protocols for students who test positive for COVID-19, and the duration for which they must quarantine.

𝐈𝐟 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, the student must quarantine until: 𝟏𝟎 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 have passed since date of onset of symptoms or positive test, the student has had no fever for 24 hours, and the student’s other symptoms are improving.

𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐟:

• Student is asymptomatic

(𝐀𝐍𝐃)

• Student receives a negative result from a clinical COVID test

Protocols for students who have been in 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 with a COVID positive individual 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞.

𝐈𝐟 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 with a COVID positive individual, as specified in Emergency Rule 64DER21-15, the parent or legal guardians of the child may choose to:

• Allow their child to attend school and school activities as long as the child has no symptoms

(𝗢𝗥)

• May choose to quarantine their child for no longer than seven days after the last contact with the positive individual.

We have worked with local and state law enforcement as well as with school districts from around the nation to be proactive, and we have made changes to our school safety practices. Videos created with the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office will be shown to students in kindergarten through 12th grade during the first week of school.

Because children are at different developmental levels, we have created three separate videos appropriate for grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-12.

We want to make sure parents have the opportunity to view these videos prior to school, and our hope is that families will have discussions with children about the importance of following procedures should an emergency arise.