FSD3 COVID Guidelines for 2021-2022

Posted on 08/11/2021

2021-2022 FSD3 COVID Guidelines

We are so excited about our students coming back to school! We have a lot of work to do to overcome learning loss due to COVID 19. In order to do this, it will take all of us!

We know that many of you continue to have concerns about COVID-19 and the reopening of schools. Our district continues to monitor local data and information from the Centers for Disease Control, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the State Superintendent of Education and the Governor’s Office. The safety and well-being of our staff and students during this time is a priority. We will appropriately address any COVID issues as they arise, but our focus will not be on COVID, but will be on LEARNING despite COVID!

SAFETY PROTOCOLS- We have implemented guidelines to help our faculty and our students remain healthy:

We will have the following PPE equipment on-site at all of our schools: face masks, hand-sanitizers, cleaning products and disinfectants, thermometers, and gloves. Students and staff in SC public schools are strongly encouraged to wear a face-coverings inside the building, especially those who have not been vaccinated.

Additional safety measures being taken by our district:

Health protocols will be communicated, taught, and practiced upon our return to school.
Staff will wipe down commonly touched items used throughout the workday.
Temperature checks upon entering the building.
Custodians will implement Enhanced Safety Cleaning Protocols for cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting surfaces and areas.
Buses will be disinfected after each route. Mask use is required on school buses.
Schools will use a variety of techniques to minimize close contacts in common areas, such as staggered transitions, 3 feet social distancing in cafeteria, or meals in the classroom when necessary.
Morning announcements will include age-appropriate health reminders.
Nonessential visitors will not be allowed access to areas when students are present. Parents/guardians who need to meet with school staff must make an appointment and will be directed to a designated location to attend scheduled conferences and meetings.
School administrators will notify DHEC of any confirmed case or cluster of cases among staff or students.
Those demonstrating symptoms of illness should not come to school for any reason; if a person develops symptoms while present, an isolation room has been designated in each school for evaluation by the school nurse. Students will wait in the isolation room with designee until parent or guardian arrives.
Each school's health room will be equipped with no-contact thermometers.
Nurses will be made aware of special health care needs among the student population.
Symptomatic staff or students are strongly encouraged to seek testing from their healthcare provider, or they can be referred to a provider for testing.
A referral will be made to the School-Based counselor if a student is experiencing fear, depression or anxiety.
If a teacher or student tests positive, quarantine will occur for those who are directly exposed (close contact) to that student or teacher. DHEC defines close contact as those unvaccinated persons within 3 feet of the infected person for a cumulative total of 15 min or more over a 24 hour period from 48 hours prior to symptom onset) Vaccinated individuals will not be required to quarantine unless they show symptoms but are encouraged to wear a mask for 10 days after exposure.
Contact tracing will continue
Exposed individuals must report exposure to school nurse and send test results if tested. If the results are positive, the school nurse will use the most current guidelines to determine those who will need to quarantine.

Additional information for employees:
1. QUARANTINE due to positive COVID test:
  Staff and students who test positive for COVID 19 (whether vaccinated or not) must quarantine for at least 10 days. They may return to school on the 11^th day if they have been without fever/ symptoms for 24 hours.
2. QUARANTINE Due to Direct Exposure:
  DHEC states that fully Vaccinated people and people who have antibodies (had COVID in the previous 90 days) do not have to quarantine after direct exposure unless they experience COVID symptoms. Vaccinated employees who have direct exposure will be asked to wear a mask for 10 days after exposure or 7 days with a negative test result.
  
  Non-Vaccinated employees must quarantine for direct exposure based on most current CDC guidelines: 10 days or 7 days with negative test results and no symptoms.
3. COVID Leave
  The requirement that employers provide paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) expired on 12/31/20, though we continued to grant it through the end of the 20-21 school year to give all employees the opportunity to receive the vaccination. This year, however, employees will use sick leave for time missed due to quarantine. Remember, if you are vaccinated you are not required to quarantine for exposure unless you have symptoms. If you are not vaccinated, you need to take the necessary precautions to avoid having to use your sick time for an unnecessary quarantine.
4. All employees are encouraged to wear masks or face shields for their protection and the protection of those around them. Vaccinated staff, however, may choose not to wear a mask unless they have had direct exposure. Non-vaccinated employees should wear a mask or face shield while in the building. Face coverings are not required outside, but non-vaccinated students and employees should consider wearing them in instances of crowded outdoor settings and during close contact with others.

Latest guidelines from SC Department of Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

JULY 29, 2021

DHEC Recommends Vaccinations, Mask Use and Other COVID-19 Protocols in School Guidance for K-12 2021-2022 Academic Year

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has issued its COVID-19 interim guidance for K-12 schools as students, teachers, parents, and staff all prepare for the 2021-2022 school year. DHEC’s interim guidance includes recommendations that reflect the latest COVID-19 trends and is meant to protect everyone who plays a role in South Carolina’s students receiving a quality education safely. It is important to note that this guidance may change as the situation evolves.

The full school guidance is available here. Here are some of the key points:

Schools are strongly encouraged to work with local public health officials and healthcare facilities and professionals to provide factual information and education about COVID-19 vaccination and to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines by coordinating vaccine clinics for staff, students, and families who wish to be vaccinated.
DHEC strongly recommends mask use for all people when indoors in school settings, especially when physical distancing is not possible. Children under two years old, anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone unable to remove the face covering without assistance should not wear a mask. DHEC recognizes mask use cannot be mandated per the SC General Assembly but is providing the following guidance for teachers, staff and parents.
At least three feet of distance between each student should be maintained to the greatest extent possible.
Case investigation and contact tracing are critical strategies to identify and isolate cases and test and quarantine close contacts to reduce transmission.
Mask use is required on school buses and other public transportation per federal CDC Order regardless of the mask policy at school or the individual’s vaccination status; school systems should take appropriate steps to ensure compliance with this requirement by students, staff and others.

“Our first priority is the safety of our children and teachers,” said Dr. Edward Simmer, DHEC Director. “That is why, above all else, we’re urging all eligible South Carolinians to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated if they haven’t already done so. The last thing we want is for COVID-19 to spread through our schools causing avoidable illness. Our students and educators deserve the right to learn and teach in a safe, healthy environment, and vaccinations will make that possible. The use of masks and other precautions recommended in our guidance will also help ensure a safe, healthy environment in our schools especially with the emergence of the Delta variant.”

DHEC reported nearly 19,000 COVID-19 cases among students and faculty through June 18, 2021, per the agency’s COVID-19 school dashboard. Vaccinations are the best way to not continue to see cases in schools and to end the pandemic.

Vaccinations are available for ages 12 and up at many locations across the state. Visit DHEC’s information page for more information on the vaccines, and the locator page to schedule a vaccine appointment.

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DHEC Media Relations
803-898-7769
[email protected]

LINKS

FSD3 COVID-19 Flowchart

Parents - Planning for 5-Day Face-to-Face Learning

Children, Masks and COVID-19 - Frequently Asked Questions

COVID-19 Return to Schoo l Chart

Frequently Asked Questions - Parents (English)

Frequently Asked Questions - Parents (Spanish)

South Carolina DHEC

Identifying Close Contacts of Athletes

CDC Guidance - Considerations for School Closure

Protect Yourself