Communications

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October 14, 2021 - Update #4 - Subject: HSSD COVID-19 exposure and quarantine protocols update

Dear HSSD Families and Staff,

Following the October 11 Board of Education meeting, updates to the HSSD COVID-19 exposure and quarantine protocols have been posted on the district website. A notable change includes a new provision that allows students and staff in grades K-12 who are close contacts with a COVID-19 positive individual at school to remain at school and avoid quarantine provided they have no COVID-19 related symptoms.

Therefore, effective immediately, students and staff who are presently under quarantine restrictions based on close contact at school - and remain symptom free - are able to resume normal school activities regardless of vaccination status. However, students and staff who are presently under quarantine restrictions based on close contact to a COVID-19 positive individual at home must complete the remainder of their current quarantine.

Please view the protocol documents for further details for close contact individuals who are exhibiting COVID-19 related symptoms.

This change is based on the following factors:

COVID-19 vaccine: Contact tracing of COVID-19 positive cases in grades 7-12 since the beginning of the school year have identified an increasing proportion of students who have completed their COVID-19 vaccinations.
Lack of COVID-19 spread within HSSD secondary schools: We have not observed cases of spread of COVID-19 among secondary students or staff in a classroom setting this school year. There have been a limited number of cases spread from student to student in an extracurricular setting at Bay View and Bay Port, and a moderate number of cases spread from student to student in a community setting.
Concern regarding number of students missing school due to quarantine: Principals, teaching staff, parents, and students have expressed concern regarding the number of students absent and number of school days missed due to district-mandated quarantine.
Family partnerships: We acknowledge the shift in practice from a district-directed quarantine to a more flexible partnership with families. However, it is critical for the success of this approach that our families support our efforts by keeping sick children home from school and by providing timely and accurate information in response to contact tracing inquiries.

The following COVID-19 safety and communication practices remain in place:

HSSD will continue to contact trace COVID-19 positive cases among students and staff and will notify close contacts of those positive cases.
Face coverings will continue to be required for all K-6 students, staff, visitors, and bus riders. The current deadline for review of this practice is November 4. We do anticipate a likely extension beyond the holidays into January; more information to follow when a decision is made.
COVID-19 vaccination is currently available for students ages 12 and up. HSSD will communicate updates when vaccines are made available for students ages 5-11, which is anticipated in November.
Classrooms and school facilities are cleaned on a daily basis.
HSSD will continue to update its COVID-19 dashboard daily on weekdays with district and local data.
The district COVID-19 Hotline (920-662-7233) remains your first stop for any COVID-19 related questions or updates. Please continue to use this helpful resource to ask questions on behalf of your students and family and to report any COVID-19 test results. If students or staff are experiencing any symptoms, please call the hotline before considering whether to report to school or work.

District administration monitors HSSD and local COVID-19 data daily to inform decisions. The ability to proceed with this revised quarantine approach depends on family support and limited spread within school settings. With the onset of fall and winter, time will tell if this is sustainable. Therefore, we again need to be prepared to adapt and adjust if conditions change. In the meantime, please accept my appreciation for your ongoing patience, perseverance, and positive support.

Together,

Damian LaCroix, Superintendent
Howard-Suamico School District
920-662-8103
damilacr@hssdschools.org

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