West Irondequoit CSD
August 30, 2022
UPDATE ON STATE HEALTH DEPT. GUIDANCE
Last week Gov. Kathy Hochul said the State Health and State Education Departments will follow the most recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to manage COVID-19 and Monkeypox viruses for the 2022-23 school year. We wanted to share more information with you about that. Click this Link to read Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Here are some highlights:
- Students/staff exposed to COVID do not need to quarantine. If exposed, they should follow CDC recommendations to wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days after the exposure and get tested.
- “Test to stay” will end; students will no longer be required to receive a COVID test if exposed to an infected person.
- Students/staff who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home and isolate for 5 days. Symptomatic individuals may return to school after 5 days if they are: 1. Fever-free without fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours; 2. Symptoms are improving; 3. They wear a mask through Day 10. CDC guidance indicates that people can use the test-based strategy outlined in its isolation guidance to potentially shorten the duration of post-isolation mask use. Please read the FAQ on these points.
- Universal masking is not required at this time. Local health departments have authority to implement masking requirements.
- Schools are not required to offer/conduct screening testing.
- Schools are not required to test unvaccinated staff.
- Schools are not required to report daily test results to the DOH. Schools that operate under a limited-service laboratory (LSL) will be required to report positive case results as they occur.
- Schools will not be required to contact trace.
No Monkeypox-related requirements are planned for schools. State Health Commissioner Mary Bassett said she did not see schools as a setting where Monkeypox transmission is a risk.
If you have questions, please email me. We look forward to opening day on Thursday, Sept. 7th!
You can find COVID-19 and other health resources on the district website at this link. Or go to westirondequoit.org, hover over "DISTRICT" and click on "COVID-19 2022-23 Information" under Health News (see image below).
Sincerely,
Mr. Chuck Miller
COVID Administrator on Special Assignment
We are just 8 days away from your children returning to school, and it's important for families to know that the federal government did NOT extend its program for free breakfast and lunch for all students for 2022-23. As we did in July, we are asking families to submit Free-and-Reduced Meal application to West Irondequoit Food Services because:
- A current application will allow students to be temporarily eligible for the first 30 days of the school year and give families time to submit a new application once the reapplication process begins. OCTOBER 19, 2022 IS THE LAST DAY the 2021-22 application will be valid.
- Students who request fee waivers for things like AP exams or college applications will not qualify for the fee waiver if they do not have a current application on file.
- All students opting for a free breakfast or lunch MUST take all the lunch components. Any lunch items bought a la carte (including milk only purchases) must be paid for. This also includes snacks, doubles, water bottles, and ice cream.
Submit via this link: bit.ly/WI_MealApp
Questions? Call West Irondequoit Food Services at (585) 336-2953.
