West Irondequoit CSD
Latest NYSDOH guidance and its impact on our schools
March 4, 2022
Dear Families:
As our students and staff wrap up their first week with optional masking, I wanted to share with you information about the new guidance released by the NYS Department of Health on Tuesday night. Like many times over the past 23 months, there still are many details to digest. Our administrative team has worked this week to summarize key points that are provided below and are available on the district website via the COVID-19 Reopening page.
Although mask rules changed Wednesday, we will continue to follow public health recommendations that have allowed our schools to operate safely during the pandemic. Some mitigation measures include voluntary mask wearing for those who prefer that layer of protection beyond vaccination, practicing good hand hygiene and cough/sneeze etiquette, weekly testing for unvaccinated staff, encouraging students and staff to stay at home from school when they ill or symptomatic and using home test kits to monitor health.
Find the NYSDOH guidance from 3/1/22 and its FAQs for schools at the bottom of this letter. Here is our West Irondequoit CSD update:
GENERAL PROTOCOLS
- Students, staff and visitors have the choice whether to wear a mask or face covering in school, on school buses and while attending on-campus activities such as athletics, concerts, after-school clubs, for Community Education programs or special events.
- If any person tests positive for COVID-19 and is isolated, they may still return to school on days 6-10 but MUST mask when in school buildings.
- If someone has a known exposure to COVID-19, they SHOULD mask while in school. That is, masking is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. (This replaces Test To Stay protocol).
- COVID-19 at-home test kit will continue to be provided by our schools on a regular basis. Your child’s health office will have them available upon request. Please report all positive cases to the Monroe County Department of Public Health via THIS LINK and notify the school and/or school health office as you would any other absence.
- Symptomatic students are still required to show proof of a negative test to return to school. Rapid home test kits are now acceptable to show proof of a test result.
- COVID-19 test results may be shared with a school nurse or principal by emailing a picture of the test. If that is not available, confirmation by phone or email is acceptable (yes, we are using the honor system).
- When a student is ill and does not get tested, they should stay home for at least 5 days following onset of symptoms and until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication while other symptoms are improving. After returning to school, they must wear a mask for days 6-10.
- The distance used to determine whether an individual is “exposed” or considered a “close contact” is still less than 6 feet for at least 15 consecutive minutes.
- Based upon our in-district contact tracing we will notify affected families and staff of exposure to an individual who reports a new COVID-19 infection.
- Mandatory testing for unvaccinated staff IS required.
CONTACT TRACING/NOTIFICATION
To protect themselves and others and stop the spread of COVID-19 in the household and community, schools should notify impacted staff, students and parents/guardians whenever an individual was at risk of exposure. We will utilize the MCDPH daily positive list, which is accessible to schools, to determine when to make notification (samples below).
- We will notify grades K-6 families anytime there is a positive case in class.
- We will notify grades 7-12 families if a positive case exists in any of your child’s classes.
Notification sample:
A student in your child’s class has tested positive for COVID-19. It is possible that your child may have been exposed. If your child does not regularly wear a well-fitted mask at school, the NYSDOH recommends:
- Masking is strongly recommended for 10 days, regardless of vaccination status
- Testing on Day 5 after exposure is strongly recommended (tests can be acquired from the main office of your child’s school, if needed)
Please watch for symptoms and keep your child at home if they develop any of the following: Fever of 100.5+ or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle/body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.
We appreciate the conversations you’ve had with your children this week about treating everyone they see in school with mutual respect. Moving forward, we will monitor our community’s infection rate and work closely with the MCDPH so we continue to make informed decisions. The health, safety and well-being of our students, staff and community is always our top priority. Please see additional links/resources below.
Sincerely,
Mr. Chuck Miller
COVID-19 Administrator on Special Assignment
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- NYS Department of Health Guidance – March 1, 2022
- NYSDOH Frequently Asked Questions – March 1, 2022
- NYSDOH/State Education Dept. Joint Mask Guidance – March 1, 2022
- Monroe County Department of Public Health site – LINK
- West Irondequoit Superintendent Update page – LINK
- WICSD COVID-19 Reopening Information page – LINK
West Irondequoit CSD
Email: public_info@westiron.monroe.edu
Website: https://westirondequoit.org/
Location: 321 List Avenue, Irondequoit, NY, USA
Phone: 585-342-5500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WestIrondequoitCSD
Twitter: @WestIrondequoit