Return to School Update
May 21, 2021
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MASK WEARING UPDATES - ATHLETICS AND PERFORMING ARTS
It’s wonderful to see the continued downward trend in COVID-19 numbers locally, but I would like to remind our community that it is still important for us all to make an effort to keep ourselves and each other safe as we navigate the changing COVID-19 landscape. This week, the Baker Administration, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) released new guidelines on mask wearing and other COVID risk mitigation strategies.
There are many factors that determine our district COVID policies and guidelines. It can be challenging to take into consideration sometimes competing guidance at the state and national levels, as well as to ensure our teachers and staff have clear, agreed upon practices.
During Wednesday’s night regularly scheduled meeting, the Framingham School Committee voted unanimously to allow the Superintendent of Schools to enforce Policy EBCFA Face Coverings, an emergency specific policy passed by the School Committee on February 17, 2021, at his discretion until the policy is ultimately rescinded. This is to help simplify the confusing and contradictory state and local guidance and offer consistency within our schools. As a result, the following exceptions to Policy EBCFA are now in effect:
Athletics
Effective immediately the MIAA guidance, as provided below, shall serve as the guidance for the Framingham Public Schools athletics program.
MIAA Guidance
Athletes on spring teams in active play outdoors are not required to wear a mask/facial covering;
Athletes when they are on the bench or in a dugout are not required to wear a mask/facial covering;
Athletes in low-risk sports when indoors where a distance of at least 14 feet or more is consistently maintained between each participant, are not required to wear a mask/ facial covering;
Spectators and chaperones, coaches, staff, referees, umpires and other officials who can social distance while outdoors, are not required to wear a mask/face covering;
Visitors, spectators, volunteers, and staff while indoors are required to wear mask/facial covering;
All athletes participating in high school sports are considered youth and fall under youth guidelines.
Fine and Performing Arts
Effective immediately students performing outdoors are not required to wear a mask.
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Until further notice, students and staff should continue to wear masks during the school day, on buses and at recess (with the exception of designated mask breaks) and follow all other Policy EBCFA Face Coverings requirements. We will update you with changes as soon as they are available, likely in the coming days.
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UPDATED QUARANTINE GUIDANCE
The quarantine guidance update below was provided to the District from the Framingham Board of Public Health)
In order to manage the spread of COVID-19 across our community, all Framingham residents, including those aged 0-18 who have been exposed to COVID-19 and determined to be a close contact will quarantine for a minimum of 7 days. This includes exposures that happen in school, as well as, non-school related activities.
Individuals can be released from Quarantine on Day 8 if:
A test (either PCR or Abbott BinaxNOW antigen) taken on Day 5 or later is negative; AND
The individual has not experienced any symptoms up to that point; AND
The individual conducts active monitoring through Day 14; AND
The individual is cleared by the Framingham Board of Public Health
Individuals must actively monitor symptoms and take temperature once daily. IF even mild symptoms develop or the individual has a temperature of 100.0 F, they must immediately self-isolate, contact the public health authority overseeing their quarantine and get tested.
VACCINE CLINIC THIS WEEKEND
Please read our communication from yesterday: COVID Vaccine Clinic This Weekend for Ages 12+
We are partnering with V-Care and Metrowest Pharmacy to host a vaccine clinic this Saturday, May 22nd from 8am to 3pm at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School (Harmony Grove Elementary School).
The COVID-19 vaccine is free. You can get a vaccine even if you do not have insurance, a driver’s license, or a Social Security number.
Consent Forms are available below and will be available on-site.
You can pre-register for Saturday’s Vaccine Clinic: https://hipaa.jotform.com/211357257390153 - but appointments and pre-registration are not necessary. If you need support in Spanish or Portuguese, please contact the Call Center to help with form completion. You can reach them at 508-782-6633 until 6pm today.
CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTH CONDITIONS
Below are important informational links that highlight the current COVID-related public health conditions in Framingham. Please note the Current Status and City of Framingham Weekly Data Analysis included below is pulled each Monday. We recognize that the data can change between Monday and Friday when this communication is prepared.
Click to see the FPS COVID Dashboard
Click to review the City of Framingham Weekly Data Analysis (PDF)
Click to access the City of Framingham COVID Resource Page
RETURN-TO-SCHOOL DASHBOARD
(Text from the table above)
Return-to-School Target
City Positivity: 4% (or less)
New Cases (Daily): 10 (or less)
Current Status (Latest Report: May 19, 2021)
City Positivity: 1.57%
New Cases (Daily): 6.84
↘︎ Lower than the previous week
2-Week Historical Trend
May 12, 2021
City Positivity: 2.09%
New Cases (Daily): 9.96
↘︎ Lower than the previous week
May 5, 2021
City Positivity: 2.61%
New Cases (Daily): 10.16
↘︎ Lower than the previous week
POOLED TESTING AND COVID CASE REPORTING
Please review the Pooled Testing Data Dashboard for the most up-to-date pooled testing data.
Please review the FPS COVID Data Dashboard for the most up-to-date cumulative data on positive cases.
RISK MITIGATION EFFORTS
We believe that all of our risk mitigation efforts (including facility safety upgrades, mask wearing, physical/social distancing, weekly COVID testing, the COVID-19 vaccine, daily attestation, and others) have supported our success in bringing our students and staff safely back to school. You can reference the expanded Risk Mitigation Effort details shared in recent Return to School Smores which are now linked at the bottom of this newsletter.
Masks/Face Coverings
Masks/Face Coverings are among the most important single measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. Guidance will continue to change over the coming days and weeks as announced by Governor Baker, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and Dr. Tremblay.
COVID-19 Individual PCR Testing for ALL FPS Staff
ALL FPS staff are encouraged to participate in weekly COVID-19 individual PCR testing that is provided at each of our schools.
COVID-19 Pooled Testing for Students
We encourage all of our students to participate in pooled testing! Pooled testing is free, easy, and helps to identify asymptomatic students with COVID-19 early and prevent the spread of the virus through the school community. Provide Consent for your child to participate in COVID-19 Pooled Testing today: Pool Testing Consent Form
As of April 26, 2021 all students participating in an athletic program/team at Framingham High school are required to participate in weekly pooled testing.
BinaxNow follow-up testing is now in place to address a positive pooled test result. This means students in a positive pool will be tested individually with a BinaxNow antigen rapid test to identify who is positive for COVID-19. BinaxNow testing utilizes a shallow nasal swab and results are received within 15 minutes. Testing will be administered at your child’s school by trained staff. Students in a positive pool who test negative with a follow-up BinaxNow test can remain in school. Students with a positive BinaxNow test must isolate and be picked up from school as soon as possible. If the BinaxNow testing does not identify a COVID-19 positive individual, each person in the pool will need a follow up individual PCR test. Students must isolate and be picked up from school as soon as possible and will remain out of school until they receive a negative individual PCR test result. You can find a location to have your child PCR tested here.
COVID-19 Vaccines
There are two vaccine clinics this weekend for anyone over 12 years of age.
Saturday, May 22nd from 8am - 3pm (8am - 9am is Sensory-Friendly) at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School (169 Leland Street, Framingham)
Sunday, May 23rd from 8am - 4pm at Natick High School (15 West St, Natick)
Adults (Ages 18+)
All educators are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Staff can use the state’s pre-registration system to schedule appointments: mass.gov:COVID Vaccine Pre-registration. Once an educator has received their full vaccine dose, they should upload a photo of their card to TalentEd to enhance the efficiencies of the COVID Team in contact tracing and MedBot determinations. Here are some frequently asked questions about COVID vaccine side effects.
Please remember it is possible to get COVID-19 even after you are vaccinated. If you have any other symptoms such as runny nose, sore throat, cough, or loss of sense of smell or taste, stay home from work, avoid close contact with others, get PCR tested, and contact your healthcare provider. It takes several weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination. Please continue to wear a mask, maintain 6ft physical distance, practice frequent hand washing, and stay home when sick.
Young People (Ages 12 - 17)
The FDA and the CDC granted emergency use of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children 12-15 years of age. Now these children and young people 16 years of age and older who live, work, or go to school in Massachusetts are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Currently, people under age 18 can only be given the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine which is a safe and effective vaccine given in two doses at least 21 days apart.
If you have concerns about COVID-19 vaccines, speak with your doctor, refer to trusted sources of medical information, or contact your Health Department for more information.
Keep in mind that a small percentage of people who are fully vaccinated will still get COVID-19 if they are exposed to the virus that causes it. For this reason, it is extremely important for vaccinated children and young people to continue to wear a mask, physically distance, practice frequent hand hygiene, stay home when sick, and participate in pooled or PCR testing.
More information on COVID-19 vaccines for young people under the age of 18, including how to schedule and prepare for an appointment can be found on the Mass.gov website: COVID-19 Vaccinations for People Under Age 18.
MyMedBot (Attestation App)
MyMedBot is used to screen all FPS staff and students daily for potential COVID symptoms by answering a series of COVID-19 related questions. The app should be completed truthfully every day. Staff and students should never come into a school building when sick or if you’ve been exposed to COVID, especially if someone in your home has tested positive or is exhibiting symptoms. Your cooperation and collaboration is key to keeping schools open and safe for everyone.
COVID Call Center
Families can reach the trilingual COVID Call Center by email COVID@framingham.k12.ma.us or by calling (508) 782-6633. Call Center staff are available between 5:00am to 6:00pm Monday through Friday.
COVID INFORMATION WEBSITE
Members of the COVID Team have been working hard behind the scenes to update a dedicated website with COVID Information and Resources. This site will continue to be updated as new information becomes available.
Please visit https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/covid for more information.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Please continue to make sure that your school has update-to-date contact information, including cell phone numbers, for all Primary and Emergency contacts associated with your child(ren). At least 4 contacts should be listed. It is extremely important that we are able to reach you for important communications, contact tracing if needed, and to ensure MyMedBot is associated with the correct email address(es).
RECENT RETURN TO SCHOOL SMORES
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Framingham Public Schools
Website: www.framingham.k12.ma.us
Location: 31 Flagg Drive, Framingham, MA 01702, USA
Phone: 508-626-9117
Facebook: facebook.com/framinghamps
Twitter: @framinghamps