COVID-19 Update
January 14, 2022
Friday, January 14, 2022
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Dear Framingham Community:
COVID-19 and the current Omicron variant continue to challenge all of us. As we learn more about best practices and meaningful risk-mitigation efforts, we want to share an update on what we know today and what efforts we are taking as a school department.
To be sure, COVID-19 risk mitigation is not something that can be managed only in a 6-hour school day. If we have learned anything over the last two years, it is that a global pandemic requires action by ALL of us. We must all take personal responsibility for our own health and take responsible actions to keep ourselves and those around us as safe as possible.
What's Next?
- The District will not conduct pooled testing next week (January 18 - 21, 2022). The shortened week and reduced schedule for mid-term exams at Framingham High School gives us the opportunity to follow up on previous testing with reflex testing so that we can catch up on the reporting to families and staff.
- During the week of January 18, the district will review current COVID testing methods. The goal of the review is to work toward the implementation of a revised testing program that will provide students access to tests that are highly sensitive to the Omicron variant and testing results that are accurate and more timely.
- In the meantime, keep your children home if they are not feeling well. Please check in with your child each day to see if they are experiencing any COVID-like symptoms, which may look like the common cold. If your children test positive, either through at-home tests or lab tests, please report those results to your school nurse. If you have not yet given consent for your child to participate in school COVID-19 testing, we encourage you to complete this form.
- Educational access is available for students in isolation or quarantine situations. A Memorandum of Understanding with the Framingham Teachers Association (FTA) has been agreed upon to support students that are isolated/quarantined. Please reach out to your child’s teacher as their academics will be supported while at home following public health guidance.
What FPS Can Control and What We Cannot Control
It is important to be clear with everyone about what the School Department can and cannot control with COVID-19. Information and guidance changes daily, but here is what we know to be true as of the writing of this communication:
What FPS Can Control
Risk mitigation efforts including air purifiers in schools, frequent hand-washing, masking reminders for students and staff, physical distancing as much as possible, staying home when not feeling well;
The type of COVID-19 tests that we use to get the most accurate results possible;
The distribution of the limited Rapid COVID-19 Reflex Tests (home test kits) that we received from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the City of Framingham. Note: Currently, home test kits are distributed to students who are found to be symptomatic at school. In those instances, home test kits should be used as soon as symptoms occur and use the second test provided in the kit three days later if the symptoms persist;
Messaging to families to communicate about COVID-19 test results. Results from pooled testing and reflex PCR testing that are received on Friday night through Sunday night will be communicated to positive individuals on the next school day;
Reinforcement communication to families about the importance of COVID-19 vaccines and booster opportunities;
Scheduling COVID-19 vaccine clinics for our community and information about the availability of clinics in our area;
Reinforcement communication to families to keep students home when they have symptoms and reiterate the importance of following risk mitigation strategies in their personal lives;
What FPS Cannot Control
Dramatic increase in the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in our schools and community;
Availability of testing materials;
The accuracy of rapid (antigen) tests to identify the Omicron variant;
Speed of results coming back to the district from testing laboratories. Note: Like other school districts and testing site, FPS is experiencing extensive delays in receiving test results from local labs which prevents FPS staff from keeping up with the high positivity rates.
Staff and vendor illnesses that impact our current operating structures. Note: Our testing vendor (CIC) and the Massachusetts National Guard are facing critical staffing shortages resulting from the current Omicron surge.
Staff, student and families’ responsibility to practicing risk mitigation measures outside of the school day;
Families’ decisions to vaccinate and boost themselves and their eligible children
We will spend next week planning improvements for our shift to a new Routine COVID Pooled Testing and Lab-Based Follow-Up Testing Program. We will review our team support structure, develop and train our teams and staff in new protocols that are necessary to launch this program as soon as possible.
As an important reminder, you must keep your children home if they are not feeling well. Please check in with your child each day to see if they are experiencing any COVID-like symptoms, which may look like cold symptoms. If your children test positive, either through at-home tests or lab tests, please report those results to your school nurse. If you have not yet given consent for your child to participate in school COVID-19 testing, we encourage you to complete this form.
We appreciate your patience and understanding during the surge of this global pandemic. We will continue to provide updates as they become available and as we adjust our practices accordingly.
Very truly yours,
Robert A. Tremblay
Superintendent of Schools
The mission of the Framingham Public Schools is to educate each student to learn and live productively as a critically-thinking, responsible citizen in a multicultural, democratic society by providing academically challenging instructional programs taught by highly-qualified staff and supported by comprehensive services in partnership with our entire community. For news, updates, and announcements, follow Framingham Public Schools (@FraminghamPS) on Facebook, Twitter, and (@framinghamschools) on Instagram. You can also join the conversation using #FraminghamSchools.