Porterville Unified School District
COVID Response Team - February 2022
Family Newsletter
PUSD families are advised to review this newsletter to stay up to date with school business and requirements related to COVID-19 student and employee health and safety.
SERVICE DELAY NOTICE
We are currently experiencing an unprecedented increase in positive cases and symptomatic students and staff. Our team is working hard and just as diligently to complete testing where necessary and to get students and staff back to school safely and as quickly as possible. We have hired additional staff and extended hours for our COVID team to expedite COVID assessments. When you call our phone line, please leave a voicemail message and our COVID team will get back to you as soon as possible; however, due to high call volume, calls may be returned several days later. Families in need of an urgent test can request to pick up a home kit test from their student's school and report the results online or by text message.
NEW! Updated PUSD Student Exposure Protocols
To support the PUSD community during this COVID surge, while ensuring safety and learning, the following updates have been adopted immediately.
PUSD will be shifting its practices to group contact tracing. As a result, families will be notified by the school via Parent Square when their student is part of a group exposure indoors. Parents will be provided a recommended testing date and options for testing should they choose to test. Students will no longer be asked to quarantine for indoor group exposures except for situations where masking was not implemented effectively.
Students will be expected to be at school the days immediately after the group exposure at school unless there is a COVID-related concern and the parents contact the CRT center for testing. The CRT is not able to excuse absences until parents have contacted and provided additional details. Parents who choose to keep students home due to exposure would need to notify the school immediately. Group exposures are no longer a reason for students to be out of school unless they are sick (develop symptoms).
PUSD will continue to close contact trace the student's household for exposure risks. Students who are unvaccinated, isolate from a positive household member, and have no symptoms may be able to return to school sooner. The PUSD student must be in a separate living (i.e. sleeping, restroom) area from COVID positive household members. Students in this situation may qualify to return to school 6 days after exposure if they test negative for COVID.
PUSD's adopted COVID practices support students having access to safe and full in-person instruction and to as much instructional time as possible.
FAQ About Updated Student Guidelines
A: PUSD will utilize group-contact tracing where possible however, some situations may require a different approach.
Q: Families will be provided the option to test their student with a home kit or at the CRT center on day 5 from exposure. Is this testing required to remain in school?
A: Testing on day 5 from exposure is highly advised but is not mandatory to remain in school. Families are to watch for symptom development and report any changes in COVID risk to the CRT team.
Q: Upon receiving notice of exposure, can families choose to keep their students at home?
A: Group exposures are not a reason for students to be out of school unless they are sick. Students will be marked absent if they do not attend school following an exposure notice. Families concerned about student exposures should test their students with a home kit or by making an appointment with the CRT center.
Q: Can families test their student with an Over-the-Counter test?
A: Yes, Over-the-Counter tests can be submitted to the CRT team using a Primary.health link provided by the nursing team or texting results to (559) 560-5858.
Q: Can students be cleared to return to school after 5 days of being positive if a doctor provides a medical note indicating returning to school earlier than 11 days?
A: Due to the current surge of COVID cases and to reduce the spread, PUSD will continue the 10-day isolation period for students who test positive for COVID. These absences will be cleared.
In the News: Free At-Home COVID Tests
Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests, through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Postal Service. The tests are free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days. Make sure to order tests now so that you have them when you need them.
Visit https://www.covidtests.gov/ to order.
A quick, daily health check can help you decide if your child is healthy enough to be at school. Families are advised to keep their child at home if they are sick or presenting any COVID related symptoms.
New CDPH Information: What to Consider When Choosing a Mask for Kids
Masks are a great way to reduce COVID-19 in schools. Masks help stop the virus from getting into the air if the person wearing it is infected. Masks also help protect people from breathing in the virus from the air.
Read more: Masks for Kids: Tips and Resources.
Are Your Eligible Family Members Up to Date?
Research reports released highlight the importance of getting vaccinated and boosted to protect against severe COVID-19 associated with the Delta and Omicron variants. Masking is another crucial way to protect yourself and others.
Additional Testing Resources
Social & Emotional Wellness
PUSD CRT Center
We are located at the Porterville Educational Complex in the Butterfield Annex -
900 W. Pioneer Ave. Porterville, CA 93257
Scheduled response rapid test employees are advised to park in between the four large orange parking cones on the East side of the Butterfield parking lot and walk to the white tent.
PUSD Student Services
Email: perlasoria@portervilleschools.org
Website: portervilleschools.org
Location: 600 West Grand Avenue, Porterville, CA, USA
Phone: 559-560-5960