September 20, 2022
CENTRAL DECATUR Return To Learn 2022-23
BOARD APPROVED ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2022
The health and safety of our students, staff, and families remains a top priority for the district. The District will adhere to the following COVID-19 mitigation strategies for the 2022-2023 school year. These strategies are subject to change pending federal, state, and/or local decision-making.
IF YOU TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 YOU MUST STAY HOME
Persons Who Test Positive For COVID-19
- Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 must remain home for at least 5 full days. Day 0 is the first day of symptoms or the date of the day of the positive viral test for asymptomatic persons
- Individuals may return to school on day 6 if they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication AND other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving.
- It is highly recommended that individuals wear a mask when around others at home and in public for an additional 5 days.
- For students who test positive during the school year, families are requested to contact their School Nurse.
- For staff who test positive, employees need to contact their supervisor.
- This guidance applies to both unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals.
Reminder: All persons who are experiencing an illness should stay home while they are ill, even if they test negative for COVID-19 or receive an alternative diagnosis.
Isolation
Isolation is used to separate people with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 from those without COVID-19. People who are in isolation should stay home until it’s safe for them to be around others. At home, anyone sick or infected should separate from others, or wear a well-fitting mask when they need to be around others. People in isolation should stay in a specific “sick room” or area and use a separate bathroom if available.
What to do for isolation
- Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately.
- Stay in a separate room from other household members, if possible.
- Use a separate bathroom, if possible.
- Take steps to improve ventilation at home, if possible.
- Avoid contact with other members of the household and pets.
- Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.
- Wear a well-fitting mask when you need to be around other people.
DAILY PRACTICES
Daily Practices: The District will continue with last year’s COVID 19 protocols, including:
- Frequent hand washing and/or hand sanitizing.
- Cough/sneeze etiquette will be reviewed and reminders shared as needed.
- Routine cleaning of schools and disinfecting surfaces that are touched often.
- HVAC air filters will be changed on a more frequent basis.
- Both water bottle filling stations and drinking fountains will be available for use.
FACE MASKS
Face Masks
Face masks are optional inside district buildings and while riding on a school bus/van.
MONITORING AND REPORTING ILLNESS
Monitoring and Reporting Illness
- It is very important for parents and guardians to continue monitoring their child’s health. If your child has a temperature of 100.4 or higher, we ask that you keep your child home, observe for symptoms such as sore throat, rash, vomiting, or diarrhea, and follow up with your healthcare provider.
- If your child does not have a temperature, but is feeling ill and the illness prevents your child from participating comfortably in academics/activities, please keep your child home until illness symptoms have passed.
- Please continue to be aware of the following COVID-19 symptoms:
- High risk symptoms include a new cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or a loss of taste or smell.
- Other symptoms include fever and/or chills, sore throat, headache, body aches, fatigue, runny nose, congestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
- Students with COVID-19 symptoms should contact their healthcare provider for further evaluation.
- When calling in your child absent from school, please be sure to contact your school’s attendance center, providing your student name, grade, symptoms, temperature, and a number we can reach you if we have further questions.
- Please contact your school nurse and report if your child is diagnosed with COVID-19.
- You’re welcome to contact your school nurse if you have questions regarding potential exposures outside of school.
- The above information is based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, the Iowa Department of Public Health, and Decatur County Health Department.
Chris Coffelt, Superintendent
Dan Johnson, 7-12 Principal
Amy Whittington, PK-6 Principal
Please note COVID-19 information is subject to change at any time throughout the school year. Any changes in our COVID-19 plans, procedures or policies will be communicated to staff and families in a timely manner and through our regular channels of communication, such as PowerSchool and the District website.
- Revised: September 20, 2022
- Board Reviewed: September 20, 2022