2023 - 2024 COVID Protocols

At the start of the 2023 - 2024 school year, Health Services continues to evaluate our COVID-19 health clinic protocols, which reflect current public health guidance, and are summarized below:

• Symptomatic students will be evaluated by the school nurse and will be sent home based on the severity of their symptoms and/or the presence of a fever.
• Students may return to school when they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, and their symptoms have improved.
• Verified negative COVID-19 test results are NOT required for a student to return to school.
• Separation rooms will not be mandated. If space allows, these rooms may still be used for students with more severe symptoms (fever/severe cough) while they are awaiting parent pick-up, particularly if there are other students receiving nursing care in the health clinic.
• Students sick enough to be sent home by the nurse or school administrator should be picked up by a parent/guardian. No school transportation will be provided.
• School staff should continue to stress to families the importance of keeping a student home if they are ill. Likewise, staff who are ill should use good judgment when determining when to return to work after an illness.
• If students and/or staff report a positive result from a home COVID test, you should refer them to their medical provider if needed for guidance. Students may return to school when they are fever-free for 24 hours and improving symptoms are consistent with the existing health response to acute illness. Staff should use good judgment when determining their return to work after an illness, consistent with the current sick policy. Nurses will no longer be completing COVID-19 tracking forms and will not monitor return to school/work dates.
• Masks are optional for staff, students, community partners, and visitors during the school day and at school-sponsored functions.