Weekly Percentage of New COVID-19 Cases and Quarantines for USD 261

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ALL BUILDINGS: PRE-K thru 12TH GRADE

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PREK - 5TH GRADE

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6TH - 8TH GRADE

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9TH - 12TH GRADE

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We will continue to provide our families and staff with updates during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. We are committed to working together as a community to support one another throughout these unprecedented times, and communication will remain a top priority. We will keep families informed using our notification system, School Messenger, posting updates here, and on our social media pages. The most recent update is below. To skip to previous updates, CLICK HERE

 

Change in COVID-19 Testing at USD 261

Posted March 7, 2022

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is limiting our COVID testing in the district to those who are symptomatic or close contacts to a positive person. We will no longer be able to provide testing for other purposes effective immediately. The web page below provides links to multiple testing locations in our area. Please let me know if you have any questions.

https://www.wichita.edu/industry_and_defense/mdl/Community_Collection_Partners.php

 

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PREVIOUS UPDATES

Change in COVID-19 Response Plan

Posted January 24, 2022

As you are aware, the current surge in the omicron variant is creating immense pressure on our schools and staff members as we work to keep classrooms staffed and in-person learning possible. To help alleviate some of the pressure on our schools, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), along with the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) have recommended changes to COVID-19 Response Plans.

Effective January 24, any USD #261 student or staff member who tests positive for COVID-19 have two options:

1. Stay at home for 10 days.
2. Stay home for at least 5 days and be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication before leaving home (minimum 5-day home isolation). After that, resume normal activities and wear a well-fitting mask around others, indoors and outdoors, for an additional 5 days. During these 10 days, students will not be able to participate in activities or athletics where a well-fitting mask cannot be maintained.

Effective January 24, any student or staff member who is identified as a close contact at home will be required to:

1. Stay home for 5 days from the first date of contact. The first day of quarantine will be the same as the first day of isolation for the positive case.
2. Staff and students may return to school or work 6 days after first contact if they are symptom free and wear a well-fitting mask around others, indoors and outdoors, for an additional 5 days. During these 10 days, students will not be able to participate in activities or athletics where a well-fitting mask cannot be maintained.

Effective January 24, any student or staff member who is identified as a close contact outside of school will be required to:

1. Stay home for 5 days from the first date of contact.
2. Staff and students may return to school or work 6 days after first contact if they are symptom free and wear a well-fitting mask around others, indoors and outdoors, for an additional 5 days. During these 10 days, students will not be able to participate in activities or athletics where a well-fitting mask cannot be maintained.

What this means for staff and students: If testing positive for COVID 19, select the protocol choice that best fits your needs. If currently isolating as the result of a positive COVID 19 test or quarantined as the result of being a close contact, effective Monday, January 24, you may return if five days have passed and you meet the criteria listed above.

Staff and students experiencing any of the following symptoms, should stay home and contact their health care provider for further instructions:

• A fever of 100.4 F or greater
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore Throat
• New loss of taste or smell

As you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Previous updates for the 2021-2022 school year will be posted here.

Change in COVID-19 Response Plan

Posted December 22, 2021

The District is constantly reviewing the strategies put into place to limit our students and staff’s exposure to the COVID-19 virus. With the recent availability of a COVID-19 vaccine for students in grades K-12, the District re-evaluated the strategies in the COVID-19 Response Plan. At their December 20 meeting USD #261 BOE members voted unanimously to update the District's COVID-19 Response Plan.

Effective January 4, 2022, the following changes will be implemented:

• Students who are considered close contacts at school to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 and are symptom-free may attend school with no restrictions, e.g. not required to wear a mask or to be tested on a daily basis.
• Elementary school students will no longer be required to remain with their homeroom class during recess.
• Staff are no longer required to maintain seating charts for the purpose of contact tracing.
• Student seating during lunches will be at the discretion of the building administrator. Staff are not required to maintain seating charts during lunch for the purpose of contact tracing.
• Students and staff who are a close contact outside of school to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 will be excluded from school or work for the recommended period. Individuals who receive a negative COVID-19 test on day 6 may return on day 8 if they have remained symptom-free during this period.
• The District will implement a two-week mask mandate at individual buildings when there is a 5% positivity rate among students or staff at the end of a one-week period (Friday-Thursday).
• Students and staff members who are not feeling well should remain home. Illness procedures are not changing.
• The District will continue to offer free COVID-19 testing for staff and students who wish to receive a test.
• Per the federal mandate, students are required to wear an approved face covering while riding in a USD #261 bus or school vehicle.
• Please note the District does NOT require students or staff to receive the COVID-19 vaccine to attend school.

We believe these changes will allow our staff to best meet the academic and social emotional needs of all USD 261 students. As has been our practice, the District will continue to monitor the COVID-19 Response Plan and adjust as needed.

Change in Mask Protocol

Posted December 8, 2021

The District is constantly evaluating it's COVID Response Plan, and adjusting when appropriate. Recently, a COVID vaccine became available to children between the ages of 5-12. This now gives every child in the K-12 setting the option to receive the vaccine if their family so chooses. While we strongly encourage our families to explore this option, please note USD #261 is NOT mandating students receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Effective immediately, the District will no longer require visitors to wear masks when entering a USD #261 facility or attending an extra-curricular event. Visitors will be required to wear a mask in the following situations:

• Their child's school is under a temporary mask mandate.
• The District determines the number of positive COVID cases exceeds an identified threshold.
• Sedgwick County Health Department, KDHE, or the CDC implements a mask mandate.

Please note federal law requires all passengers on a school bus to wear a mask while being transported. The District continues to require students to wear a mask while riding in a USD #261 vehicle.

The District will continue to review it's COVID 19 Response Plan and communicate changes as they occur.

Operational Plan Update

Posted September 21, 2021

The District maintains weekly data on the impact of the COVID-19 virus to our students and staff, and this data is used to drive local decisions. On September 20th the board approved a plan to address individual buildings impacted by the COVID-19 virus. Effective immediately, students and staff within individual buildings will be required to wear a mask for a two-week period when one of the following data points is reached within their school.

• The building has a 5% positivity rate.
• The building has 10% or more of its students and staff quarantined in school or at home.

The decision to implement this policy will be based on data collected over a one week period (Thursday to Thursday).

Students and staff attending a school impacted by the mandate will be notified of the change by the end of the school week, and the mandate will go into effect on the following Monday. Data will be reviewed at the end of the two week cycle, and if the percentages drop below the identified threshold, students and staff will not be required to wear a mask within the building. Please note that if the percentages increase again, the mask mandate for the building will go back into effect for an additional two-week period. When a building is in a mask mandate, and masks are worn properly, students and staff will not be considered close contacts to a positive case, and will not be required to quarantaine.

Changes in Testing Practice

Posted September 17, 2021

Since the start of the 21-22 school year, the District has been able to provide free COVID 19 testing to our students who have been identified as a close contact or experiencing symptoms associated with the COVID 19 virus. However, due to the extensive workload this practice has placed on our staff, the District will no longer provide daily COVID 19 testing for students at each school. This change will take place immediately.

Effective Monday, September 20, the District will only offer drive through PCR testing at the District office, 1745 W Grand, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The number of tests performed at this location is limited, and students who wish to participate must sign up in advance.

If a student is identified as a close contact at school, s/he may continue to attend in person and participate in extracurricular activities if s/he:

• Properly wears a mask in school for 14 days.
• Receives a negative PCR test result daily for 7 days after contact.

We will continue to discuss and notify you of any changes to the USD 261 COVID Response Plan. Should you have additional questions, please call (316) 554-2200.

BOE Votes to Make Face Coverings Optional

Posted July 20, 2021

The safety and security of our students and staff is our highest priority, and the District is committed to providing the opportunity for every student to have a positive school experience. Recently, a committee composed of District staff, board of education members, and parents met and provided feedback on the District's COVID Response Plan for the 2021-22 school year. This committee will continue to meet throughout the school year and present their recommendations to the board.

On July 19, the Haysville Board of Education voted 7-0 to make face coverings optional, in all USD #261 facilities, effective July 20. When considering adjustments to the COVID Response Plan, the District will continue to evaluate data provided by Sedgwick County Health Department, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the CDC, as well as the social emotional needs of our students and staff.

As a District we are stronger together. The support and dedication from our staff and community are what continue to make Haysville Public Schools a great place for students.

We will continue to discuss and notify you of any changes to the USD 261 COVID Response Plan. Should you have additional questions, please call (316) 554-2200.