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Safe School Start-Up FAQs & Resources
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How will my school manage potential exposure to COVID-19 while my children are on campus for in-person learning?
Throughout the district’s schools and buildings, strategies and processes will be implemented to support a safe and healthy learning and working environment. These will include:
- Daily health screenings and temperature checks prior to entry to facility. Individuals that show symptoms of illness at school will be isolated and sent home. Individuals that are ill or that have been exposed to the virus must not come to campus or school.
- Use of personal protective equipment. Wearing of masks/face coverings/shields by everyone and barriers between people needing close contact.
- Physical distancing wherever possible. Signage, distance markers and one-way zones to direct flow of people and minimize close contacts. Designated one-way entrances and exits. Staggered schedules. Seating spaced 6 feet apart.
- Students and staff will function within a designated class cohort (group) with minimal mixing of groups.
- Frequent hand washing and use of sanitizing stations. Everyone is encouraged to use good hygiene practices when coughing or sneezing and touching surfaces and equipment.
- Ample building cleaning and sanitation measures, emphasizing disinfection of high-touch areas. High performance air filters and extra ventilation when possible.
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What are student and parent responsibilities for managing potential exposure to COVID-19?
Everyone has a role in helping to stop the spread of COVID-19. While you are off campus, having fewer, shorter interactions and limited gatherings with required public safety measures in place (masks, physical distance) will lesson your exposure to COVID-19 and the chance that you or your child(ren) may get sick or expose someone else while at school. Follow current WA Dept. of Health guidance and take advantage of public resources. Conduct daily health checks and take extra good care of yourself and your family.
COVID-19 Fact Sheet for Families
Masks are required at school and recommended by the Dept. of Health and CDC as a simple step to help prevent respiratory droplets emitted during coughing, sneezing, and talking from being transmitted into the air, onto surfaces and to other people. Masks reduce and/or prevent the spray of droplets when worn over the nose and mouth.
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What are staff responsibilities for managing potential exposure to COVID-19?
VSD staff receive training on the health and safety standards and various requirements directed by state and local agencies to be implemented during in-school learning. Staff must comply with all health and safety requirements, and will work with students to understand and follow these at school, just like the regular guidelines and rules included in student handbooks each year.
VSD administrators work in conjunction with Northeast Tri County Health District recommendations and protocols, and other state agency directives (WA Dept. of Health, Dept. of Labor & Industries, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction). Each school has a plan and processes in place for responding to incidents of COVID-19 exposure and any potential or confirmed cases.
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How do I perform a home health screening for COVID-19 symptoms or other symptoms of illness? Does the health screening need to be done every day?
Always be aware of your family members’ health conditions. Encourage your children and family members to self-monitor and be responsible for their own good health and to promptly let someone know when they feel ill.
For early identification and containment, each day use a thermometer to check your child’s temperature and visually evaluate their health for signs/symptoms of illness.
Ask and answer the NE Tri County Health District recommended daily health screening questions (NETCHD checklist), which are also stated on the “golden ticket” and magnet provided to each family. If you must answer yes to any question, keep your student(s) at home and contact the school for guidance on the next steps.
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What is the “attestation” form and why do I have to do it?
State agency guidelines require all staff, students, and visitors to be screened for COVID-19 symptoms and exposure before or upon entering a school building. To facilitate quick entry to school and bypass the on-site screening process, parents may conduct the health screening at home before school each day and provide a written statement – the daily health screening attestation form, which VSD refers to as the ”golden ticket” – that the child meets the conditions for safe entry to school.
Early detection through daily health screenings will alert families and school staff of illness; minimize possible transmission of or exposure to the virus at school; and assist schools and local health agencies in supporting everyone involved by effectively responding to any potential or confirmed COVID-19 case.
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What will happen if my child forgets to bring the attestation form to school?
At school entry points, staff will conduct a health screening of students, which will include taking their temperature, asking questions, and visually assessing the child’s health condition. If there are any indications of illness, the student will be isolated, and a parent will be contacted to pick up their child as soon as possible.
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Should I keep my child home if he/she has a slight fever but it is under 100.4° F?
If an elevated temperature is unusual for the child and the child is not feeling well, keep him/her home and monitor for other symptoms. If the child’s health condition worsens, call your licensed healthcare practitioner for further advice on the need for an appointment or COVID-19 test.
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Who do I notify if my child has a health condition that means he/she cannot wear a mask while at school or on the bus as required? Can I file a form to get an exemption?
VSD must abide by NETCHD guidance on providing mask medical exemptions to students, which is explained in detail in this statement written by Health Officer Dr. Sam Artzis. It’s anticipated very few students will meet the criteria for an exemption, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis:
- Children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
- Children with behavioral conditions or other sensory sensitivities, such as autism spectrum disorder.
- Children considered high-risk by their healthcare provider due to an immunocompromised state such as cancer or cystic fibrosis.
In rare circumstances when a cloth face covering cannot be worn in school, an approved clear face shield may be used as an alternative. If it is determined the student is unable to safely wear a mask or face shield, then remote learning and/or some other accommodation may be appropriate. Parents wishing to discuss their child’s situation may contact the school administrator.
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Are parents, family members or visitors allowed inside the school building?
Entry to school facilities will be limited to those persons with immediate and legitimate educational or business purposes that cannot be handled via telephone, email or video conference.
The district follows Dept. of Health and NETCHD guidance to conduct a health screening for anyone entering a VSD building and disallow entry of an individual that does not meet the conditions for safe entry. All persons should expect to be screened for COVID-19 symptoms or exposure.
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When is the school and/or classroom cleaned and disinfected?
A Cleaning & Maintenance Plan is a required part of the district’s Reopening Plan (Section 5.6) and follows NETCHD Guidelines. All frequently occupied areas of facilities are comprehensively cleaned, then sanitized/disinfected during after-business hours each day. During the day, custodial staff clean and disinfect high-use and high-touch areas at regular intervals. Cleaning/disinfecting protocols are responsive to the needs of the school at any given time.
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What should I do and who should I notify if my child or someone living in our household is experiencing COVID-like symptoms while at home?
Anyone who is sick should stay home (except to get medical care) and keep away from others in the household. Do not go out in public. Monitor symptoms. If there is a health emergency, contact 911 and tell personnel about COVID-19 symptoms.
Call your child’s school promptly to report the situation and the child’s health condition and reason for the absence. As warranted, school staff will collect and evaluate information, advise of next steps and/or provide written guidance, conduct contact tracing at school, and communicate with NETCHD.
Call your healthcare provider to get the ill individual tested for COVID-19 or visit one of the local testing locations.
Seek out more information:
What to do if you have COVID-19 symptoms but have not been around anyone diagnosed with COVID-19
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What should I do and who should I notify if my child or someone living in our household is identified as a close contact with someone (outside of school) who has COVID-19?
Stay home and away from others for 14 days from the day of last known contact. Monitor health for potential symptoms.
Call your child’s school promptly to report the situation and the child’s health condition and reason for being absent. As warranted, school staff will collect and evaluate information, advise of next steps, conduct contact tracing at school, and communicate with NETCHD.
Seek out more information:
COVID-19 School Basic Flow Chart
What to do if you were potentially exposed to someone with COVID-19
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What should I do and who should I notify if my child or someone living in our household has tested positive for COVID-19, or has confirmed they are sick with COVID-19?
Call your child’s school promptly to report the situation and the child’s health condition. School staff will collect and evaluate information, advise of next steps, conduct contact tracing at school as warranted, and communicate with NETCHD.
Isolate a sick individual and stay home except to get medical care. All family members potentially exposed should self-quarantine for the recommended amount of time. Monitor everyone’s health for potential symptoms, and get medical help quickly if symptoms (difficulty breathing) get worse.
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What is the difference between “isolation” and “quarantine”?
ISOLATION is what you do if you have COVID-19 symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19. Isolation means you stay home and away from others (including household members) for the recommended period of time to avoid spreading illness.
QUARANTINE is what you do if you have been exposed to COVID-19. Quarantine means you stay home and away from others for the recommended period of time in case you are infected and are contagious. Quarantine becomes isolation if you later test positive for COVID-19 or develop its symptoms.
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What will happen if a student shows symptom of illness at school?
To mitigate risk of transmission of a potential case of COVID-19, a student with any COVID-like symptom will be escorted to a special, separate isolation room, and parents are notified to pick-up and take their child home at the earliest time possible. The student will remain in the isolation room and will be monitored and cared for by a trained adult.
In cases of ill students, staff will track and identify potential close contacts. If the school receives communication that an ill student has tested positive for COVID-19, the school’s COVID Response protocols will be followed and an administrator will notify NETCHD. Notifications to affected parties will be sent at the earliest time possible via phone, email and/or letter.
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What will happen if an individual in my child’s classroom or cohort has tested positive for COVID-19?
School staff will initiate the COVID Response protocol, including identifying any close contacts, notifying all affected staff and students/families, providing resources for families and staff, and cordoning off affected areas for cleaning, sanitizing/disinfecting.
Depending on the extent of COVID infection rates in the classroom and/or school, decisions will be made by the lead administrators in coordination with NETCHD about cancellation of class or closure of school(s) and a return to remote learning for a period of time.
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When can my child return to in-person learning at school if we have been notified as being potentially exposed, or if my child is sick?
VSD abides by the NETCHD return-to-school guidance, and timelines vary depending on the circumstances and factors involved, such as the date of last known contact, whether a student has been tested and the results of a test, and whether the student or household member becomes ill with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19. School staff will collect information, evaluate the situation, communicate with parents and provide an estimated date for return to school if the student’s health condition is improving and the recommended 10-14 day quarantine or isolation periods have been observed.
