COVID-19 protocols for 2022-23 school year
Aug. 22, 2022
Dear parents, guardians and members of the community,
As we begin our fourth school year affected by COVID-19, the situation in Elizabeth School District is the best it has been since the beginning of the pandemic. However, that does not mean the threat is gone: New variants of the virus continue to develop and circulate, so we must continue to be as prepared as we can be.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recommend that we all continue to evolve our approach to treat COVID-19 like other infectious diseases such as influenza and the common cold. COVID is here to stay, but thanks to vaccines and other medical treatments – as well as a number of preventative measures each of us can take – it can be a manageable threat. The Elbert County Health Department offers free COVID-19 vaccines for all ages at 75 Ute Avenue in Kiowa. Call 720-595-3620 for hours and appointments.
The most important thing we can all do is stay home from school or work if we are not feeling well. The days of “my child doesn’t seem that sick” or “I think I can power through” ended when the pandemic started. Any signs of a fever should result in an individual remaining home until they have gone 24 hours without a fever.
If you or your child is exposed to COVID-19 at home, the CDC and CDPHE recommend avoiding contact with the source of the exposure as much as possible as well as monitoring symptoms. Any person with signs of COVID-like symptoms (cough, fever, loss of smell or taste, etc.) should isolate at home until the symptoms subside.
If we want to keep our schools open and fully operational – as we did all of last year – we must continue to work together as a community and STAY HOME if we are not feeling well. Please note, too, that giving children fever reducer before school so they don’t appear to have symptoms puts their classmates and teachers at an unnecessary risk.
The district nurse’s webpage has guidance for students and staff members who test positive as well as if someone else at home tests positive, including when to test and how long to stay home in different scenarios.
If you have any questions, please contact your child’s school.
All schools currently are well stocked with tests that you can have for free. Even if you’re somewhat unsure whether someone needs to test, feel free to ask for tests at your school’s office. Please also note that at this point in the pandemic, you might have tests at home that have expired. The Food and Drug Administration has determined that tests can have extended expiration dates. This article contains links to help you look up the extended expiration date for the brand of test you have.
We’re turning the corner on COVID, and we still have a few extra things we need to consider when it comes to exposure and symptoms. But the first step is the most straightforward: Stay home.
Thank you for your continued vigilance in keeping our schools as safe and healthy as possible. If we all work together, we can minimize the effects of COVID-19, move even closer to normal, and have a great 2022-23 school year.
Sincerely,
William Dallas, Ph.D.
Interim Superintendent