Derby schools update contact tracing guidelines | Derby News

Since the Derby School District was simply helping the county, the staff recommendation was to remove this contact tracing element from district protocols in line with Sedgwick County’s decision.

Bohaty noted that this will require parents to monitor their children and keep them out of school if they show symptoms of COVID, as these close contacts are now self-reported. Part of the guidelines note that while close contact tracing and associated quarantines are no longer in place, the general illness procedure outlined in the student handbook will be followed to help stay aware of any potential cases.

“If we ever saw a student or someone who was constantly sick or something at school, then I think that’s something we would deal with like we would with any other illness in the classroom” , Bohaty said.

With the removal of contact tracing guidelines, District close contact notifications will no longer be sent. Although close contacts are not actively tracked by the district, guidelines remain for any student or staff member who believes they are a close contact. It is recommended that these people wear a properly fitted mask, but if they do not have symptoms, they can stay at school work.

Director of Special Services Dawn Gresham noted that the policy changes move Derby State Schools from a ‘test to stay’ model to a ‘test to know’ model – eliminating the constant testing previously needed for close contacts stay in school after exposure. Gresham noted that this will take some of the stress out of testing and help preserve an increasingly limited amount of testing. She said it should also free up testing staff to help out more in district schools as needed.

Staff noted that while the district is no longer assisting with contact tracing, the COVID dashboard will remain to track active positive cases at Derby state schools.

The other main change adopted at the special meeting specifically addresses these positive cases and follows updated guidance from the Sedgwick County Health Department.

Isolation has been reduced from 10 days to five days for positive cases and those who test positive can return to school/work after five days while wearing a properly fitted mask – for an additional five days – as long as they have no fever (without the use of medication) for 24 hours before.

Antigen testing is also recommended on day six, but since the masking element remains regardless of positive or negative test results, some school board members questioned the need to include this testing element.

“Just for me with the shortage of tests, if people don’t have active symptoms if it doesn’t change their treatment, I hate wasting tests because we need them on symptomatic people,” said Jennifer Neel, Member of the Board of Directors.

Council member Matthew Joyce asked if this test item was included for funding purposes, which staff confirmed.

For those who test positive and do not want to wear a mask, they could return to school/work on day 11.

Regarding the testing and mask requirements in the policy updates, there was some uncertainty among board members about the need. Staff said they would check with the county for clarification and come back to the board to update protocols further if needed.

As difficult as the situation may be with the omicron variant pushing back cases, the board voted 7-0 to no longer help with contact tracing and update other protocols – seeing it as a way to keep more teachers. and students at school.

“We don’t want to send home good staff who could teach our children,” Neel said.

“I understand this places a huge burden on our staff who are trying to figure out where the close contacts went. I see an advantage in removing some of the close contacts. With the increase in positivity, it’s hard to say, “OK, let’s get rid of it,” said board member Tina Prunier. “The goal is to bring children who are not positive back to school.”