LPOSD updates COVID-19 guidelines
LPOSD COVID school guidelines for Fall 2021.
PONDERAY — Lake Pend Oreille School District is opening up schools as they detailed in their COVID-19 school guidelines for this fall.
Last year when a student tested positive for COVID, district policy called for them to stay home for 10 days and the school would do contact tracing of individuals that may then be at risk and those individuals would also have to isolate at home.
This fall the school board is changing their tune.
“[We aim] for the fewest disruptions of education as possible,” LPOSD superintendent Tom Albertson said.
This year if a student tests positive for COVID, Albertson said they will have to isolate at home for 10 days. After that the student can return to school if they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication.
If there is an exposure to COVID-19 in the household then after the positive person's last exposure date (of 10 days) the person that lives with them must quarantine at home for 10 days and can return after showing no signs or symptoms.
During the time of isolation the individual cannot attend school nor can they participate in school activities.
Albertson went on to say it is “best for parents to monitor their own students' health.”
If your student is feeling unwell, whether it is COVID-19 on any other illness, stay home, Albertson said. Educators are willing to work with the students and provide educational material and or packets to take home. Students will still have access to online teaching options this year.
If a student does test positive for COVID-19 or any other illness and has to isolate only those persons with direct responsibility for the care of the student or the determining appropriate educational accommodations will be informed of the specific nature of the condition only if it is determined there is a need for such individual to know this information.
The policy further reads “in all proceedings related to this policy, the district shall respect the student’s right to privacy.”
Attendance at school may be denied to any child diagnosed as having a contagious or infectious disease that could make the child’s attendance harmful to the welfare of other students. The new policy is in place to protect children that are not ill and those that are immune-compromised, said Albertson.