COVID Protocols and Procedure Updates, August 2022
Masks
Henry County Public Schools will remain mask optional for students, staff, and guests on buses and in school facilities. Masking will NOT be required on school grounds, in individual classrooms, or on school buses in Henry County.
Testing
On-site COVID testing that was available through Test-to-Stay will no longer be available. Last year, Test-to-Stay was funded by the state and that funding expired on June 30, 2022. However, we can send test kits home with symptomatic students, while our supplies last.
Quarantine
Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will self-isolate from school or work for five days after the start of their symptoms or the positive test result date. On day six, if fever-free for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever reducing medication) and symptoms are resolving, students and staff should return to school or work. We recommend those individuals wear a mask for an additional five days upon their return.
If an individual tests positive with a home test, but then tests negative via a PCR test result from a healthcare provider, they can return to school or work before the end of the five-day period if fever-free for at least 24 hours (without the use of medication).
Contact Tracing
Beginning last spring, we stopped conducting contact tracing in our schools and no longer required quarantines for those exposed to COVID-19. However, we do recommend that individuals with a direct home exposure attempt to isolate away from the COVID-positive individual in the home and monitor themselves for symptoms. Should symptoms develop following an exposure, the individual should begin isolation and a COVID test is recommended.
Athletes who have tested positive must still complete the KHSAA Return to Play process before returning for athletic practice and competition. In some cases, a primary care physician (PCP) may waive the Return To Play process, but that would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the student-athlete’s PCP. Consult our athletic director for more details.
Need Assistance?
School nurses and or health services assistants are available at each school to address specific questions and offer assistance as needed.
Please Note: All policies are subject to change.
COVID and Absences
The way the schools handle COVID and attendance will be different this year. On-site COVID testing provided through Test-to-Stay will no longer be available. Last year, Test-to-Stay was funded by the state and that funding expired on June 30, 2022. However, we can send test kits home with symptomatic students, while our supplies last.
Student absences will no longer be exempt due to COVID. If an individual tests positive with a home test, that student who tests positive will receive doctor’s excuses for the school days affected by the up-to-five consecutive days required to quarantine. Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will self-isolate from school or work for five days after the start of their symptoms or the positive test result date. On day six, if fever-free for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever reducing medication) and symptoms are resolving, students and staff should return to school or work. If still not feeling well or not symptom free, the student should see a doctor for additional care and excuses.
If, during the five-day quarantine for a home test, the student is feeling better and wishes to return to class early, he or she can do so with a negative PCR test result from a healthcare provider. The student can then return to school or work before the end of the five-day period if fever-free for at least 24 hours (without the use of medication).
Contact Tracing
Beginning last spring, we stopped conducting contact tracing in our schools and no longer required quarantines for those exposed to COVID-19. However, we do recommend that individuals with a direct home exposure attempt to isolate away from the COVID-positive individual in the home and monitor themselves for symptoms. Should symptoms develop following an exposure, the individual should begin isolation and a COVID test is recommended. Otherwise, exposure doesn’t excuse a student from school for this school year.
Parent Notes
Parent notes for a maximum of five absence events* per year will be accepted to allow for days when students cannot attend due to minor illness not requiring a doctor’s visit or other reasons. (*An event is three or fewer consecutive days out of school.) Use these absence event notes carefully since they must last all year for such absence reasons. A doctor can assign the student to home hospital with five or more consecutive days out of school (Home Hospital). Parents can also request a Physician Form for a Requested Extension of Parent Notes to Excuse Absences to allow a physician recommendation of additional parent notes for a long term medical condition requiring sporadic absent days (Parent Note Extension Request).
Attendance and Suspensions
An additional clarification in the discipline code could affect attendance as well. No pupil shall possess, use, be under the influence of, sell, or transfer alcoholic beverages, narcotics, drugs, controlled substances, mood altering substances (such as inhalants), or drug paraphernalia and/or assist another pupil in the receipt, sale, or transfer of them on school property, in any school vehicle, at any school-sponsored or sanctioned activity or event. A violation will result in no less than a five-day suspension from school. While traditional vapes are illegal to have in school, they are disciplined similar to nicotine (and not an automatic out-of-school suspension). The THC found in a delta 8 and delta 9 or other forms of dap pens (even if sold at commercial businesses) will, however, fall under drug and alcohol rules and result in five or more unexcused suspension days.