Nov 21
24
updated January 10, 2022, to reflect a shortened monitor and required mask wearing time from 14 days, to 10 days.
Monitor, Test, and Stay Protocol
Staff and students who are identified as a close contact have an option to continue attending school or work in a KPBSD school if they are symptom free from illness, and follow the new KPBSD Monitor, Test, and Stay Protocols.
Beginning Monday, November 29, 2021, staff and students who choose this option to stay at work or school need to wear a face covering for 14 days, test and have two negative COVID-19 test results (first day and day 5-7), and remain symptom free from illness.
UPDATED 1-10-22: Reduce 14 days to 10 days
MONITOR
Be symptom free from illness (asymptomatic) through Day 10, and isolate at home if symptoms develop
TEST
Two negative COVID-19 tests: Get an approved Covid-19 test on Day 1 or the first day of return to school, and a second test during Day 5-7. Covid-19 tests can be administered by KPBSD but will require parental consent
STAY
Wear a face covering in school at all times through Day 10. When close contacts cannot wear a face covering (i.e., when eating or drinking) they should maintain a minimum of 3 feet of distance from other individuals to every extent possible
Athletes: In addition to the above three protocols, to continue to participate in school sponsored co-curricular activities athletes must also continue Daily Symptom Check Protocols.
Unvaccinated close contacts should quarantine when not attending school or KPBSD sponsored activities.
When a student or staff member is identified as a close contact in a KPBSD setting, the school nurse, principal, or person who calls will explain the Monitor, Test, and Stay option. Staff and students who choose this option must do all three things—Monitor, Test, and Stay with face covering.
Close contacts with no symptoms of illness may also choose to follow CDC and State of Alaska reduced quarantine guidance:
- Stay home and test Day 5-7, return to school on Day 8, and wear a mask at school through Day 10
- Stay home through Day 10, return to school on Day 11
Message from Superintendent Clayton Holland
November 24, 2021
Dear KPBSD staff, students, and families,
The KPBSD has revised its protocols for close contact tracing and quarantine in response to the needs of our staff, students, families and communities. Students and staff who are identified as close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 positive individuals and who remain asymptomatic will not be required to quarantine and can attend school and school sponsored activities by following the new KPBSD Monitor, Test, and Stay Protocol.
Beginning Monday, November 29, 2021, staff and students will now have the option to stay in school if they wear a face covering for1410 days, test and have two negative COVID-19 test results (first day and day 5-7), and remain symptom free.
This change in protocol was developed after conversations and review of what other school districts in the state and nation are beginning to implement. In KPBSD, data shows close contacts at school led to very few additional cases within1410 days (less than 6%), and the determination that the existing plan put an undue burden on staff and parents, and led to too many students missing school. Additionally, we know that quarantining from school has not kept children from participating together in other non-KPBSD activities. We have had good success in the past two weeks piloting this process with nearly 100 students and staff in three schools. It will be important that we maintain integrity with our existing layered mitigation plans so that we limit the number of students and staff going through a close contact process.
In addition to free testing at schools, KPBSD is making available at-home COVID-19 tests that will be free for staff and families. At this time, any staff member who is concerned they may have been exposed to COVID-19, or who has symptoms, will be able to take home a test kit. These tests are available now for staff, and we hope to have enough supplies to offer these to any family that would like them by the time winter break begins. We are working with Soldotna Professional Pharmacy to provide free off campus testing by appointment for our staff and families, and have reached out to other providers to see if we can partner to offer free off campus testing in other locations across the Kenai Peninsula.
Clayton Holland,
Superintendent of Schools
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
LINKS
- Read the Letter from KPBSD Superintendent Holland about changes
- KPBSD Close Contact webpage or covid19.kpbsd.org
- Free COVID-19 vaccinations are available for everyone age 5 and older. Find a location near you: https://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/epi/id/pages/covid-19/VaccineAppointments.aspx
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