Community Update - September 21, 2021

Dear Annville-Cleona School District Parent(s)/Guardian(s):

After hearing community input at the board meeting last night and through subsequent board discussions that take into consideration information from our physicians and solicitors, the district has developed the following process for assessing students with regards to COVID.  

Based on the information we have examined, the district will continue to recommend families follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines; however, the district will no longer require students or staff who are not exhibiting symptoms to be quarantined from school.  

Linked here is a flow chart that outlines CDC Guidance for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.  This flow chart will be what the district recommends families follow; however, unless a student or staff member is exhibiting symptoms, we are unable to require them to quarantine.

Thus, while we will continue to recommend families follow CDC Guidance, we will defer back to our original flow chart, dated August 19, 2021 (linked here) when determining if a student or staff member is required to quarantine.  This flow chart takes into account if a student or staff member is in close contact with a COVID positive individual, but does not exhibit symptoms, he/she should monitor for symptoms, but may continue to come to school.

Since this flow chart requires families to identify possible COVID symptoms, linked here is the at-home symptom screener that should be done by students every day before coming to school as a reminder of what to look for when determining if your child should come to school that day.  As a community, we have a social responsibility to keep ourselves and others safe.  We all need to do our part by keeping students who are exhibiting symptoms at home until the symptoms are gone, a negative test is provided, or a physician clears the student to return.

There has been a lot of discussion regarding instruction for students who are exhibiting symptoms and have been quarantined but are feeling well enough to continue to learn.  As soon as the school nurse or building principal is made aware that a student is quarantined, a cyber bound instructor will be assigned.  This cyber bound instructor will reach out to the student and parent to arrange for a time to Zoom with the student to ensure they have all of the necessary resources from their classes.  The cyber bound instructor will also help answer any questions, provide some direct instruction, and coordinate any additional assistance the student may need from the classroom teacher (if the cyber bound instructor is not already the student’s classroom teacher).  Since this is a new process and there are times when the school is unaware that the student is exhibiting symptoms and staying home, it is imperative for you to reach out to the building principal and the building principal will ensure cyber bound instruction is established within 24 hours of that notification.

There is a lot of change happening every day and the district is working hard to meet the needs of all our families while still maintaining a safe, in-person learning environment.  Please continue to have patience and communicate with us as we work through each change together.  If you have any questions or concerns about the information contained in this letter, please feel free to contact me.

Professionally,