• After reviewing CDC and DPI guidelines regarding Covid-19, the School District of Ashland staff and students will follow the following recommendations:

    1. Stay home when ill

      1. If experiencing symptoms that may indicate a Covid-19 infection, it is recommended to stay home and test for Covid-19. This helps to prevent the spread of Covid-19 as well as other communicable illnesses like Influenza and Norovirus.

      2. If experiencing a fever of 100.0F or higher, individuals must be fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications before returning to school/work.

      3. If experiencing vomiting or diarrhea, individuals must be free of vomiting and diarrhea for at least 24 hours before returning to school/work.

      4. Covid-19 testing will not be required to return to school/work, though Covid-19 testing is recommended if symptomatic.

    2. If an individual tests positive for Covid-19, they should contact their local public health nurse to discuss when they are able to resume normal activities. 

      1. Parents should notify their child’s teacher of when they will return to school as well as excuse their child for the days of school that will be missed.

      2. Staff should notify their direct supervisor and enter absences into Frontline.

      3. Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate for at least five days from symptom onset or five days from positive test date if asymptomatic. If they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and they have been fever-free for 24 hours, they may return to school/work after Day 5 (on Day 6 with Day 0 being day of test or onset of symptoms).

        1. Must wear mask through day 10 of isolation period

      4. If a household member tests positive for COVID-19, it’s recommended that asymptomatic individuals wear masks when at school/work.  

    3. Masks will be optional for the 2022-2023 school year.

      1. If an individual chooses to wear a mask at any time, they will be supported in their decision to do so. 

      2. Mask use will be recommended at high Covid-19 community level.

        1. SDA will send out communication when Ashland county is at high Covid-19 community level

    4. No contact tracing

      1. The SDA will not conduct contact tracing or send out communications notifying parents/staff of possible exposures.  

      2. If your child is medically vulnerable and you’d like notification when there is a positive case in their classroom, please contact the school health office.

      3. SDA will continue to work with public health officers and will encourage parents to keep their children home if ordered to do so by public health.

      4. School health offices will no longer track positive Covid-19 cases or exposed individuals.

    5. No cohorts/social distancing 

      1. Not necessary when no longer contact tracing or quarantining close contacts.

    6. SDA will continue to promote other prevention strategies.

      1. Optimize ventilation and improve indoor air quality

      2. Teach and reinforce proper handwashing to lower risk of spreading viruses

        1. Before eating, after eating, after recess, after coughing/sneezing/touching face

        2. Encourage use of soap and water

          1. Provide hand sanitizer if water is unavailable

      3. Teach and reinforce covering coughs and sneezes

      4. Cleaning and disinfecting classrooms, materials, and surfaces if an outbreak occurs

      5. Provide home tests for staff, students, and their immediate family members through the DHS school testing program

        1. Tests have been ordered.

        2. Communication will be sent to staff and students when more information is available

    7. Encourage individuals to stay up to date on vaccinations

      1. SDA will work with public health officers to host vaccination clinics in school buildings for influenza and Covid-19

      2. SDA health office staff will connect staff, students, and families to off-site vaccination locations

    8. SDA may decide to implement additional prevention strategies if necessary.

      1. All information above is subject to change per CDC, DHS, and DPI guidelines.