Dear HBSD Families,
I hope that this icy Thursday finds you well. I know that the beginning of the year has been challenging in regard to COVID-19 whether that is from the illness itself, finding accurate information, or just the fatigue of the past two years. While I am not a medical professional, at all, I hope to provide some updated information as we work through this together at school. Below are some questions that I hear a lot:
1. *What are our latest numbers?*Oh, the numbers. When and how they are reported is changing and will continue to do so. We work with Alaska Public Health and SEARHC to gather what we can, but primarily we are working with families and staff members who keep us posted when school cases arise (which they have). We will carefully report any known cases of exposure at school by level as soon as possible. Things can change, but we seem to be stable in regard to both student and staff illness related absence
2. *What about isolation and quarantine requirements? Yes – those recently changed. We will follow requirements as outlined by Alaska Public Health which typically mirrors the CDC. Guidelines may change again and we will follow suit in order to keep our policies consistent with state and federal health guidance. If identified as a close-contact due to exposure to COVID outside of school, many factors in regard to quarantine are considered including exposure timelines, vaccine status, and if the exposed individual has tested positive for COVID previously. In school, since we are currently masking and distancing, your child will not be considered a close contact and quarantines will not be necessary for exposures that happen during the school day. When our risk level goes down and masks are optional, a “test to stay” protocol will be available for identified school close contacts. More information about that will come at a later date.
3. *Will you close school?*Our position has always been to protect the in-school learning environment for our students. Closely behind that priority is the importance of school activities. In addition to health and safety, the biggest two factors that we will be considering in regard to a school closure is the availability of staff as well as if COVID is more prevalent in school vs. the Haines community at large. Keeping school open is a shared responsibility and effort that has been very successful, due in large part to the unified efforts of everyone.
4. *What about the take home tests?*The take home tests (antigen tests) have been very good in identifying if someone is COVID positive. However, it may take longer for them to turn “positive” with the Omicron variant (even with symptoms). They are still an effective screening tool for asymptomatic student athletes/activities and staff testing since they happen on a regularly scheduled routine. They are also effective for travel, so long as two tests are taken 48 hours apart. They are available at no charge in the front office as well as by mail order by visiting www.covidtests.gov.
5. *If my child or I have symptoms who do I call?*Please let us know, but call the SEARHC clinic so they can perform a PCR test. Again, a negative at-home antigen test may not be accurate early on, even with symptoms. Positive at-home antigen test results seem to be very reliable but PCR tests seem to be picking up the new variant more quickly than the at-home tests do
6. *This testing all seems confusing – is there anything else I can do?*Probably one of the most underrated ways to check for COVID at home is by monitoring your child for fever or other symptoms before the school day. With symptoms, please keep your child home and call the clinic for a PCR test.
7. *Will this ever end?*I sure wish I had a crystal ball in order to answer that, but our past has shown that things will improve, sometimes dramatically. It is through those lessons that we hope to decrease mitigation efforts at the school when our risk levels go down and tighten them as necessary all while moving towards normalcy. In January it seems like July will never come, but somehow it always does.
I cannot say enough how thankful I am for your support and help as we work together for the children of Haines.
Yours in Education,
Roy Getchell