Remote Learning, Quarantining Big Part Of School Reopening Plan

MASSACHUSETTS — State education officials provided some information on what can be expected during certain COVID-19 scenarios under the current back-to-school plan, including how students and staff will be handled when COVID-19 symptoms appear and what could cause school and district closures.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on Friday sent a letter detailing "protocols for responding to COVID-19 scenarios in school, on the bus, or in community settings." The protocols, much like everything else right now, are subject to change based on federal health guidance.

DESE said daily vigilance will be key in getting students back into class — and keeping them there — in the fall. Families and staff will be expected to monitor themselves and students on a day-to-day basis and keep students home when they aren't feeling well. Masks continue to be touted as "the most important single measure to contain the spread of COVID-19."

Districts will have to blend a number of strategies together to be successful, according to DESE. Clear communication will be paramount.

"To support a culture of health and safety, schools must have robust and reliable ways to communicate with all families, students, teachers, and staff in order to send and receive key messages related to COVID-19," DESE said.

Schools will be expected to continue providing learning opportunities for children who have to quarantine or isolate. Districts have already been instructed to come up with plans for in-person, remote and hybrid learning.

The protocols say most people who test positive and have "relatively mild illness" will need to stay in self-isolation for at least 10 days. In addition to not displaying a fever for three days and showing improvement in symptoms, the person will need to be cleared by the local Board of Health or Community Tracing Collaborative.

If students or staff have any of the common COVID-19 symptoms and receive a negative test, they must be clear of symptoms to return to school. Schools must have a list of available testing sites.

If someone has symptoms or close exposure to someone with COVID-19 and is not tested, they must remain home for 14 days.

Families of elementary school students will be told of a positive COVID-19 test without identifying the student. They will be encouraged to get their students tested, and if no test is had, those students should remain home for 14 days.

Families of middle and high school students will be made aware of a positive COVID-19 test if their students are deemed a close contact by way of assigned seating charts.

Any area of the school that a student who tests positive for COVID-19 has been, must be cleaned and disinfected.

Bus drivers and monitors will need to be trained to identify symptoms of students on the bus. In the case of a symptomatic student, the driver must ensure every student keeps their masks on and socially distances from the symptomatic student.

A student who does have symptoms should be kept in a medical waiting room until their parents of guardians can pick them up.

If there are multiple COVID-19 cases in a school at one time, or a number of cases in a short period of time, officials must determine whether it is spreading in the school. A decision will be made whether to close school for a few days for extensive cleaning or partially or fully close school for the 14-day quarantine period. School officials must work with local health officials in these instances, and the superintendent must work with DESE.

In case of school or district closures, remote learning must be immediately made available.

See a more detailed list of the protocols listed below.