Home quarantine for days 1-5, if feasible test on day 5.

“Test to Stay”* for days 1-5; OR

Home quarantine for days 1-10 

Students, teachers & staff should monitor for symptoms throughout the quarantine period (days 1 through 10). Day “0” is the day of last close contact with any COVID-19 positive student, teacher, or staff. If symptoms develop, get tested.

Had confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days

Are up to date on all recommended COVID-19 vaccines for which they are eligible

These contacts should still conduct symptom monitoring for 10 days from the date of last exposure.

Students, teachers & staff who test positive for COVID-19 and/or display COVID-19 symptoms should isolate regardless of vaccination status:

If asymptomatic, monitor for symptoms for days 0 – 10; and

Isolate at home for days 0 – 5 (day “0” is day symptoms begin or day test was taken for those without symptoms); and

If symptoms have improved or no symptoms developed, return to school, while wearing a well-fitted mask, for days 6 -10; or

Stay home for days 0 - 10.

If you have a fever, stay home until you are fever-free for a period of 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.

You quarantine when you might have been exposed to COVID-19. This is because you might become infected with COVID-19 and could spread COVID-19 to others.

You isolate when you are already infected with COVID-19 and have tested positive, even if you do not have symptoms. Isolation is used to separate people who are infected with
COVID-19 from those who are not infected.

HCS recommends Test to Stay beginning on day 2 following exposure, if possible, and continue on day 4 and day 6 (every other day). There is some preliminary evidence that
the incubation period (time to infection after exposure) of the Omicron variant is shorter.

Those who are exposed, not up to date on vaccines, and do not elect a Test to Stay option may test on day 5 or day 6 and return on day 6 if negative (standardization for 1st
and 2nd test dates on MDHHS infographic)

Note that MDHHS guidance includes a Pfizer booster vaccination for those 12-17 years 5 months after completion of the Pfizer primary series when defining what qualifies as up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines; i.e., if eligible and not boosted, and exposure occurs, the individual should follow “Not Up to Date on Vaccines” options in the MDHHS infographic

Note that MDHHS guidance includes a booster vaccination if eligible for those aged 18 years or older when defining what qualifies as up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines; i.e., if
eligible and not boosted, and exposure occurs, the individual should follow “Not Up to Date on Vaccines” options in the MDHHS infographic

In April 2021, KPS committed to mask wearing for everyone in all district buildings and on district buses until at least the end of first trimester. The mask mandate was extended through the end of the second trimester. This mandate will be re-evaluated in February to see if it will stay in place through the end of the school year. Masks should be well-fitting. 

Students are assigned to seats on buses when possible. Bus drivers have a cleaning protocol to disinfect buses between routes and other times when possible.
In the morning, students who board the bus and refuse to wear a mask should be offered a mask once and if they continue to refuse they should sit in a single seat at the front of the bus. The principal will set up a meeting with the student and his or her parent. The student will be prohibited from riding the bus until they agree to comply with masking protocols. At dismissal, students should leave the building wearing a mask before they board the bus home. Young students who aren’t picked up at their bus stop will be returned to the school building they attend to reduce exposure.

Volunteers, outside agencies, and vendors that are in the building working with students are expected to confirm they have been vaccinated. They will sign in and out to provide ease of contact tracing. Only essential visitors with an appointment will be allowed in school buildings.  If KPS requires a background check for services, then proof of vaccination is required. 

Limit and monitor the number of visitors in KPS schools and require proof of vaccination and masking for all people visiting school buildings.  

Events that include attendees outside of KPS students or staff will be limited to fewer than 100 people for the month of January.

Events that include attendees outside of KPS students or staff will be limited to less than 100 people for the month of January. Schools will be making decisions about scheduled events. Some events may be postponed or held remotely, while others will continue with limited capacity. High school athletic events will not be allowing spectators during the month of January. The district will revisit this decision for February.

To the extent possible. When appropriate instructionally, PK-5th grade students will remain with a pod of students all day. This pod is typically a homeroom. If students from homerooms are commingled this will be documented for contact tracing purposes. Pods or homerooms may travel between teachers. Seating charts will be used to facilitate contact tracing and reduce exposure. 

Students, teachers, and staff should stay home when they have signs of any infectious illness and be referred to their healthcare provider for testing and care. Each morning parents are expected to screen their children for illness. Remember, safety begins at home. Students and staff who are experiencing the following symptoms are required to stay home: Cough, temperature of 100.4° or higher, chills, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, new loss of taste or smell, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, nasal congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea. If an unvaccinated child is exposed at home, they must quarantine before returning to school.

In the event of a positive COVID-19 case in a school setting, it is important to determine the direct close contacts and the date of the onset of symptoms. Please call your child’s shcool and have them complete the positive covid form. Consultation with the health department is required. 

Individuals identified as close contacts will receive a personal phone call from the school or district nurse. The entire school community will receive an email message.

Close contacts are defined as someone within three feet (measured head to head) for 15 minutes or more within a 24-hour period. 

Students that are required to quarantine will have access to asynchronous learning activities consistent with previous sick protocols. These will be excused absences. Consistent with previous sick protocols, all assignments, links, materials, and due dates should be available to students and families throughout their quarantine (i.e. Google Classroom). 6th-12th grade students should all have district-issued Chromebook devices. K-5 students that do not have a KPS device at home can request one from their school's “To Go” cart. 

• Upon return to the classroom, students should be given time to demonstrate the proficiency of the work that was missed while they were quarantined. Teachers may also excuse assignments, provide extensions, or delay assessments in order to promote student success. The extension of time for work to be completed also applies to the end of the trimester. 

• Attempts will be made to provide remote tutoring services to support students. 

• When a group of students (typically a homeroom in a K-5 building) has to be sent home for remote instruction, the school will issue Chromebooks to each student. The teacher will log in at the typical start of the school day and discuss the calendar and timelines for instruction. Teachers are expected to have a Google Classroom with a meeting link readily available for families and students so they can quickly convert to remote instruction if need be. Each elementary school will have “To Go” Chromebook carts available to distribute Chromebooks to students in K-5th grade if their classroom is converted to remote learning.

KPS works in close consultation with the Health Department to determine when classrooms, schools, or the district need to convert to remote instruction. 

Not at this time. 

Students, families and employees may go to ANY location that is offering the vaccine. To find a location you can check here, call 1-800-232-0233 or text your zip code to 438829. Some local locations include:

Family Health Center

Kalamazoo County Health Department or call (269) 373-5200

OptiMed

Meijer

Walmart

CVS

RiteAid

Walgreens

The CDC defined “fully vaccinated” in a recent press release as someone who has had both vaccines and the booster, if the second vaccine was more than six months ago.

At-home rapid COVID-19 antigen tests are now available and can be purchased over-the-counter in grocery stores and pharmacies. KPS has ordered at-home kits to send home for families. As soon as they are received additional information will be provided on how to obtain an at-home test kit from KPS. 

KPS is participating in a pilot program called Test-to-Stay. This program is being implemented in response to requests by parents who have been burdened by quarantine requirements as well as the district’s desire to keep students in school when possible. The Test-to-Stay pilot program allows unvaccinated students and adults to receive antigen tests at school after a school-based exposure. Students will need to have a signed permission slip to participate. An antigen test will be administered at school after a school-based exposure. They can continue to stay at school as long as the tests are negative.

The Test-to-Stay pilot program allows unvaccinated students and adults to receive antigen tests at school after a school-based exposure. Students will need to have a signed permission slip to participate. They will receive antigen tests at school after a school-based exposure. They can continue to stay at school as long as the tests are negative. We have received a limited supply of antigen tests to launch the pilot program and additional tests were ordered months ago.  Due to the national supply chain issues with testing kits, the district may not be able to implement this with fidelity. 

Yes. A permission slip must be completed by a legal guardian before a minor student can receive an antigen test at school. 

You isolate when you are already infected with COVID-19 and have tested positive, even if you do not have symptoms. Isolation is used to separate people who are infected with COVID-19 from those who are not infected.

You quarantine when you might have been exposed to COVID-19. This is because you might become infected with COVID-19 and it could spread to others.

The number of days someone should isolate or quarantine is determined by a number of factors. A healthcare provider will provide guidance if a staff or student has a school-based transmission. Fully vaccinated, asymptomatic individuals do not need to quarantine if they have been exposed.