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Weekly Update
Rooks County School Districts’ Update - September 24, 2021
Flexible - According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, flexible is: characterized by a ready capability to adapt to new, different, or changing requirements. This term applies to not only our school districts but also our families who are impacted by COVID-19. Several schools in our county had to make quick decisions and be ready to adapt to certain situations brought upon by the coronavirus. Our districts appreciate the support of our families and the Rooks County Health officials as we all work together to keep our students and staff safe and healthy. Thank you for helping us make this happen. As always, please reach out to an administrator in your school district if you have any questions.
We currently have 16 active cases of COVID-19 in the county and three individuals in the hospital. Rooks County has a two-week positivity rate of 15.8% as of 9/18/2021.
Staff and students in grades 6-12 who have been identified as close contact with a positive COVID case will have two options. They will be able to complete their time in quarantine at home or they will be able to utilize one of the KDHE strategies to potentially return to school sooner. Strategies the districts are currently reviewing include: “Test to Know”, “Test to Stay”, and “Test to Play”.
The “Test to Know” gives staff and students the option to take a rapid test if he/she is having symptoms and would like to know if he/she is positive for COVID-19. The “Test to Stay” and “Test to Play” is for students and staff who have been identified as close contact and are required to be in quarantine. In this situation, students and staff will be able to take a rapid test if he/she so chooses. If they test negative, they will be able to remain in school and participate in extracurricular activities if they wear a mask.
The following paragraphs provide additional information about the options available. If you have any questions, please reach out to your district’s administrators.
Option 1
Staff and/or parents of students have the choice of getting a rapid antigen test. This rapid antigen test will show results in 15 minutes. There is no cost for this test. This is an OPTIONAL test with parental consent. Staff and/or students will be tested daily during the quarantine period. If the antigen test is positive, the student or staff member must stay home and the health department will be notified.
If the antigen test is negative, the student or staff member may return to school for in-person learning and may participate in extracurricular activities and school-based events as long as they are asymptomatic. Masks will be required during this time frame. Our county health department requests that staff and/or students continue the community quarantine outside of school hours/activities.
Option 1 (continued)
Staff and students may qualify for “modified quarantine”. This option will likely be available at the elementary level. In this situation, testing will NOT be required. However, masks WILL be required.
Option 2
For those students and/or staff who do not want the antigen test, they must complete the required quarantine as set by our county health department and KDHE.
Each district has spent a great deal of time developing their own guidelines regarding how the procedures will be conducted. No tests will be given without prior consent from the parent/guardian.
