As you may be aware, our state and our community are experiencing a surge of COVID-19 cases. The District School Board of Pasco County is no different. There has been a significant increase in the number of cases based on those that are being tested. District staff has been working over the past week on revised protocols and precautions in an effort to keep our students and employees as safe and healthy as possible.
The Florida Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, a new law recently prohibiting school districts from requiring vaccines to attend school. Additionally, the district is prohibited from requiring face masks to attend school. With that said, masks remain optional for students. We are strongly encouraging all district employees to wear face masks until the infection rate decreases to below five percent. The infection rate reportedly is above 20 percent.
At this time, some protocols remain unchanged, while some have been revised. It is our goal to find the right balance between safeguarding the health of our students and employees while making the school and work experience as close to normal as possible. District staff will continue to monitor this situation and provide further guidance as appropriate. In the meantime, please continue to wear a mask, use hand sanitizer, wash hands regularly and socially distance, where and when possible.
If summary, if a student has symptoms, they should not go to school. If they do not have symptoms, they should be in school.
*Circumstances regarding COVID-19 and the variants are rapidly changing, and our school district protocols, and guidance may be updated as circumstances change.
Health and Wellness
- Masks are optional in Pasco County Schools, but strongly encouraged for employees. The CDC continues to recommend the use of masks. Since CDC guidance is subject to change, we recommend visiting the CDC website for the latest guidance. If you need a mask, please ask your school nurse or clinic assistant so one can be provided.
- All district employees, students, visitors, and volunteers will conduct a health self-screenerprior to reporting to work or school each day. The screeners are posted at the top of each school website.
- Employees and students will be encouraged to practice social distancing when and where possible.
- Teachers are encouraged to arrange the classroom environment to allow for adequate space between students to the extent possible.
Positive Test – Students
- Students who test positive must report their status to the school administrator and/or school nurse.
- The student may return to school when one of the following conditions are met:
- Upon receiving a negative diagnostic COVID-19 test and is asymptomatic;
- 10 days have passed since the onset of symptoms or the positive test result, the student has had no fever for 24 hours and the student’s other symptoms are improving;
- The student has received written permission to return to school from a medical doctor or an advanced registered nurse.
Exposed – Student, vaccinated or unvaccinated
- Students should continue to use self-screener.
- Highly recommend wearing a mask for 10 calendar days after exposure.
- If a student develops symptoms, the student should stay home and if possible, get tested. Student must stay home while awaiting test results.
Communication
- The COVID-19 Daily Report will be updated on the district website each school day. It will report the number of daily confirmed COVID-19 cases among students and staff. Parents are encouraged to review the Daily Report to stay up to date regarding COVID-19 cases at their student’s school.
- At the elementary school level, parents will be notified of a possible exposure when someone in their child’s class tests positive.
Curriculum and Instruction
- The Learning from Home Resource site is still available to support students and families in continuing learning while they may be away from school.
Testing
- Nomie Health Testing Site @ Land O Lakes District Complex parking lot, 7227 Land O Lakes Blvd. Land O’Lakes, Fl 34637. Hours 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- Pre-registration is recommended but not required at this link. Enter zip code 34638 and select SCHOOL BOARD OF PASCO COUNTY.
- Additional testing sites can be found at this link. Please be aware that not all testing sites offer 30-minute results.
Please submit any additional COVID questions at this link. Updated COVID-19 Protocols can be found at this link. Thank you all, we know this is not what we wanted for the new year 2022, but with everyone working together to mitigate COVID-19 we will reduce the spread.
