Kamiah Schools are currently planning for a safe return to school on 31 August 2020. All students and staff are asked to report to school at that time. We continue to plan for different scenarios that we may find ourselves in while maintaining a commitment to safety for all students and staff in the district. The ‘Return To Learn’ planning protocol is something that will be rooted in best practices found in local, state, and national guidance. Specifically, our decisions are informed by local health officials and other local governments with guidance from the Governor’s Office and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). When the health and safety of our students and/or staff are compromised, we will take the steps necessary to mitigate the threat.
Currently we are seeking public input using this survey.
Guidance for Schools from Idaho Board of Education here.
Guidance for Schools from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare can be found here.
Coordinate with your local public health district.
Contact your local public health district and we will work with you to determine a course of action
Begin identifying anyone who may have been in close contact with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case. Close contact is less than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes. While face coverings are believed to reduce the risk, they are not considered as protective for the purpose of identifying close contacts.
Collaborate with your local public health agency to determine the process for notifying close contacts and instructions for staying home and self-monitoring for symptoms, and follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.
Example: local public health may reach out to close contacts via phone for an official notification, and the school will disseminate a letter to the school community informing them of the situation.
Follow local public health guidance for course of action. Recommendations will be given on a case-by-case basis, and could include the following:
Exposure to others in the school was minimal, no close contacts were identified, and positive cases should self-isolate and return once criteria to discontinue home isolation and quarantine have been met.
Exposure to others in the school was moderate, a handful of close contacts were identified, and positive cases and close contacts should stay home for isolation.
Exposure to others was severe, multiple close contacts were identified and risk of exposure to larger school communities warrants a dismissal of in-person learning.
A short-term dismissal of students and most staff for 1-2 days may be recommended.
Initial short-term dismissal allows time for the local health officials to gain a better understanding of the COVID-19 situation impacting the school. This allows the local health officials to help the school determine appropriate next steps, including whether an extended dismissal duration is needed to stop or slow further spread of COVID-19.
Local health officials’ recommendations for the scope (e.g., a single school, multiple schools, the full district) and duration of school dismissals will be made on a case-by-case basis using the most up-to-date information about COVID-19.
During school dismissals, also cancel extracurricular group activities, school-based afterschool programs, and large events (e.g., assemblies, field trips, and sporting events).
Encourage and practice physical distancing.
Extended school dismissal may be recommended.
Depending on the level of risk and subsequent cases as a result of exposure at school, a longer school dismissal may be warranted.