We want to provide you with information about our process for communicating about COVID-19 in Waitsburg School District during the 2021-22 year. Due to the many changes to expectations for schools that have taken place since the last school year, we want to assure that you have current information on what you can expect. Waitsburg School District will continue to work collaboratively with our county and state health departments to prioritize student and staff safety. Assuring that our students and staff remain healthy and safe is critical to keeping our schools open.
Confirmed Cases
If a Waitsburg student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, our district will share the information about the diagnosis with the Walla Walla County Department of Community Health (WWCDCH). Medical information will only be shared between WWCDCH and designated district personnel to protect the individual’s privacy. Waitsburg School District will not share the names of individuals who have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Upon confirmation that a student or staff member has tested positive for COVID-19, Waitsburg School District staff will immediately conduct required contact tracing. If it is determined that a student or staff member had close contact^ with a person who tested positive, they will be contacted directly by WSD staff with instructions about monitoring symptoms, quarantining, and testing.
^Close Contact Definitions:
- In an indoor K-12 classroom, a close contact is defined as a student who was wearing a face covering and was less than 3 feet from another student with COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes over 24 hours.
- Outside of the classroom, a close contact is defined as someone who is within 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes over 24 hours.
- For more information on close contact definitions in Washington schools, please refer to page 11 of the OSPI “K-12 COVID-19 Requirements for Summer 2021 and the 2021-2022 School Year” linked on our website.
Waitsburg School District will only contact those who are considered close contacts and provide next steps. If you do not receive a phone call, then your child does not meet the close contact criteria. No further action is needed. Your child may continue with in-person instruction.
Confirmed Outbreak
Washington State Department of Health defines an “outbreak” as two or more students or staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19, who are linked through a shared location, such as a classroom or school bus, and did not have significant contact outside of the school grounds. If a COVID-19 outbreak is identified in Waitsburg schools, we may be required to suspend in-person instruction for students in the specified shared location. We will communicate with Waitsburg staff, students, and families accordingly.
Quarantine
Quarantine is when someone who has been exposed to COVID-19 stays home and away from others for the recommended period of time in case they were infected and are contagious. Your child may be exempt from quarantine if they are fully vaccinated and do not have symptoms. However, they still should be tested 5 days following a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. An unvaccinated student who has been exposed to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 must quarantine for at least 7 days and provide a negative test result to their school before returning. If an unvaccinated student does not provide a negative test result, he/she must quarantine for at least 10 days before returning to school.
Safety Expectations
Our custodial staff will thoroughly clean and sanitize the affected area based on COVID-19 exposure cleaning protocols. Please remind your child of the following health tips:
- Do not come to school when you are sick, regardless of vaccination status.
- Practice physical distancing.
- Wear a face covering over your nose and mouth.
- Wash your hands often.
Additionally, planned activities, meetings, and other events may need to be postponed or cancelled as a result of local COVID spread, updated school requirements, etc. Our district will make every effort to communicate any such changes with families as quickly as possible.
Staying Informed
Waitsburg School District will utilize the following communication methods to provide information and updates to families regarding COVID-19:
- District website: www.waitsburgsd.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/waitsburgsd
- Instagram: @waitsburgsd
- Qmlativ Family Access emails*
- Automated phone calls and/or text messages*
* Please make sure we have the most current contact information for you in our database. Contact your child’s school office to confirm any changes.
Our district’s current 2021-22 COVID-19 Dashboard can be found on our website at www.waitsburgsd.org by clicking on the COVID-19 Updates red quick link. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our district or your child’s school office.