Covid-19 Updates and Information

GUSD COVID Safety Plan  
​COVID Plan Amendment 2-9-22   
COVID Plan Additional Face Covering Amendment 3.1.22   

 GUSD COVID Prevention Program (CPP) August 28, 2021
Programa de Prevención de COVID-19 (CPP, por sus siglas en inglés)Distrito Escolar Unificado Geyserville

GUSD COVID Testing Framework

Testing for COVID-19 remains an essential tool to decrease transmission, keep students and staff safe, and keep schools open for in-person instruction while mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic.

CDPH strongly recommends that schools facilitate access to testing, particularly for vulnerable populations within their communities. Testing, especially of symptomatic individuals and those exposed to a positive COVID-19 case, remains an important for minimizing transmission and keeping students in the classroom for in-person instruction.
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​GUSD has adopted the CDPH Guidelines as a safe tactic for keeping students, families, and staff healthy.
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Click here for the Testing Framework for K–12 Schools for the 2022–2023 School Year

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions around K-12 Testing Framework for 2022/23 School Year

See the 2022-2023 Protocol below. Geyserville Schools will be sending home test kits before holiday breaks and before returning from Summer Vacation. Please call your school's front office if you are in need of a  kit. GUSD schools will not administer tests to students.

Parent and Family Resources

​County Office of Education Covid-19 updates
​Mental Health Resources
California Health Resources
​​Information concerning the Corona virus

Parent Update Letter July 23, 2020
English
Spanish

2022-2023 Protocol
If a Student is Symptomatic and/or has a Fever at School
Send student to the office.
       1. If symptomatic or has a fever, the student must go home.
       2. Offer the parent a single OTC test kit.
       3. School staff MAY NOT administer OTC tests.
           Only a parent/guardian can administer. THIS IS THE LAW.
       4. A mildly symptomatic student who tests negative may return to class at the discretion of the principal or designee.
       5. A student with a fever who tests negative must remain at home until the fever is gone. – No specific timeline for return.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ'S) REGARDING COVID-19 ​

DEFINITIONS:
Close Contact/Exposed:  More than 15 minutes over a 24-hour period within 0-6 feet or having direct physical contact for a shorter period of time (like hugging, roughhousing  or playing high-contact sports together)
Isolation (Most Restrictive):  Stay at home except to get medical care.  Separate yourself from others in the home and wear a facemask around other people.  Monitor your symptoms and avoid sharing household items.  Practice good hand hygiene and cover your mouth with coughs and sneezes
Quarantine:  Same as above, but you may interact with others in the home. 
 
Q: My child is sick with symptoms of COVID-19 - what do I do?

1. Keep your child home
2. Report absence to the attendance office or school secretary.  Please list the symptoms the student is having.
3. Get a COVID test as soon as possible, whether you are vaccinated or not.  Here is a list of current locations: COVID Test Locations .  Wait for test results.   Over the counter tests are not allowable.
4. Alternatively, if your child has a chronic condition (i.e. allergies, IBS, etc.) you may obtain a letter from your doctor which lists an alternate diagnosis.  
    

Q: I have my child’s test results - now what do I do?

1. Take a picture of your test result and send the picture to info@gusd.com for review.  

Please note that this test information must include the date the test was taken and the student name.

1. Negative Result: If the student is negative, and symptom free (no fever for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medication and no vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours) the student may return to school.
2. Positive Result: If the student is positive, please report the positive test results to the attendance office or the school secretary immediately and send a copy of the test result to COVID test emails listed above.

·         The office staff will ask you further details about exposure, including last date on campus, what symptoms the child had, where/when the child was tested and who might be considered a close contact.  It is very important that we obtain these details so we may begin contact tracing.  
·         The staff trained in contact tracing will also be in touch with quarantine or isolation instructions within 24 hours.
 
Q: My child is fully vaccinated - can they come to school with symptoms?
A: No, all students experiencing symptoms - regardless of vaccination status - must stay home.
 
Q: My child is fully vaccinated - do they really need to wear a mask?
A: Yes.  Current orders are that masks are strongly recommended inside and outside. 
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Q: What is the difference between school based and community based?
A: The difference between the two is that school-based cases have the ability to impact students and staff because the positive case was present on campus during the infectious period.  The community-based cases involve a student or staff, but the individual wasn’t present on campus during the infectious period.
 
Q: Do children who are asymptomatic, but tested positive for the virus, have to quarantine? 
A: Absolutely, yes, that is the guidance.  They must quarantine for a total of 10 days and may return on Day 11 with or without symptoms.
 
Q: What kind of tests are acceptable to return to school?
A: Over the Counter Antigen Tests are preferred.
 
Q: Please explain the contact tracing that is done when students & staff are exposed to an individual who is positive for COVID19 on campus. Do you ask students who they played with during recess?
A: Once we receive confirmation of a positive case, we will send a notification to any groups the student had near contact with. Those notified are advised to take an over the counter test on days 3 and 5 after contact and to monitor for symptoms.
 
Q: How do we notify? 
A: Families will be notified through Talking Points or Class Tag, in the way you principal regularly communicates.
 
Q: Whom do you notify of a positive case? I my child’s medical information safe?
A: We only notify teachers, staff, or others who are or may have been close contacts. This is to satisfy OSHA requirements. We refer only to “the case.” 
 
Q: My child had a headache and ended up quarantined. Are there other options?
A: If your child suffers from a chronic condition that may present with headaches (i.e. migraines, anxiety, etc.) you may obtain an alternate diagnosis from a medical doctor.  This is kept in their medical file and we may allow the student to remain on campus with that symptom.
 
Q: Is the School Board considering requiring vaccination for COVID-19 (for those over age 12) a requirement for attending school? If not, why not?
A: With the recent statewide vaccine mandate just announced on October 1st, we are still awaiting guidance, but yes, we will have to abide by any legal requirement.
 
Q: What do I do if my child cannot wear a mask?
A: If your child cannot wear a mask, they may qualify for an exemption.  Please contact your principal to talk about other face covering options and the medical authorization required.
 
Q: How are absences recorded?

1. If a student has COVID symptoms and is awaiting a test, the absences are excused.
2. If a student has COVID symptoms and the parent is choosing not to test, 10 days of absences are excused due to quarantine.
3. If a student is out due to quarantine orders for a positive test or close contact, these absences are also excused.  The parent/guardian should reach out to the teacher/office staff about getting class/homework while out of school.
4. Excessive absences (10 or more days) will result in follow-up from attendance and principals. 

 
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