RPSB provides update to Covid-19 guidelines following rise in Omicron Covid-19 cases.

RPSB provides update to Covid-19 guidelines following rise in Omicron Covid-19 cases.

01/03/2022

We pray that our students and employees have had a restful holiday break and are ready to come back together for a Spring Semester dedicated to giving our best in all that we do!

As we are all aware, there has been a dramatic increase in positive cases of the Omicron variant of COVID in addition to the Delta variant and the flu. While we are hopeful the spread of the new variant will subside soon, we also want to be intentional about protecting our students and employees while keeping our schools open for face-to-face instruction.

At this point, our employees will return to work Wednesday, January 5th, and we plan to resume face-to-face instruction for students this Friday, January 7th. We are asking everyone to closely monitor for symptoms of illness. If your child expresses any signs of sickness, please keep them at home.

While we are NOT mandating masks, our schools will continue measures already in place to limit the spread of viruses. We will practice social distancing to the maximum extent possible and masks are encouraged but optional.

We intend to continue extracurricular activities as much as possible. However, we will limit large group gatherings during the school day to minimize virus transmission opportunities.

Additionally, the CDC has adjusted the required quarantining for those who test positive. As long as someone who tests positive is asymptomatic, he/she only has to quarantine for 5 days.

HERE is the revised flow chart for making quarantine decisions. All other measures will remain in place regarding quarantine. If a student is identified as a close contact of a confirmed positive, parents will have the option to quarantine the child at home or send them to school as long as the student wears a mask for 10 days and submits to daily temperature checks.

We will continue to monitor positivity rates and address them as needed. If we all work together, we will be able to continue the GREAT work of this school year and prove to the world that Rapides Parish truly is #bettertogether!