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As Pasco School District returns to in-person instruction for our students, we are implementing several safety measures and protocols. We want to emphasize that the most important methods of preventing COVID-19 include wearing face masks/coverings, maintaining a distance of 6 feet from others, washing hands frequently and staying home when feeling ill.

We encourage parents/guardians and staff to review the safety information in the tabs below so that students are aware of the expectations prior to returning to school. This will help ensure a smooth transition back to the classrooms. Please click on the tabs below for more information about COVID-19 activity, daily student health screenings, masks, school cleaning and sanitizing, and more.

Each day that a student attends classes at their school, families or caregivers must conduct a COVID-19 screening. The screening must occur before school, including before the student rides the bus or engages in any school activity. The district will send frequent reminders through its app and messaging platforms. 

To complete the daily health screening, the parent, guardian or care giver must ask these questions each day the child will attend in-person classes:

• Is the child currently waiting for a COVID-19 test result?
• Has the child tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 10 days?
• Within the last 14 days, has the child been in close contact (within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) with anyone with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19?
• Within the last 14 days, has the child been told by a medical professional to isolate or quarantine?
• Since the child last attended school, has the child experienced any one of the following symptoms:
  • A fever over 100.4 degrees?
  • A cough or difficulty breathing?
  • A loss of taste or smell?
  • Headache, muscle aches, or body aches?
  • Fatigue?
  • Sore throat?
  • Runny nose or congestion?
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea?

If the answer to any of these questions is “yes”, the student is required to stay home. Contact the school to excuse the absence and tell the school the child did not pass the health screening. A member of the school’s COVID-19 support team will contact you to determine when the child can return to school. 

A parent, guardian, or care giver who sends a child to school attests that the answer to all of these questions is “no” and that the child has passed the daily health screening. 

Attestation and Agreement to Conduct Daily Health Screenings 

In addition to the daily health screening, a written attestation and agreement to conduct daily health screenings is required. The form is due at the start of each trimester. The form is available through the Parent Portal and in paper at the child’s school. School staff will verify a form is completed for each child. The form can be downloaded by clicking on the links below:

Attestation & Health Screening Agreement (English)

Attestation & Health Screening Agreement (Spanish)

Attestation & Health Screening Agreement (Russian)

COVID-19 Signs/Symptoms (not related to pre-existing condition)

• Fever (100.4 F or higher) or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing 
• Unusual fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache 
• New loss of taste or smell 
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea (two or more loose stools in 24 hrs.)

If Your Child Has or Develops COVID-19 Symptoms While at School

As parents and guardians, we ask that you take responsibility for making sure that your child remains at home when feeling ill. If your child is sent to school while ill or develops COVID-19 symptoms while at school, they will be immediately isolated, you will be required to pick them up, and they may not be allowed to return to school for 10 days.

Please review the latest Return to School Guidance from the Benton-Franklin Health District HERE.

Updated BFHD guidance regarding quarantine options

COVID-19 Testing

One of the best ways to decrease the spread of COVID-19 is to get tested. Getting tested does NOT increase the amount of disease in our community. Adequate testing allows for early identification of cases, quick isolation and decreases transmission rates. For the latest information about testing sites and available free testing, check the Benton-Franklin Health District website.

Note: COVID-19 information is subject to change as new guidance is provided.

COVID-19 Online Resources

Benton-Franklin Health District - Coronavirus Information

BFHD: COVID-19 Reporting Guidance for Schools - Flow Chart

BFHD: Updated Health Officer Recommendation on Reopening Schools (October 13, 2020)

BFHD: Reopening Schools Recommendation (September 14, 2020)

Washington State Coronavirus Information Website

Washington State Department of Health - Coronavirus Information

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Coronavirus Resources

Pasco School District is posting data provided by the Benton-Franklin Health District (BFHD) on confirmed cases of COVID-19 in school district buildings. PSD works closely with BFHD to implement safety recommendations and protocols when there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 among staff and students.

When there is a confirmed case, BFHD partners with the school district to identify close contacts, complete necessary contact tracing, and make required notifications. A close contact is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic individuals, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the infected person is isolated.

COVID-19 Positive Data reported includes enrolled students and staff who are physically present in the building(s) or on school grounds in any capacity. Any close contacts are identified and notified prior to the case getting posted on this dashboard.

On-Site Persons Reporting Positive Tests (Staff & Students)

NOTE: Employees assigned to multiple sites are only counted once in the above totals but may be listed at multiple sites in the table below. The list below includes every positive case that is reported to the school district by staff, families, school nurses, school COVID-19 coordinators, and the health department. There may be positive cases that are not included. If you know of a positive case that is not included on the list, please contact your school nurse or school COVID-19 coordinator. The data below is NOT official data from the Benton-Franklin Health District. Data may change or be adjusted as new information is received by the District. 

**Individual had not been in a district facility prior to testing positive.

ARCHIVE: SEPT 2020 - MAY 2021

COVID-19 Notification Protocols

COVID-19 Notifications of Reported Positive Cases
When the school district receives notice of a confirmed case of COVID-19 for a staff member or student in one of its buildings, the school district will notify the school/building staff and families at that location by email as soon as possible. The school district will also post information about confirmed cases on this page.

Close Contact and Contact Tracing
The Benton-Franklin Health District partners with the school district to conduct contact tracing for confirmed cases of COVID-19. A close contact is someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic individuals, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the infected person is isolated.

Classroom or School Closure
If it may be necessary to temporarily close a classroom or school for cleaning and sanitizing. If this occurs, families and staff will be notified and further information will be provided about how classes will be conducted during that time.

Per Benton-Franklin Health District (BFHD), a COVID-19 outbreak occurs in a school when there are two or more laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases among students or staff with onsets within a 14-day period, who are epidemiologically linked, do not share a household, and were not identified as close contacts of each other in another setting during standard case investigation or contact tracing.

In case of an outbreak, the district will work with BFHD to determine if transmission is occurring in the school. The following will be considered to determine the need to close a classroom or school and switch to remote learning for 14 days:

• There is a rapid increase in cases
• A prolonged chain of transmission (two or more outbreak generations) is believed to occur in the school.
• School cannot function due to insufficient teaching or support staff.

Benton-Franklin Health District COVID-19 Dashboard

View the Benton-Franklin Health District COVID-19 Dashboard HERE (NOTE: The latest 14-day rate per 1,000 people can be found on page two of the graph)

Please contact a member of your school’s COVID-19 Support Team for any of the following:

• If a student has tested positive for COVID-19;
• If a student has had a close contact with someone with COVID-19 or if the student has COVID-19 symptoms;
• If a student does not pass any one of the daily health screening questions; 
• If you need to know what date a student may return to school after they quarantine. 

• Masks are required in class and non-instructional times like on the bus to and from school, walking to and from the school building and during recess & passing times. 
• The only exceptions to wearing a mask are those with medical exemptions documented with a note from their health care provider (MD, DO, ARNP, PAC).
• In addition to protecting you, wearing a face covering helps protect others in case you are infected but do not have symptoms. 

A mask is: a cloth face covering that covers both your nose and mouth. It can be:

• A sewn mask with ties or straps that go around the head or behind the ears.
• Made from a variety of materials like cotton, fleece or linen.
• Factory-made or home-made.

Wearing a mask is easy once you know how:

• Wash your hands before putting on your face covering.
• Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin.
• Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face.
• Make sure you can breathe easily.
• Try not to touch the face covering and hold by elastic around the ears instead. If you do accidentally, wash your hands. 

CDC Infographic: How to Wear & Take Off a Mask

Physical Distancing

Each school will implement protocols to maintain a minimum separation between students and staff of 6 feet when students are inside, and also when they are outside at recess or physical education classes. Building-specific strategies to increase physical distancing may include:

• Rearranging desks/tables to maximize the space between students
• Keeping students in cohorts/clusters to the maximum extent possible
• Reducing the number of students in hallways/restrooms and locker rooms at any time
• Limiting access to only essential visitors or volunteers
• Reducing congestion in office areas
• Limiting building use outside of school hours to approved district activities

Hand Washing & Hygiene

Teachers will communicate, educate and reinforce appropriate hygiene, frequent handwashing and social distancing practices in ways that are developmentally appropriate for students. Hand sanitizer will be available if hand washing is not possible. 

Water Bottles

For safety reasons, all drinking fountains in the schools have been disabled at this time. Water bottle filling stations are available for student use. Students should bring their own water bottle to school marked with their first and last name. All bottles should have a lid or closure. 

Daily Cleaning Protocols

Custodians will perform daily cleaning/sanitizing of bathrooms, fixtures, office counters, and entryway touch surfaces following the typical morning visitor traffic. Throughout the day, custodians will sanitize other identified/prioritized common touch surfaces such as door push plates, door handles, sinks, water fountains, hand railings, etc. 

Cleaning When There is a Report of Illness

If a staff member or student leaves due to feeling ill, their workspace will be sanitized. An isolation room is provided for students while they wait to be picked up by a parent/guardian. Once empty, the isolation room will be sanitized. Staff members will leave the campus if they are feeling ill. 

Confirmed case of COVID-19 Cleaning Protocols

Cleaning and disinfection protocols for a probable case of COVID-19 will comply with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations. Access to areas visited by a probable case of COVID-19 will be restricted until cleaning and disinfection is completed.

Classroom Tools and Materials 

Schools will develop protocols for limiting shared teaching materials to those that can be easily cleaned and disinfected.

Every building in the district is being equipped with ample PPE and cleaning supplies for staff and students to return to hybrid learning. The district has a plan in place to restock supplies when necessary. 

Personal Protective Equipment

Available school PPE includes:

• Plexi-glass shields for all public-facing /walk-up secretary service windows 
• Disposable masks at building entry points for individuals in need of face coveringsHand sanitizer station close to the walk-up service window(s)
• Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes in the office area, health room and isolation room
• Hand sanitizer stations placed at multiple locations throughout the school buildings, including dry portable classrooms. 
• Every classroom is equipped with hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes

Restocking Classroom Supplies

If a classroom teacher needs to replenish their classroom supplies, the teacher will contact the designated building secretary or administrator. Each building has a stock of gloves, disinfectant wipes, sanitizer and spray to replenish classrooms. When a building needs to replenish their building stock, the building secretary will contact the district purchasing manager. The district maintains a stock of items in the warehouse and continues to order stock as needed.