March 2020 began the most challenging time in my career. Last year, our goal was to make good decisions to keep our staff and students healthy and to be in school for in-person learning. The decisions were hard, but I appreciate the support I felt from employees, parents, and the community.
I am looking forward to the 2021-2022 school year! Based on the CDC’s Guidance for COVID-19 prevention, we will implement the following guidelines:
MASKS: Masks will be optional for students and staff.
QUARANTINE and CONTACT TRACING:
• Individuals who are fully vaccinated* for COVID-19 who are exposed to someone with a confirmed COVID-19 case ARE NOT required to quarantine.
*Individuals are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after their 2nd shot*
• Individuals who are not fully vaccinated who are exposed to someone with a confirmed COVID-19 case will not be required to quarantine IF THEY MEET THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
o Both people were correctly wearing masks throughout the entire encounter; and
o The individuals maintained a distance of 6 feet apart throughout the encounter.
• Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 3 months and recovered are not required to quarantine or get tested if they do not develop COVID-19 symptoms.
• Contact the school’s principal, if a student tests positive for COVID-19. The principal/school nurse will help determine if there are any close contacts.
• All parents will be notified if a student/staff in their child’s school tests positive for COVID-19. Close contacts of the positive individual will be identified and contacted individually.
• CCPS will post a chart weekly of COVID-19 cases in all schools on the system website: www.catoosa.k12.ga.us
POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES: Catoosa County Public Schools will follow the Department of Public Health guidelines which require individuals who test positive to remain isolated for 10 days from the date of symptoms, and remain fever-free without fever reducing medication for 24 hours prior to returning to school.
VACCINATIONS: COVID-19 vaccinations are not required for staff or students. For information about COVID-19 vaccinations, visit: https://www.catoosa.info/vaccine
SCHOOL OPERATIONS:
Open House: Schools will have “normal” open house. We look forward to welcoming you and your child to school! Please visit your child’s school website for more information.
Lunch, Assemblies, Field Trips, etc.: Daily interactions and special events that have been open to parents and families will resume. Parent volunteers are welcome and appreciated.
VIRTUAL LEARNING: We understand that some parents and students may not be comfortable yet with in-person learning, so Catoosa County Public Schools will continue to provide virtual learning for kindergarten through 12. Applications for Catoosa County's digital learning program are available at www.coa.catoosa.k12.ga.us and at the student's home school. Once completed, submit the application to the student's principal or counselor.
We will closely monitor COVID-19 cases in the county and in our schools as we return to class. Parents will be notified by text message if an update is posted on our website. To ensure you receive text messages from the school district, please follow two steps:
• Text “Y or YES” to 675-87;
• Add the CCPS number (675-87) to “Contacts” on your phone.
Once again, I appreciate the support of parents and this community! The 2021-2022 school year will be focused on providing normalcy for our children and remediating learning losses due to pandemic. We survived a crisis worse than I could have ever imagined, together. I’m committed that we will come back – Better than Before.