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January 14, 2022

Update: Message to the Community, Jan 14

January 14, 2022

Dear FCUSD Community:

On Wednesday, January 12, the California Department of Public Health released their updated guidelines:

COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California, 2021-22 School Year

Community transmission of the virus is at an all-time high and we are unable to make determinations if transmissions are taking place on or off-campus. Sacramento County Public Health COVID-19 Dashboard. 

As we continue to follow all health and safety guidelines, the assumption from public health leadership is that at some point, everyone will be exposed. However, being exposed to somebody with COVID-19 does not necessarily mean that your child will become infected.  In fact, scientific research, and experience from around the country – including from California during this school year – demonstrate that schools remain among the safest places for children to be.

Contact Tracing UPDATE:

This week we moved to notifying classrooms of exposure to a positive individual. However, the volume of emails and high numbers of those being notified is operationally unsustainable, because of the enormity of work amidst staff shortages, and rapidly evolving guidelines. 

The latest Decision Forest (1/13) can be found here

In consultation with Sacramento County Public Health officials, and because of the aforementioned challenges, individual contact tracing will occur only if it is determined that your student was exposed at school in a non-masked situation. (Athletics, Lunch, etc.)  See Tree #2 in the Decision Forest.

We are asking parents and guardians to follow the “self-screening process” we established when we originally returned to in-person learning. If your student exhibits any of the following symptoms, please keep them at home and get them tested:

  •  Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea 

IMPORTANT:

  •  Proof of vaccination will help lessen quarantine in some cases. Please provide your school site with your student’s vaccination information.
  • Students on 10-day quarantine or isolation: Those meeting specific criteria (including having been fully vaccinated, as well as testing negative after five days) have the ability to return earlier so long as they are asymptomatic, or their symptoms have improved. 
    • Per SCPH: “Home test kits used to exit isolation/quarantine should be accompanied with an attestation declaring that the test specimen was obtained from the individual represented on the form, including the date the specimen was collected, and that the test was processed according to the instructions provided.” 
  •  New cases and quarantines will be addressed with the latest guidance. We will not retroactively address past cases with past quarantine timelines.
  •  Home exposures: If a student lives with or comes into contact with a COVID positive individual outside of school, we ask the family to communicate with the school and follow guidance on Trees #4 and #5.  

 As always, our schools will continue to follow all state and county safety guidelines as we stay focused on providing safe learning environments for all. 

 Thank you for your support and partnership.