Health and Safety Precautions
Knowing the importance of in-person learning and the daily social interactions for our students – our focus in BVSD is on doing everything possible to keep kids in in-person learning five days a week.
Continuing our layered approach
As shown last school year, a layered approach was extremely effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19. We will continue this approach this school year, including the following measures:
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Ventilation and cleaning |
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Regular reminders for families: Look out for symptoms & keep sick kids home |
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Masks required -All students and staff, age 2+ (under public health order) |
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Handwashing |
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Physical distancing to the greatest extent possible |
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Seating charts |
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Stable groups whenever possible for as long as possible |
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Maximize outdoor activities |
These actions will help to limit the size of quarantines. This fall, close contacts will not be required to isolate – if these measures are in place.
Resources
BVSD COVID-19 Face Cover Protocol and Guidance- English
BVSD COVID-19 Face Cover Protocol and Guidance- Spanish
COVID-19 Ventilation Protocols (English & Spanish)
COVID-19 Cleaning Protocols (English & Spanish)
COVID-19 Food Services Protocols (English & Spanish)
COVID-19 Transportation Protocols (English & Spanish)
Illness Protocols
As a reminder, BVSD's illness protocol is as follows:
If your student is experiencing any of the following symptoms they must stay home:
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Major Symptoms |
Minor Symptoms |
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If a student has a fever, cough, loss of taste or smell, or chills (major symptoms) that last longer than 24 hrs they must remain at home and have a negative PCR COVID test to return to school or they will need to stay home for 10 days.
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If a student is experiencing any other COVID-like symptom (minor symptoms) that last longer than 48 hrs they must have a negative PCR COVID test to return to school or they will need to stay home for 10 days.
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Testing is available through BVSD and COVID Check Colorado throughout the district - see the schedule here.
Additional information on symptoms and when it's ok to return after an illness can be found here: CDPHE How Sick is Too Sick?
COVID Testing
Routine COVID testing will be offered at BVSD elementary, middle and K-8 schools every two weeks. If you would like to sign your student up for routine testing, see our website here for the schedule and registration information. These sites can also be used for symptomatic screening as needed by any student or staff member of any school. Note: If you were registered for testing last year you will need to re-register on COVIDCheck’s website to provide consent for your student to be tested this year.
Contacts and Quarantines
In Preschool and Kindergarten, the entire class/cohort will be considered exposed and asked to quarantine if there is a positive student in the classroom.
Based on guidance from Boulder County Public Health, Routine Classroom Exposures will NOT have to quarantine in grades 1-12.
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A Routine Classroom Exposure is defined as: an exposure that occurs strictly in a traditional school classroom, where students are seated and not engaging in any high-risk activities (such as singing). Seating charts must be kept and layered mitigation followed for an exposure to qualify as a routine classroom exposure.
In grades 1-12, if an exposure occurs outside of a routine classroom environment, contacts will be identified as anyone masked and within 3 ft of the COVID positive individual for 15 minutes or more over a 24 hr period. All students identified as a contact will be directly notified with instructions on how long to quarantine and possible exemptions to quarantine. In high-risk exposures (some indoor athletics, high transmission possibilities, etc), contacts will be identified as anyone masked and within 6ft of the COVID positive individual for 15 minutes or more over a 24 hr period.
Most outdoor exposures will not be asked to quarantine.
Exemptions to quarantine include:
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Fully vaccinated - 2 weeks past the 2nd dose of vaccine (vaccine record required as proof)
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COVID positive within 90 days of exposure (test results required as proof)
Masks Required
Everyone 2 and older must wear a mask while indoors at all times. No gaiters or bandanas are allowed. Masks are not required outdoors however, students and staff that feel more comfortable wearing a mask outdoors will be supported and not discouraged. Bullying will not be tolerated.
If you feel your student has a medical disability that prohibits them from tolerating a mask, you must request a review of your student's needs through your school principal. There is no form to initiate the request. Please see this document for a complete review of the process.