Test to Stay Information

Dear BHSD Parents/Guardians,

Brookings-Harbor School District will implement the new “Test-to-Stay” protocol announced Nov. 23 by Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Health Authority. Here is some information about how this protocol helps keep students in school after an in-school exposure while minimizing risks of COVID-19 transmission.

Highlights of the Test to Stay Protocol 

OHA’s test to stay protocol allows unvaccinated students and staff to continue to participate in in-person instruction in Oregon’s K-12 schools during their quarantine period. The risk of transmission is minimized in school settings because the required testing is combined with several layers of mitigation including universal masking, physical distancing, cohorting, and ventilation. 

• Parent consent must be obtained before the district can test a student for COVID.
• Test to stay is available only for unvaccinated students and staff who have had an indoor classroom, bus or cafeteria exposure. Outdoor exposures will be considered case-by-case and  is generally only considered close contact when an unmasked person is extremely close to another person’s face or with heavy breathing and yelling in athletics and activities when participants are not wearing masks. 
• Test to stay requires unvaccinated individuals to be tested twice during the 7 days following exposure. First, as soon as the exposure has been identified, then with a second test occurring between days 5-7 following the exposure.
• Test to stay is a form of modified quarantine, which allows students to attend school during their quarantine period. However, individuals participating in test to stay are expected to maintain quarantine outside of classroom settings. 
• Students participating in test to stay may participate in school-related extracurricular activities during their quarantine period but must wear a face covering at all times during these activities.
• The CDC considers test to stay a promising practice for minimizing quarantine and maximizing school days in school for students.
• Note: There may be instances where OHA determines that there is a high risk of transmission and may implement a home quarantine for exposed individuals. 

If your student has an in-school exposure, the District Nurse and/or Oregon Health Authority will inform you if test-to-stay is an option for your student. The student must have a consent on file for testing in order to participate. Students who do not have consent on file may not be tested. These rapid tests use a lower nasal swab, not the deeper swab. For more information about the BionaxNOW test, see their website. Participation in the test to stay is optional and families who refuse to participate may quarantine their student at home.  

If you would like to complete a consent form for your student, you can download one at , print, sign, and return to your school office; email, or fax to the District Nurse, or login to your PowerSchool parent portal to fill out the COVID testing consent form available there.

If you have any questions, please contact District Nurse Kaitlyn Koepnick at kaitlynk@brookings.k12.or.us or (541) 469-7417 (phone), (541) 469-0413 (fax).

David Marshall, Superintendent

December 3, 2021

What you can expect for the start of school year-Health and Safety

We are looking forward to getting our schools reopened this school year.  We have incorporated a wide range of measures to keep all students and staff healthy and safe.  While the start of this school year will look different, our focus is to ensure that school continues to be a positive, safe, friendly and welcoming place for all students.  While we know there will be challenges, by working together we can positively and successfully support our students’ growth and learning.

Accurate Contact Information

It is critical that we have accurate contact information for your child or children.  If you change your phone number, your emergency contacts, or jobs, you notify your school office right away.  We are required to contact you if your child is ill.  In some cases, your child cannot remain at school while ill.

Physical Distancing

We are required to provide 35 square feet for each person in a classroom.  This is one of the primary reasons why we are not able to have all of our students at school at the same time.  

Masks

Under current ODE and OHA requirements, students and staff are must wear masks or face shields.  All students will be provided cloth reusable masks that can, and should be regularly washed.  If a student is unable to wear a mask, the district can provide a face shield.  If a student is unable to wear any face covering, the family must meet with principal in order to consider other accommodations or education options. 

Cohorts

Cohorts refers to smaller groups of students who do not interact with other groups of students.  ODE and OHA require cohort groups (the sum total of all of the students and staff a student interact with) to be less than 100 students.  All of the cohort sizes in the Brookings-Harbor School District are well under 100.  Most cohorts are between 30 and 50 students.  Cohorts groups allow students to connect, interact and learn with their peers.  Cohort groups are a measure to reduce the impact or spread of a potential exposure.  Cohort groups also allow the local health authority to more quickly and effectively conduct contact tracing in the event of an exposure.

Cleaning and Disinfecting 

There has been a thorough cleaning and disinfecting of all buildings.  We have disinfectant sprayers that will be used daily to sanitize the classrooms and public spaces. We have also increased the number of times the restrooms are cleaned daily. The water fountains have been shut off.  However the water fill stations are still on and operational.  Your child may bring a refillable water bottle to school. 

Ventilation

The ventilation in all the buildings has been inspected.  Our maintenance staff has increased the frequency of filter inspections.  We are developing room ventilation protocols to use windows and our ventilation system to increase the frequency of outside air exchange.

Transportation 

Drivers and student will be wearing masks or face shields.  Students will sanitize their hands before boarding.  We are required to visually inspect students for Covid19 symptoms prior to them getting on the bus. If a student has any signs or symptoms of illness, they will not be allowed on the bus.  

In order to ensure the required amount of space between each student, students will have assigned seats, only one person to a seat (families are allowed to sit two to a seat). The buses will be cleaned and disinfected between routes, that they will be sprayed nightly with a disinfectant.  We plan on keeping the windows open for ventilation, as the weather allows. We must maintain stable groups (cohorts) in order to minimize risk of exposure.  For those of you who share custody, or have a change of plans, you will need to make arrangements to get your child picked up from their stop.

Food Services 

Meals will be served in the classrooms.  For families choosing the fully online Brookings-Harbor K-12 Academy as well as times when all students are accessing instruction remotely, food service meals will continue to be provided similar to the meal pick up approach that was used last spring.  In addition, the district is developing targeted meal pick up locations.  If you are unable to get to school to pick up meals, please contact your school office and request consideration for a meal pick up location near you. 

Volunteers and Parents in Buildings 

Under the current rules, volunteers and parents are not able to enter our school buildings. Parents will not be able to cannot drop off or pick up their students at their classrooms.  Drop offs/pickups will occur outside the buildings.  We know that this may be a difficult change for some parents.  

Screening and Contact Logs

Schools are required to visually screen students when they entering the bus and the school building, and classroom.  Trained staff will visually screen for specific symptoms related to Covid19.  At this time, there will be no temperature checks as part of the screening process.  Schools are also required to maintain contact logs of all of the students in the building on a given day and of who they interact with.  Our goal is that most of this process will occur in the background and that it does not disrupt the student’s day.  For example, the schools will use existing attendance systems to capture the required contact log data.  From the student’s perspective, it will just be the regular attendance taking.

Hand Hygiene and Sanitizing

All entrances and classrooms will have hand sanitizers available.  Students and staff are required to sanitize their hands when they enter school, before eating and after they use the restroom. Teachers will integrate this process into the regular daily routine. 

Together

School looks very different this year, our approach with your child will be patient, positive and supportive.  It will help greatly if you speak with your child about the changes and let them know that your teacher is there to help you learn, your friends are still your friends, you will make new friends in the new school year and that school will continue to be a place to grow and have new experiences.  

Together we can make this a great school year.

Students and staff identified as having any excludable symptom must be excluded for the timeline indicated by the Oregon Health Authority:

About Us/Meet the BHSD Health Team

District Nurse – Kaitlyn Koepnick RN, BSN-IH
Kaitlyn joined the BHSD team in Summer 2021. She can be reached at (541) 469-7417 or at kaitlynk@brookings.k12.or.us.

Health Aide – Kalmiopsis Elementary  School – Andrea Christensen

Andrea has been the health aide at K School since 2017, and is also the District interpreter.  She has worked in the medical field for 20 years.  She also has a son who attends school in the District.  She is responsible for providing health care to the students at K School daily from 10-2. 

Health Aide – Azalea Middle School – Karissa Horn

Karissa has been the health aide at Azalea Middle School since 2019.  She has three children, which makes her very wise when it comes to student health issues.  She is responsible for providing health care to the students at Azalea Middle School daily from 10-2.

Common Questions

• Immunization Laws
• Required Immunizations for Schools
• How to File Immunization Exemptions
• Communicable Disease Guidance
• Lice Information