Addressing Students’ Covid-19 Concerns

Addressing+Students+Covid-19+Concerns

Cameron Mathis and Cadence Townzen

Principal Jim Davis spoke with members of The Talon to answer your Covid-19 questions.

How many Covid-19 cases have we had at Heritage High School? What precautions are we taking? How are we supposed to complete our work when quarantined? How do our absences count against us? What are we going to do at school during Flu season? These are all questions that all students at Heritage High School frequently ask, and The Talon staff is here to give you answers. Members of The Talon staff sat down with Principal Jim Davis to get the answers you all want. 

What are the reasons a student needs to quarantine 

  When students are quarantined it does not mean they were exposed. They were probably in close contact with someone at school or they could have had close contact at home from family, there are multiple reasons. Here at school, we have had very minimal cases.

Covid-19 protocol affects every aspect of the school day – even lunch!

 What do you do when we have a positive case at school? 

 If there is a positive case , it is our responsibility to go to the classrooms  where the Covid affected students were and check if they were in close contact with other student. If they were in close contact with another student at that time, then that student is to quarantine for 14 days.  It’s complicated because every situation is not predictable and not the same. There is a lot of work that goes into figuring out what it is, but what we want to do is always side on safety and health. We would rather make an error of quarantining someone that doesn’t have Covid than to not quarantine them and risk exposure.

Since there are cases in the district, are you guys leaning towards making us go virtual again?

The school itself has no authority to say we’re going to go remote. The only people that have that authority is the health department, governor, and department of education. So, if there becomes a situation based off of data and the health department suggests that we go remote; then we would go remote. At this point, we won’t be going remote. There are only  13 {total cases}  district-wide: elementary, preschool, middle school, and high school.

How do we get around the quarantine schedule to get our work done? 

Number one if the student is quarantined; the absence does not count against them. So you still have all the ability to make up all the work. It is a major change transitioning to doing everything on google classroom. We’re working through those struggles. We’re putting a plan in place where our counselors will be there for anyone that is in quarantine. They will call the students and make sure that they have everything. If they have any problems, their counselors will help them. 

Are we supposed to video call our teachers during quarantine to get our work done?

No, virtual is when you use the Red Comet Curriculum. Remote is using google classroom. Remote has liability for doing facetime during class time, so we’re trying to limit that as much as we can. We’re trying to utilize google classroom as much as possible. Also, some of our teachers are going to try and voice over their slides. 

Every teacher is provided cleaning supplies to disinfect desks between classes. Many teachers also have HEPA air purifiers.

If we have to be quarantined when an LC period ends, would we have an exception to turn in our work even if the period had ended?

Covid-19 absences trump everything. It’s the card that’s going to win in every hand, Even if a student has signs and symptoms, it is counted as a Covid absence. The reason why is it has nothing to do with Covid, it is to give parents and families a grace period. As you know, in all schools you are obligated to be at school for 90% of the days. Covid does not count against you with these absences.

If a student has symptoms during the flu season, and the staff counts it as a Covid-19 absence, can they come back the next day?

So if a child or a teacher has any type of sign or symptom they have to be symptom free for 48 hours before they can come back to school. For example, we had a couple of teachers that had some signs and symptoms on Wednesday; that means that they are done for Thursday and Friday. You have to be symptom free for 48 hours before coming back.

If we are symptom free for 48 hours and we come back; does that mean that we have to get tested? 

So, if you have signs and symptoms you are not required to get tested. The health department just recommends to be home for 48 hours before returning. If those signs and symptoms continue for multiple days; you should probably get some direction from the doctor.

What are the precautions during the Flu Season? Will they be enhanced?

We’re going to continue to follow the direction of the health department. We have two full time staff members that are to sanitize door handles, bathrooms, and doorways. We have propped the doors open so thousands of kids don’t touch the doors. The little things are going to make the difference.

If our numbers continue to keep going down, will we be able to stop wearing masks on campus?

I hope so. We as a school do not have control over that. It will all depend on the health department. I hope we get to that point. I think the flu season is going to be our test.

Do you have any final advice for students? 

You just need to continue to wash your hands, and keep good hygiene. All the little things will make a difference.