FROM SUPT. RICHARD DENNIS
ELMORE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
Friday the Alabama School Board Association released a legal interpretation on the most recent ADPH guidelines published on August 12 as well as guidelines issued previously in the Back to School Guidance 2021-2022. Based on the requirements outlined by the ADPH, any individuals in close contact with positive COVID-19 cases are required to quarantine for 10-14 days. Exceptions to this guideline are:
- asymptomatic fully-vaccinated close contacts and,
- asymptomatic close contacts that have tested positive 3 months prior to exposure and that have fully recovered, and
- individuals properly wearing masks and sitting at least 3 feet apart.
Principals are working to space students adequately to avoid quarantining individuals as much as possible. Currently, grades 3 -12 will not be as significantly impacted due to the mask mandate. However, students in second grade and under that are not required to wear masks and not meeting distancing guidelines will have to be quarantined. School administrators and nurses will coordinate and manage these guidelines beginning tomorrow.
The ADPH document is posted on the Elmore County Board of Education website under ADPH Guidance for Schools. The up-dated Elmore County COVID 19 Response Flow Chart is located under In-Person Instruction Plan 2021-2022. This is the same process that was followed last year without the new exceptions provided by ADPH. We will continue to make adjustments as needed to meet guidelines and work to keep schools open for face-to-face attendance.
We appreciate your support as we continue to maneuver the COVID Health Crisis.
