Supt. lists back-to-school protocols

Acadia Parish public school students return to class on Thursday and Superintendent Scott Richard says the school system continues to closely monitor the latest wave of COVID-19.
“As always, we are working to keep the safety of our students, families and staff as a priority in order to continue moving forward with the education process,” Richard said. “It is imperative that we all take an active role in reducing the spread of this virus to the greatest extent possible and working together is key to promoting a safe learning experience.”
Richard said children should remain at home if they are showing any signs of sickness during the current surge in virus positivity. He also asked that parents contact the child’s school if the child is sick.
“We are hoping to maintain staffing in all areas, including transportation, through this recent increase in COVID-19 cases, however, please remain flexible, prepared and understanding in the event that we have to implement alternatives to our normal operations,” Richard said.
In regards to safety protocols and mitigation measures for isolation/quarantine of anyone exposed to COVID-19, the school system will follow the most recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and newly issued recommendations on Dec. 31, 2021, from the Louisiana Department of Health and the Louisiana Department of Education.
According to the LDH quarantine guidance, anyone — students or staff — who tests positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, must isolate for five days. If you have no symptoms or symptoms are resolving after five days, you can leave your house.
If you have fever, continue to stay home until fever resolves and continue to wear a mask around others for five additional days. If the school cannot ensure masking for those five days, isolate for a full 10 days.
If you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 (quarantine)
• Students who have completed the primary series of an mRNA vaccine should wear a mask around others for 10 days and test on day five.
• Staff exposed to someone with COVID-19 and
- having completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last six months; or
- having completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last two months; or
- having been boosted
should wear a mask around others for 10 days and test on day five.
• Students who are unvaccinated should stay home for five days and continue to wear a mask around others for an additional five days. Test on day five.
• Staff members who
- are unvaccinated; or
- completed the primary series of Pfizer or Maderna vaccine over six moths ago and are not boosted; or
- completed the primary series of J&J over two months ago and are not boosted
should stay home for five days and continue to wear a mask around others for an additional five days. Test on day five.
“The Acadia Parish School System shall adhere to these protocols effective immediately,” Richard said. “The use of facial coverings by students and employees is highly recommended, especially for those that are considered at-risk, but the decision as to their use is left to the discretion of the parent and employee.
“However, under some specific conditions, as noted above, there are requirements to wear a facial covering in order to return from isolation/quarantine period if you are asymptomatic.”
The superintendent also reminds everyone that facial coverings “shall continue to be worm on all school buses per federal mandate.”