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2021-2022 Back to Normal » Roadmap to Reopening

Roadmap to Reopening

Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan

 
In accordance with the Texas Education Agency School Health Operations Requirements effective June 5, 2021, Shepherd ISD has updated the COVID-19 mitigation protocols for employees and students. Prevention of disease transmission in our schools will continue to take all of us working together. The best way to prevent the spread of illness in our schools is to stay home when ill. Parents are asked to not send students to school if they have a fever of 100.0 F or higher or new-onset symptoms of illness. Washing/sanitizing hands often, especially before eating, after using the restroom, blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, and after coming in contact with highly touched objects such as doorknobs, handrails, etc. can help reduce the spread of illness.
 
 
  • Students: Notify the school nurse. Shepherd ISD is required to report positive cases to San Jacinto County Public Health and the Texas Education Agency.
  • Employees: Complete the employee self-report in the SSO portal. Shepherd ISD is required to report positive cases to San Jacinto County Public Health and the Texas Education Agency.
  • Isolate for ten days after the date of symptom onset or test date if asymptomatic.
  • Individuals must be fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications before returning to school/work.
  • Individuals must be diarrhea free for at least 24 hours without the use of diarrhea-suppressing medications before returning to school/work.
  • District administrators will continue monitoring the situation along with any updates in requirements for exclusion from the Texas Department of State Health Services.
  • Consider isolating to prevent the unintended transmission of the virus to others as recommended by the CDC.
  • Consider seeking medical guidance from your health care provider.
  • Consider testing as recommended by the CDC.
  • Consider wearing a mask/face covering if respiratory symptoms are present and you choose not to test for COVID-19 to prevent the unintended transmission of the virus to others.
  • Consider quarantining for 14 days after the date of last contact as recommended by the CDC.
  • Monitor for symptoms consistent with COVID-19 for 14 days after the date of last contact as recommended by the CDC.
  • Consider wearing a mask if choosing to return to work/school prior to the end of the 14-day quarantine period.
  • Consider testing between day 3 and day 7 after exposure and if symptoms develop.
 
 

Additional Topics

  • No employee, student, or visitor is required to wear a mask or face covering but are allowed to do so if they choose.
  • Shepherd ISD will continue to provide PPE appropriate to the task for all employees by request.
  • The CDC recommends unvaccinated individuals wear a mask in public settings, at events and gatherings, and anywhere they will be around other people.
  • COVID-19 vaccines are not required for students or employees.
  • According to the CDC, COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and recommended for all eligible individuals.
 
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Employees are able to use any accrued personal leave days and can still apply for other leaves that may be applicable to their situation. See the Employee Handbook for more information about available leaves.
Yes. Employees who choose to quarantine themselves are able to use any accrued personal leave days and can still apply for other leaves that may be applicable to their situation. See the Employee Handbook for more information about available leaves.

Some individuals report experiencing mild symptoms 24-48 hours after receiving the vaccine. If you have not had close contact with a known positive case in the previous 14 days, you may come to work with mild symptoms of low-grade fever (below 100.0F), fatigue, headache, chills and/or muscle or body aches, which is common during the first 48 hours. If symptoms persist for more than 2 days, the employee should isolate and consider testing.

Symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell are NOT consistent with post-vaccination symptoms, and employees with these symptoms or fever >100.0F should isolate and consider testing.

(A temperature of 100.0F or above is considered a fever.)

No, students must be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication before returning to school.

(A temperature of 100.0F or above is considered a fever.)

No, employees must be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication before returning to work. Employees required to stay home due to fever are able to use any accrued personal leave days and can still apply for other leaves that may be applicable to their situation.