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Superintendent Update for 1-14-2022

January 14, 2022

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Community Update: Friday, January 14th 

Panther families,

Before we head into the weekend, I wanted to send another district update to all of you. 

“No School” on Monday, January 17th

  • Just a reminder that this coming Monday, January 17th is a “No school” day for students and staff as this is Martin Luther King Day. 

Kudos!

  • Congratulations to our Panther boys basketball team for their outstanding performance last night in a hard-fought win against Falls City Sacred Heart. The team will play Freeman in the finals of the MUDECAS tournament tomorrow evening (Saturday, January 15th) at 7:30 p.m. at the Beatrice City Auditorium.

  • The game will also be “live streamed” at the following link:  https://striv.tv/channel/jcc/

  • Go Panthers!

Current Job Openings

  • District OR-1 is looking for some outstanding applicants to help us fill our current job openings in several areas. These openings are listed below. If you are interested in any of the following positions (or know someone who may want to join our team) please have them contact our school office at (402) 780-5327.

  • Elementary Secretary 

  • School Nurse

  • Substitute Bus Driver

  • Substitute Teacher

  • Substitute Paraprofessional 

Updated Information from the Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department: 

  • In response to the current surge of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) today issued a new local Directed Health Measure (DHM) that includes a mask mandate. The DHM goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, January 15th and continues through Friday, February 11th, when it will be reevaluated.

  • This new DHM means that Bennet Elementary will return to masks being required beginning on Tuesday, January 18th (due to no school on Monday, January 17th). Please note that this DHM also means that we will return to masks being required on all district vehicles beginning tomorrow (Saturday, January 15th).  This includes all field trips and activities. 

  • Masks will continue to be recommended, but not required at Palmyra High School until further notice. 

  • As stated in our prior community updates, these protocols are subject to change based on evolving local health conditions. 

  • More information about the new DHM is listed here: 

  • Thank you again for your continued flexibility, support, and understanding during this most unprecedented time. 

Current District OR-1 COVID Data: Updated 1.14.2022

  • Listed below is the updated number of reported COVID positive cases so far for the second semester.

    • Total Covid Positive Cases: 25

      • 24 student cases: (15 at the elementary and 9 at the high school)

      • 1 staff case: Elementary

    • Please note: Our COVID positive numbers at school may continue to elevate as we work through this surge in Omicron variants in the coming weeks. We will continue to closely monitor our student and staff absences and positive cases and make adjustments to our protocols as needed. 

    • We continue to urge staff and families to self-monitor for any possible symptoms and inform our school offices as soon as possible if your child will be absent. 

    • Vaccine Update: Booster shots are now available for children aged 12-15.  Click here to access the health department website which explains eligibility criteria and includes information on how to access a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot.

Current COVID Operating Protocols: 

  • Please note: These protocols are in alignment with local health department guidelines for schools. 

    • Listed below are our updated self-screening protocols. Thank you for your assistance in helping us keep our students and staff from getting ill. These self-screening protocols are also posted on the doors to our buildings.

Self-Screening Protocols: 

  • If you answer “Yes” to any of the first three questions listed below, do not come to school or enter one of our buildings. If you answered “Yes” to the last question, please make sure you are following our “close contact” protocol listed below and wear a mask.

  • Do you have one of the following symptoms?

    • Fever of over 100.4 degrees

    • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

    • Onset of a dry cough

    • Loss of taste or smell

  • Have you had two (or more) of the following symptoms for longer than 24 hours?

    • Chills lasting for over two hours

    • Congestion and or runny nose

    • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

    • Sore throat

    • Headache

    • Muscle Aches

  • Have you been directed to self-isolate or quarantine by a school official or health provider?

  • Have you had “close contact” with someone who has tested positive for COVID -19?

    • “Close contact” means that you have been around the positive individual (closer than six feet) for longer than 15 minutes within the same day without wearing a mask. 

Positive COVID-19 Diagnosis (Isolation): 

  • If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they should isolate at home for 5 days from the date the positive COVID-19 test sample was collected. If an individual is unable to get a test right away, they should begin their isolation date from the onset of COVID symptoms. 

  • If an individual does not have symptoms or if symptoms are resolving (e.g., fever free for at least 24-hours), they can return to school on Day 6, but they will be required to wear a mask through Day 10.  This is a consistent standard which is used in schools across Nebraska.  

  • If a student or staff cannot wear a mask, they will be required to isolate for 10 days similar to the previous isolation criteria.  Please note: There are no mask exemptions. 

Positive COVID-19 Case Procedures:

  • If an individual tests positive for COVID-19, they need to stay home for 5 days.  

    • The start of the isolation differs depending on if the person was symptomatic or asymptomatic. 

    • For a person who is asymptomatic, but tests positive, Day 0 is the date the sample was collected.

    • For a person with COVID symptoms, Day 0 is the day the first obvious symptom, such as fever, cough, sore throat, muscle pain or diarrhea occurred.  

    • If an individual does not have symptoms or if symptoms are resolving (for example, they meet the school’s criteria for readmission), they can return to school on Day 6.  However, they must wear a mask through Day 10. 

    • COVID positive students returning on Day 6 without symptoms should increase social distances during lunch periods to reduce exposure to other students or staff.

    • Students that return on Day 6 without symptoms should not participate in choir or play band instruments that involve air flow.

    • Students returning on Day 6 without symptoms should not participate in physical education or athletics unless they can do so wearing a well-fitting mask which stays over the mouth and nose during such activity.

“Close Contact” Exposure (Quarantine): 

  • Students and staff will not be excluded from school for quarantine if they are deemed a “close contact” so long as they wear a mask for 10 consecutive days following exposure while at school or participating in school activities. 

  • Individuals are strongly recommended to be tested using a COVID-19 PCR test on Day 5 after the exposure.

  • More information about testing is listed here: https://app.lincoln.ne.gov/city/covid19/

  • Students or staff who have an on-going high-risk exposure to a COVID-19 positive individual who is unable to isolate (i.e., living in the same household with someone who is unable to isolate) will need to remain at home until the positive individual completes 5 days of isolation.  

  • If symptoms develop at any time during the 10 days following exposure, an individual will be excluded as if they were COVID-19 positive until they can present a negative COVID-19 PCR lab test result or otherwise complete an isolation period as described above.  

  • If a student or staff cannot wear a mask, they will be excluded from school for the duration of the 10-day quarantine period.  

Classroom Transmission:

  • If virus transmission is suspected within a specific classroom, required masking will be implemented for that classroom or activity area. This required masking would last for at least ten consecutive days to minimize or eliminate additional spread.

  • We will closely monitor additional cases and may implement other enhanced protocols if needed to reduce further transmission.

NRCSA Nominations for Outstanding District Staff Members:

  • We are very blessed in our district to have such outstanding staff members. In coordination with the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association (NRCSA) we are asking for nominations for the following categories: 

    • Outstanding Principal

    • Outstanding Elementary Teacher

    • Outstanding Secondary Teacher 

Upcoming Community Engagement Meetings:

  • Wednesday, January 19th beginning @ 6:00 p.m.

    • District OR-1 will be hosting a Community Engagement meeting to discuss our recent Strategic Planning Process, District Enrollment Study, and School Operations. The meeting will be held at Palmyra High School in the media center. A building tour will follow the meeting for those who wish to see the facility.

  • Wednesday, January 26th beginning @ 6:00 p.m.

    • District OR-1 will be hosting a Community Engagement meeting to discuss our recent Strategic Planning Process, District Enrollment Study, and School Operations. The meeting will be held at Bennet Elementary School in the media center. A building tour will follow the meeting for those who wish to see the facility.

Have a safe weekend, and thank you again for your support of our students, staff, and district.

Mike 

Go Panthers!