By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Hays USD 489 school board members have received messages from parents in favor and against a proposal to shorten COVID-19 quarantines in some cases, according to Ron Wilson, superintendent.
In a special meeting Monday night, the board unanimously approved a recommendation to reduce the quarantine from 14 days to seven days for students or staff identified as close contacts in the school environment, and all parties were wearing masks.
The idea was shared last week with building administrators, and the feedback was very positive, Wilson said.
"From a teacher's perspective, it can alleviate some stress from the standpoint when they are trying to teach a [in-person] class but also have a large quarantine class. By having less kids that they're trying to do two things at the same time, it'll relieve some stress there," Wilson told the board.
The rationale for the change is based upon a data sample taken Oct. 15, the end of the academic year's first nine weeks.
It shows show 611 students and staff have missed school days because of coronavirus quarantine and/or isolation.
None of the students or staff placed in quarantine due to close contact in school have tested positive during their quarantine period.
The seven-day adjustment in quarantine is based on the number of days most individuals develop symptoms after exposure — three to seven days.
"We want to keep our kids in school," said the parents and one Hays High School educator who spoke Monday in favor of the shortened quarantine.
Each person related personal observations of students who are not doing well, physically or mentally, when they return to school after the 14-day quarantine or when taking classes online during the quarantine.
"Online classes don't work for everyone," said parent Rene Myers, who is an instructor at NCK Tech college in Hays.
Myers also talked about reported incidents of bullying and anger at students who are quarantined.
Dr. Heather Harris, medical director of HaysMed, and Jason Kennedy, Ellis County Health Services director, both of whom are parents with children in the Hays school district, also talked in support of the shorter quarantine.
The two health providers meet each Tuesday morning to discuss the pandemic's impact on USD 489 and advise on the district's updated COVID plan for the 2020-21 school year.
"We're saying that because these kids are social distancing, because they're washing their hands, because they're wearing masks, because they're adapting their schedules, because they're doing things the general public isn't doing, they're at lower risk," Kennedy explained.
"Therefore, we'll be able to reduce or look at reduction in some of the measure to mitigate the risk because we've already taken measures upfront to mitigate that same risk."
Kennedy and Harris both said the majority of positive COVID-19 patients in Ellis County have reported attending large family gatherings, especially weddings.
School Board President Mike Walker noted the quarantine policy could change again at any time.
Kennedy stressed he still has the state and county authority to issue a quarantine order, despite the board's decision.
"We can turn this thing around on a dime if the numbers start to grow," said Harris.
Still, "nobody who went home, came back sick," Harris noted, although it's possible someone can be COVID-positive with no symptoms, she added.
Students who currently are in the midst of the close contact quarantine will be able to return to their classrooms seven calendar days from the last day of contact.
The shortened quarantine policy is effective immediately.