By Myrna Trauntvein
TN Correspondent
The Juab School District has developed some new COVID-19 regulations in order for schools to remain open. Now that Juab County is under the newly established High-Risk Recommendations and Restrictions from Governor Gary Herbert’s office and the Utah Department of Health, said Dr. Kodey Hughes, superintendent, the district is continually working to maintain student services and opportunities. “Changes to district protocols, including heightening mask communication to parents and students, are being made,” said Hughes. “The district is now required to communicate and establish a maximum number of participants in school team practices as well as an established number of spectators allowed to watch in building events,” said Hughes. For example, he said, the families and friends of those honored at school board meeting were not invited. Just the honorees were invited to attend board meeting. The board was also practicing social distancing at their meetings. He said that he was working diligently with the Central Utah Public Health Department to establish school building protocols that will allow for the special events to take place, such as the Senior Ball, the state football dinner, the FFA Cook-Off activities and musical productions. “The county’s change to high risk poses many challenges,” he said. “Still, the district, including myself, are committed to leveraging every opportunity possible under the current conditions to ensure that our students can continue with a positive, memorable and productive school year.” Under the new protocols established by the state, the health department will continue to monitor sporting events in light of the risk level. “The team practices may need to be lowered to a smaller group of participants at a time,” said Hughes. Of course, the different sports, going forward, would be treated according to the number of team members. “We had to cancel the Chili Cook-Off,” said Hughes. “We are working to allow it to take place in a different way.” It could be held at the county fairgrounds and participants could receive food from their cars as a drive through. “The board will have some decisions,” he said.”Do we want to invite family of team members from other areas? As a district board you may want to be thinking about that.” If the county stays at high risk level, he said, they may only want to host the team and not the parents and other fans from areas outside the county. “Last month we updated our action plan,” said Hughes. “Now we are modifying it again.” On Wednesday, October 21, the Utah Department of Health reported a daily total of 1,363 additional cases of COVID-19 and 6 more deaths. The state health department reported 993,995 Utahns had been tested for the virus. An increase of 7,571 people tested since yesterday. The rolling 7-day average for positive tests was 1,283 per day. The rolling 7-day average for percent of positive laboratory tests was 15.1 percent which was well above the 5 percent that the Department of Health says indicates a flattening of the curve in the state. If a school in the district reaches a total of 20 positive COVID-19 active test results, the entire school will quarantine and shift to online learning for a period of two weeks. Training will be coordinated through the Office of School Performance on school’s protocol for temporary re-closing schools if necessary. Any communication regarding positive cases of COVID will be coordinated with the Utah Health Department, school and district leadership if school closure is recommended. “We have a COVID-19 Transition Plan Symptomatic and/or Positive Test Results for COVID-19,” said Hughes. Juab District has launched a data dashboard that includes school-community positive cases per school for those enrolled in learning. “If a classroom in the district reaches a total of three positive COVID-19 active test results, that entire classroom will quarantine and shift to online learning of two weeks,” said Hughes. This is for elementary school classes and will be handled differently on the secondary level. “If a sports team or extracurricular activity program within the district reaches a positive number of COVID-19 cases in excess of three, a program closure will be reviewed by district administration in collaboration with the Central Utah Health Department to determine quarantine periods,” he said. The Action Plan is the regulation that schools will communicate health and safety issues transparently while protecting the privacy of students and families. The following protocols will be observed: The school will verify that the student, teacher or staff member who was exposed and the person who tested positive were both wearing a face mask as defined by the State Public Health Order on masks in schools. Face shields do not count as face coverings under the health order. If the student or employee tests negative for COVID-19 (the test must be a PCT or antigen test and not an antibody test) at least seven days after the last exposure, they will be readmitted. Those currently on quarantine may now seek a new test for a possible early return. The student, teacher or staff member who does not have symptoms of COVID-19, of course, will be able to stay in school. | 