There’s no denying that things look a whole lot different this year for back-to-school. Some kids are being home-schooled. Others are taking classes virtually. And other parents have chosen to send their kids back to the classroom in an attempt to once again find some normalcy for both themselves and their child.
With that being said, the Eagle Grove Area School District has been doing all they can to help parents and students achieve academic success in whatever way they choose. However, for those going back to class in person, they have set up several guidelines and requirements in the best interest of keeping both the students and faculty safe and actually IN school as long as possible…hopefully the entire year.
In addition to wearing face masks/shields, increasing hand sanitizer locations and cleaning surfaces, prohibiting the use of drinking fountains (they only allow the bottle fillers to be used), and keeping kids in “pods” throughout the day so as to limit their exposure to multiple students, they have also changed the way they handle “sick” visits to the nurses office.
In a statement released by Robert Blue Middle School Principal Scott Jeske last week, he reminded the public that the threshold for sending students home due to certain symptoms is a lot lower than it has been in the past.
“While we are very aware that many symptoms of COVID-19 are also symptoms of things like allergies and colds, in order to help our students stay in school in person, students are being sent home for things they otherwise in the past would not have been,” he said. “There are high risk and low risk symptoms of COVID-19 and guidelines are to send students home if they have either one high risk symptom or two low risk symptoms.”
He added that in the past it might have been easier to identify possible strep, colds, or basic allergies, but this year, in the midst of the pandemic, it’s much harder to say that these “symptoms” might not be precursors of COVID.
“We understand the frustrations surrounding this, but we need to look out for the health and safety of the staff and students. If students are absent from school due to illness, they must be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school,” Jeske stated.
The use of over-the-counter medication has also changed. In the past, Tylenol or ibuprofen would have been given to students complaining of headache or other body aches if a student’s parents had signed off on a permission form. But this year, according to Jeske, schools throughout the state are not issuing them as frequently…following similar guidance by the CDC, Public Health, and the Department of Education.
Despite all the changes this year, Jeske said in these first few weeks of school that have taken place, the students have been doing a great job of following protective measures like washing their hands, using hand sanitizer, and wearing the PPE.
“Again, we do understand that there are many other illnesses out there, but many present with the same symptoms of COVID-19, so we will continue to be diligent to protect our staff, students, and community members. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we navigate this year together. If you should have any questions or concerns, please contact me or School Nurse Beth Carder,” concluded Jeske.
