COVID-19 Protocols

AUSD’s priority for the 2022-23 is to continue to have our students and teachers attending in school in-person and on-campus. At the same time, we continue to focus on reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission by implementing a number of mitigation strategies in accordance with public health guidance. Those guidelines have changed frequently over the last two years, but in general those strategies - what we call “layers of protection” - fall into three categories: personal behavior and equipment; facility improvements and protocols; and identifying and responding to positive cases. The modules below summarize these protocols; select the tabs to get more details.

Our Layers of Protection

Air Filtration

Our classrooms continue to benefit from improved ventilation and filtration, including:

Adjusted ventilation systems to maximize fresh air in classrooms.

MERV-13 air filters that collect greater amounts of particles, pollen, aerosols, and other impurities than the MERV-8 filters we used previously.

Supplemental air purifiers for all classrooms. These contain high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters that can add another layer of defense against viral transmission within our classrooms.

Masks

As of July 13, 2022, both the California Dpeartment of Public Health and the Alameda County Department of Public Health "highly recommend" but do not mandate masks in K-12 schools. Mask wearing helps reduce transmission of COVID-19 and protects our most vulnerable community members against the disease.

As such:

AUSD also continues to recommend that students and staff wear high-quality masks while they are indoors on campus. Masks should comply with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) masks recommendations (e.g., a KF94, N95, or surgical mask).
All masks should cover the mouth and nose and fit snugly on your child’s face.
Each school site has masks available for any student or staff that needs one.
For more information about recommended mask wearing protocols, please this CDC page about when and how best to use masks.

Students who for medical reasons cannot wear cloth or paper masks are allowed to wear plastic face shields with a cloth drape attached and tucked into their shirt neck. AUSD has these plastic shields available for students who need them.

COVID-19 Testing

Over the course of the pandemic, AUSD has offered robust testing for students and staff alike. That testing has included background testing for grades K-6, drop-in testing at centralized sites, and response testing for classrooms in which there was a positive case. Testing regimens have changed in response to state and county public health guidelines, COVID-19 conditions in our community, and available resources.

As of March 1, 2023, AUSD will provide rapid, at-home antigen tests for any students and staff who would like to test. These tests, which should be used at home, are available in school offices.

Throughout 2022-23, AUSD is also distributing rapid tests to all students and staff to take prior to returning to campuses after breaks.

For information about our current testing regimen, please see our COVID-19 testing page.

COVID-19 Vaccinations

Cleaning & Sanitation

According to the California Department of Public Health's guidance for the 2022-23 school year, cleaning - versus disinfection - is sufficient for reducing COVID-19 transmission. As such, classrooms and common areas will be cleaned daily. That cleaning will include “high touch” surfaces, such as light switches, door knobs, desks, chairs, countertops, pencil sharpener handles, faucets, white boards, and stair railings.

All classrooms will also be supplied with wipes so that teachers and/or students can wipe down surfaces as they feel is necessary.

We have posted more information on AUSD’s disinfecting equipment and supplies here.

Handwashing

What to do when your child...

Tests positive for COVID-19

What should I do if my child tests positive?

Please contact the attendance clerk at your school right away and also fill out the "COVID-19 Symptoms and Positive Cases" form under the Family Resources tab of your school's home page.

Your child will have an option of two protocols:

10-day isolation period

Your student stays home for a full 10 days and can return to school on Day 11 without taking a test.

5-day isolation period

Your student stays home for a full five days as long as:

They have been fever free for 24 hours and
Their symptoms are improving

Families will receive more detailed instructions via email.

How can we reduce the risk that my child will spread COVID to other family members?

The strategies for reducing the transmission of COVID-19 within your household include:

Wearing a mask
Washing your hands frequently
Avoiding sharing items
Optimizing ventilation, including by keeping doors and windows open
Cleaning surfaces frequently

For more information, please review ACPHD’s “Home isolation and Quarantine Instructions for People with COVID-19 and Their Household or Close Contacts” fact sheets.

My child tested positive on the first test and then negative right after. Can they return to school?

No. The Alameda County Public Health District has advised AUSD that subsequent testing does not override the need for positive cases to “isolate” as determined by the initial testing. This is because the viral load in your child may have dropped below detection levels by the time they are tested, but your child may still be infectious. As such, the district needs to respond to the initial positive result. This direction may change in the future depending on community spread, but ultimately we cannot make these decisions. Instead the district and our schools must follow county direction.

Is exposed to someone with COVID-19

Someone in my child’s class tested positive for COVID. What happens now?

If a member of a class or cohort tests positive for COVID, students and staff can continue to attend school, regardless of their vaccination status.

The California Department of Public Health recommends that people exposed to COVID-19:

Mask for 10 days after the last exposure.
Test for COVID-19 three to five days after last exposure. Each AUSD school keeps rapid tests in the front office for students and staff to use. As long as students test negative and remain without symptoms they can continue to attend class.
Monitor for COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days after last exposure.

What communications will we get if someone tests positive in my child's class?

What communication will we get if someone in a different class tests positive?

A member of our household has tested positive. What should my student do?

How do we quarantine our child from their siblings within the same household?

Has symptoms of COVID-19

My child is showing some potential symptoms - what should I do?
Can students come to school if they have symptoms of COVID-19?

My child is showing some potential symptoms - what should I do?

First, consider whether your child’s symptoms are new or different than your child's usual health. Public health experts suggest that you use your own understanding of your child's health to make the determination.

If the symptoms are unusual for your child, do not send them to school. Instead, contact your school's attendance clerk, fill out the "COVID-19 Symptoms and Positive Cases" form under "Family Resources" on your school's home page, and test your child tested for the virus.

It takes less than five minutes to fill out the form. Once you submit it, you’ll receive an email with instructions about your child’s isolation dates, the testing schedule, and other important information.

For more information, please review:

ACPHD: “If My Child Has Symptoms”
Minnesota Children's Hospital: How to Care for COVID-19 Symptoms at Home

Can students come to school if they have symptoms of COVID-19?

If a child develops these symptoms at school, the teacher will call the office. A staff member will take the student from the classroom to an isolated place, where they will be supervised until picked up. Students must be picked up by a parent/guardian or designated emergency contact.

A Health Office Assistant (HOA), School Site COVID-19 Liaison, or other staff member will follow up with the family to make sure they understand next steps, including:

Isolate for ten days or
Provide a note with an alternative health diagnosis from a healthcare provider or
Return after five days as long as: student is feeling better and student is fever free for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medication

Volunteer Protocols

AUSD is excited to welcome parent volunteers back on campus this year. We strongly recommend that volunteers stay masked while on campus and get tested for COVID-19 regularly. (See our COVID-19 Testing page for information on how to get tested.)

In addition, all volunteers need to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and show proof of that vaccination.

Contacts

AUSD COVID-19 Liaison Team

Susan Davis

Senior Manager, Community Affairs

sdavis@alamedaunified.org

Karen Allen, RN

District Nurse

kallen@alamedaunified.org

Sandra Hoffman-Dorrance, RN

District Nurse

shoffmandorrance@alamedaunified.org

COVID-19 Symptoms and Positive Cases Reporting Form

Please go to your school's home page and select "Family Resources." From the drop-down menu, select "COVID-19 Symptoms and Positive Cases." That will open the form for your school.