TCS Superintendent Thanks Parents For Keeping Sick Kids Home

TRUSSVILLE, AL —Trussville City School Superintendent Pattie Neill penned a letter Wednesday thanking the district's parents and guardians for keeping COVID-positive or potentially positive students out of school during the recent surge in the virus.

"Trussville City Schools would like to commend parents for their diligence in keeping symptomatic students home during this surge in COVID," Neill wrote in a letter that was sent to parents and guardians and posted on the district's website.

"Our numbers represent positive cases reported to our schools and clinics by parents. Because of the diligence of our parents, we are fortunate that very few sick students have actually come to school since starting second semester. We are concerned for all of the families impacted by COVID and we will continue to do all we can to help families and students have a successful school year."

Neill reiterated that schools are open, but that safety precautions remain in place in classrooms and on school busses.

"Please continue to utilize safety precautions during this surge while outside of school," Neill wrote.

The letter also reviewed the new CDC quarantine guidelines for people who test positive for COVID-19, guidelines the district supports.

According to the new guidelines, if a student tests positive for COVID-19:

• Parents should notify the school nurse, and the student should remain home from school for 5 days.
• If a student has no symptoms or symptoms are resolving after 5 days AND the student has been without fever for 24 hours, they may return to school.
• Students who test positive for COVID-19 and continue to have symptoms cannot return to campus or attend any school events until after 10 days have passed since their positive test.
• If the student returns after five days, the student agrees to continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
• If the student does not choose to wear a mask, they may stay home the entire 10 days and the Quarantine Facilitator will continue to support them in completing assignments until the student returns.

If a student shows 3 or more symptoms of COVID-19 they may:

• End isolation if they get a negative COVID test from a physician's office.
• If symptoms resolve after 5 days and the student has been without fever for at least 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, they may return to school and activities.

According to ADPH, COVID-19 systems may include: Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, cough, new loss of taste or smell, fever (greater than 100.4) or chills, muscle or body aches, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, headache, sore throat, congestion or runny nose and fatigue.

If a student has been exposed to COVID-19 but has been vaccinated in the last 6 months or has had a booster, they may return to school if they:

• Wear a mask around others for 10 days.
• Test on day 5, if possible.
• If symptoms develop, students should stay home and get tested, if possible.

If a student is unvaccinated in the last 6 months, they should:

• Stay home for 5 days. After that, continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
• If symptoms develop, they should stay home and get tested.