Dear Deer Park Families:
We sent out a release last week about student illness. Since then, we have been provided some updates from Hamilton County Public Health and we wanted to share those with you, as they do impact our student illness procedures.
Updates from Hamilton County Public Health:
We will no longer be permitted to accept a negative test to allow a student back to school prior to their ten day isolation period ending. We will still be able to accept medical documentation in some circumstances. All medical documentation will need to be provided to the school for review and approval prior to the student returning to school.
Please see the information below for the original release for all other details regarding student illnesses.
We understand that students become ill at all times of the year and not every illness will be COVID-19 related. However, we must protect the safety and health of all of our students and staff at Deer Park Schools. For this reason, we are strictly abiding by the guidance provided by the Hamilton County Public Health Department in their recommendations as they pertain to students who are ill.
We ask that parents perform a wellness assessment of their children each morning, prior to sending them to school. This includes assessing for the following symptoms:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty breathing
- Fever (>100 degrees)
- Chills
- Rigors (chills with shaking)
- Myalgia (body aches)
- Headache
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
If your child exhibits any of these symptoms, please keep your child home and report the symptoms to your child’s school. If your child exhibits any of these symptoms while at school, parents will be contacted to pick up their child. In accordance with the Hamilton County Public Health Department guidelines, we will ask that you either have your child tested for COVID-19 or make an appointment with your child’s physician to determine if COVID-19 testing is appropriate.
In many instances where students are exhibiting the above mentioned symptoms, you will be asked to isolate your child at home for ten days. We previously stated that if you are able to provide a negative COVID-19 test OR your child’s physician does not believe this illness is COVID-19 related and does not recommend a test, your child may be able to return to school prior to the ten day exclusion. In order to make this determination, please provide appropriate documentation of a negative COVID-19 test or a note from your child’s physician to the school nurse. The district will review the documentation provided and make a determination on when your child may return to school. However, we will no longer be permitted to accept a negative test to allow a student back to school prior to their ten day isolation period ending. We will still be able to accept medical documentation in some circumstances. All medical documentation will need to be provided to the school for review and approval prior to the student returning to school.
Regardless of medical documentation from your child’s physician, your child must be fever free and symptom free for 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medication, prior to their return to school. If your child has a pending COVID-19 test for any reason, please do not send your child to school until you receive your results.
If you have any questions related to COVID-19 as it pertains to your child’s education, you may contact Dr. Stace Orso, Assistant Superintendent, at orso.s@dpccsd.org or 513-891-0222.