Health and Safety - Top Priorities
District and school leaders continue to work with and follow guidance from public health officials to meet evolving health and safety requirements. Throughout the year, procedures will be monitored continuously to ensure schools and district buildings are safe environments for everyone. All students, staff, and families are expected to follow all health and safety protocols to keep everyone as safe as possible.
If a student or staff member is feeling sick with COVID-19 symptoms, they should remain home while sick and it is recommended they test for COVID-19.
PSD health offices have a limited number of remaining COVID tests, please reach out to your health office if you need any resources or have any questions.
The U.S. government is giving out free COVID tests again. Every U.S. household may place an order to have four free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered to their home. You can place an order on the COVID.gov website.
Additional information about testing is on the LCDHE COVID-19 Testing web page.
Students who don't feel well during school should go to the health office to be evaluated by a staff member. If it is determined that their symptoms meet guidance for going home, the parent or guardian will be contacted to pick up the child from school. Health office staff will consult with the parent to determine when a student can return.
Possible COVID-19 symptoms:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Returning to School Following COVID
PSD follows How Sick Is Too Sick guidelines/¿Qué tan enfermo es demasiado enfermo? on when students and staff should stay home and when they may return to school following illness.
To prevent outbreaks and reduce COVID-19 transmission in school settings we recommend that parents/guardians report when their child has tested positive for COVID-19 to their school directly. Staff members are available to assist you with determining when your student may return to school activities after testing positive for COVID-19.
Masks Optional in PSD
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Masks are required in these instances:
- Students or staff returning to school on days 6-10 following isolation or quarantine must wear a well-fitting mask while at school.
- Students or staff not able to wear a well-fitting mask on days 6-10, should remain home for days 6-10.
- Any extracurricular activities on days 6-10 will also require mask wear. During that time students should not participate in activities where they cannot safely wear a mask.
- When students become symptomatic at school, they will be required to wear a mask in the precautionary room.
- Masks are not recommended for children ages 2 years and younger.
Vaccinations Encouraged, Not Required
PSD encourages, but does not require staff or students to get the COVID-19 vaccine. For more information about the vaccine, please visit the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment's COVID-19 web page and the CDPHE COVID-19 web page. Questions about the vaccine? Please contact LCDHE by calling 970-498-5500 (M-F, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) or text 970-999-1770.
FAQs, Confidentiality, Data Transparency
The CDC has recommended that the COVID immunization be added to the 2023 childhood immunization schedule. Is this required to attend school in PSD?
The Centers for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended adding information for approved COVID-19 vaccines to the 2023 childhood immunization schedule. However, the CDC only makes vaccine recommendations, and it is up to state or local jurisdictions to decide which vaccines are required for children in schools.
The current school entry vaccine requirements for Colorado can be found at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment “School-required vaccines” webpage.
What should we do when we're exposed to COVID-19? Who monitors symptoms?
If exposed to COVID-19, take precautions such as masking and testing as recommended.
As of August 11, 2022, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention no longer recommends quarantine for people who have been exposed to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status. However, CDC recommends that people who have been exposed still take precautions to protect others, such as masking around others for 10 days and getting tested five days after exposure.
Monitor yourself for symptoms. Isolate and test if symptoms develop.
What if my child or a staff member tests positive for COVID-19?
Those who test positive for COVID should follow the How Sick Is Too Sick guidelines on when students and staff should stay home and when they may return to school following illness. These guidelines include the Center's for Disease Control isolation and precautions guidelines for people with COVID.
What if my child has COVID-19 symptoms, but tests negative for COVID?
PSD follows How Sick Is Too Sick guidelines on when students and staff should stay home and when they may return to school following illness. This guide covers flu-like symptoms, vomiting/throwing up, specific diagnoses like flu, strep throat, RSV, chickenpox, and other common communicable diseases.
PSD and Confidentiality
PSD may need to share some student information requested by LCDHE staff during case investigations that includes, but isn't limited to, parent/guardian name, parent/guardian phone number(s), student name, student grade, student school of attendance, and student date of birth. PSD will never share parent/guardian or student social security numbers. All disclosures are made in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
PSD protects the release of student information under The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA. However, PSD can release certain student information to LCDHE or other public health agencies without parental consent if the disclosure is in connection with a health or safety emergency and the public health agency's knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals, according to FERPA.
Communications and Data Transparency
On a case-by-case basis, PSD works with LCDHE to communicate important information to targeted staff and/or parents and guardians. Case communications are sent only to impacted groups, not to the entire school community.
PSD and LCDHE staff keep the identity of students and staff who test positive for or are believed to be exposed to COVID-19 confidential.