Update #18 from Supt. Eddie Peasant: Covid Vaccinations & MSDH Return to School Guidance for K-12

Update #18 from Supt. Eddie Peasant:  Covid Vaccinations & MSDH Return to School Guidance for K-12

 

Dear Jacket family,

Positivity rates for Covid-19 continue to spike in our state and our greater school community. This is concerning as we prepare for a return to full, in-personal traditional school in August.

Vaccinations are our best defense against the spread of COVID-19. The Starkville Oktibbeha School District urges all employees and all students above the age of 12 with parent permission to be fully vaccinated.

On Friday, July 23, our community partners at OCH will host a Back to School Covid Vaccine Walk-in Clinic for students ages 12 and older from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon in the OCH Community Room. No appointments are needed.

Vaccine appointments are also available throughout our community at Walmart, WalGreens, CVS and Kroger stores. You may also check with your local health care provider or pharmacy to schedule your vaccine or go to covidvaccine.umc.edu to schedule your vaccine at the Oktibbeha County Health Department.

Individuals who are fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine if exposed to a positive Covid-19 case unless they become symptomatic. Proof of vaccination may be required.  

As we learned during the 2020-21 school year, a very small number of Covid-positive cases can have a significant impact on our schools' ability to operate a traditional school environment.

All of us must continue to be diligent in our efforts to reduce spread of Covid-19. Help protect your Jacket family and make plans to get vaccinated.

Latest Guidance from MSDH for K-12 for Prevention and Control of Covid-19

As the Starkville Oktibbeha School District plans for a return to a traditional school schedule for in-person instruction in August 2021, the District is revising and adapting plans accordingly and appropriately with the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, the Mississippi State Department of Health, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Mississippi Department of Education.

The Mississippi State Department of Health issued new guidance for schools for the 2021-2022 school year on July 16.

Please click on the link below to view the complete guidance:

Public Health Guidance for the Prevention and Control of COVID-19 in K-12 Settings for the 2021-2022

Key Takeaways for the MSDH Public Health Guidance include:

  • All eligible students, teachers, and staff 12 years of age and older should receive COVID-19 vaccination.
  • Masks should be worn indoors in school settings by all individuals (age 2 and older) who arenot fully vaccinated.
  • Schools should maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within classrooms, combined with indoor mask wearing by people who are not fully vaccinated, to reduce transmission risk.
  • Routine Screening testing of asymptomatic unvaccinated students, teachers, and staff is recommended as an additional measure to prevent further transmission.
  • Schools should continue to isolate and exclude COVID-19 infected students, teachers, and staff and continue contact tracing to identify exposed individuals for quarantine and exclusion from the school setting.
  • All students, teachers, and staff who have symptoms of any infectious illness, regardless of vaccination status, should stay home from school and be evaluated by their healthcare provider.

As a reminder, fully vaccinated students, teachers and staff:

  • Do not have to wear a mask when indoors
  • Do not have to quarantine or be excluded from the school setting if they have COVID-19 exposure unless they become symptomatic
  • Do not have to be tested unless symptomatic

Any changes to our return to school guide, Staying Safe Together, will be shared with faculty, staff, parents and students prior to the start of the school year. 

All of us share a personal responsibility to keep each member of our Jacket family safe and healthy. Thank you for your continued support of these efforts to help us stay safe together.

Sincerely,

Eddie Peasant