Skip to main content

RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION Addressing COVID-19


Posted Date: 02/27/2022

RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION Addressing COVID-19

WHEREAS, the Creede School District (“District”) Board of Education (“Board”) has the duty to adopt policies necessary and proper for the efficient administration of the affairs of the District; and

WHEREAS, the Board strongly values preserving student safety, and also strives to balance that safety with the needs of District students to engage in an in-person learning environment; and

WHEREAS, the Board is a strong proponent of individual responsibility and personal choice, such that students and their families and staff members can generally make their own decisions about their own health outcomes; and

WHEREAS, COVID-19 vaccines are now available for students five years of age and older for those that choose to take them as guided by wishes of their parents and guardians and COVID-19 vaccines have been available to District staff and many District staff members have elected to get vaccinated; and

WHEREAS, Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) recommends transitioning to a routine disease control model for COVID-19 in K-12 settings (as of 2/11/22- https://covid19.colorado.gov/practical-guide-for-operationalizing-cdc-school-guidance ;) and

WHEREAS, Silver Thread Public Health acknowledges that our area has reached high “herd immunity” as well as having a vaccination rate of over 80% for persons age 5+; and

WHEREAS, the Board acknowledges its responsibility to comply with federal, state, or local law and/or public health orders that address the mitigation of or response to communicable disease;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Education of Creede School District as follows:

  1. We recognize that CDC recommends universal indoor masking and vaccination by all students, staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools. Until otherwise mandated by local, state, and/or federal authorities, the District will abide by the following:

    •   School vehicles are public transportation. While masks are federally mandated on all

      public transportation, masks will be required for drivers and passengers.

    •   There is not a District policy requiring masks. We will honor the decision of parents

      when it comes to their children wearing or not wearing a mask in school. We will not

      tolerate teasing or shaming students or staff who wear masks.

    •   There is not a District policy requiring a COVID-specific universal vaccine mandate.

  2. Students or staff members who test positive for COVID-19 will be required to isolate according to the following guidelines, as put forth by CDPHE on 1/18/22:

    •   Isolate from school for 5 full days. (The date of your symptom onset OR positive test

      result is considered day 0. Day 1 is the first full day after your positive test result or

      symptom onset.) ○

    •   Return to school on day six if

      o Symptoms are absent and 24 hours fever-free without fever-reducing medications, AND

       negative COVID-19 test result on the morning of return (tests may be performed at home, at Public Health or at school), OR

page1image24944512

 maskingfordays6-10
o If the individual has a positive test result for COVID-19 on any of the days 6-9, they

will continue to isolate through day 10.
o If not testing or masking, the staff member or student may return to school on day

11.
o Isolated students will be provided with learning opportunities until they are able to

return to the classroom.
3. The District will implement the following CDPHE’s suggested routine disease control strategies:

○ Encourage staff and families to conduct daily health screenings before attending, and stay home when sick or symptomatic
○ Recommended transmission prevention strategies, including testing and masking for staff and students following exposure.

○ Household exposures: Given the much greater risk of household exposures to COVID-19 compared to non-household exposures, the District has set the following recommendations:

■ Recommend isolating away from sick family members if possible
■ Closely monitor for cold-like symptoms and stay home if present.
■ STRONGLY recommend daily testing until day 11. Tests may be performed at home, public health, or school
■ Recommend masking until day 11 post-exposure.

○ If a student leaves school or stays home from school for illness, but does not test positive for COVID-19, the District will require that the student be 24 hours fever-free without fever-reducing medications before returning. The District will strongly recommend a negative rapid-test before returning for any individual with cold-like or respiratory symptoms.

○ Respond to clusters of cases (including increases in respiratory illness) and confirmed outbreaks, and continue to report identified cases and outbreaks to public health as required by Colorado Statute and Regulation (6 CCR 1009-1).

4. If an outbreak of COVID-19 is identified in the school, the following strategies may be implemented

○ Limit mixing of impacted grades, classrooms, or other groups during meals, recess, and other gatherings to limit spread while a school is experiencing an outbreak.
○ Strongly recommend masking and testing for those with possible exposure
○ Temporary closure of classrooms or District

This plan is subject to change upon the approval of the Creede School District Board of Education. APPROVED this 22 day of February, 2022, by a vote of _____5 – 0_______. CREEDE SCHOOL DISTRICT By:

Casey Adelman _________________________________________President, Board of Education Attest: By: Brittni Addison ________________________________ Secretary, Board of Education