COVID-19 Response Overview
The health and safety guidelines outlined in this document are a direct reflection of the COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
As guidance from CDPH changes, we will update this document, send notifications to Campbell Union School District families and staff, and add summary information to the “Updates” section of this document.
As stated by CDPH:
“Disease management strategies in K-12 schools are guided by the principle that safe, in-person learning is critical to student well-being and development.
COVID-19 is here to stay, but we have learned methods and gained tools to decrease its impact on our health and well-being. California's schools can manage this disease in sustainable and adaptive manners. Additionally, many of the strategies used to address COVID-19 can protect school communities from other diseases and support healthy learning environments.
The guidance is based on current scientific knowledge and anticipated trends. It is subject to change, as COVID-19 conditions can shift rapidly and our response in schools must remain nimble and responsive to dynamic challenges.”
OVERVIEW OF STRATEGIES TO REDUCE SPREAD OF COVID-19
Layering mitigation strategies decreases the risk of in-school transmission of the coronavirus. Following are the Mitigation Strategies from the CDPH that will be implemented in Campbell Union School District for 2022-23.
- Staying Up to Date on Vaccinations
- Optimizing Indoor Air Quality
- Using Facemasks
- Getting Tested for COVID-19
- Maintaining Clean Hands
- Managing Individuals with Symptoms
- Reporting COVID-19 disease burden to local health authorities
- Managing Students Diagnosed with COVID-19
- Managing Students Exposed to COVID-19
- Managing COVID-19 Outbreaks
- Cleaning Facilities
What to Do If You Test Positive for COVID-19
If your student tests positive for COVID-19, please see the section: Managing Individuals with Symptoms.
The California Department of Public Health offers a offers this link to a secure platform for reporting at-home COVID-19 test result to your California Local Health Department. Please report both negative and positive results to help your local health department track COVID-19 in your community. (https://my.primary.health/l/caschools)
Mitigation Strategies by Topic
The virus that causes COVID-19 has reached a level known as Community Spread. Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected. Individuals can reduce their risk of infection by layering multiple mitigations.
Staying Up to Date on Vaccinations
According to the CDPH Guidance:
"Vaccinations prevent illness by working with the body's natural defenses to help safely develop immunity to disease. Not only do vaccinations provide individual-level protection, but high vaccination coverage reduces the burden of disease in schools and communities and may help protect individuals who are not vaccinated or those who may not develop a strong immune response from vaccination.
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Recommended Actions:
a. California strongly recommends that all eligible individuals get vaccinated against COVID-19 and remain up-to-date to protect oneself and reduce transmission of the virus.
b. Additionally, children have fallen behind on receiving other vaccines over the course of pandemic, placing them and their communities at increased risk of falling ill from other vaccine-preventable illnesses. Schools should review statutory requirements for vaccination requirements for entry into K–12 schools and visit Shots for School for information."
To locate a free COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Santa Clara County, visit sccfreevax.org or phone 2-1-1.
Optimizing Indoor Air Quality
To ensure healthy indoor air quality we have optimized our ventilation systems in accordance with the CDPH Guidance on Ventilation. Our HVAC systems are equipped with Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) 13 filters. A MERV rating of 13 or higher (MERV 13+) means that the filter gets rid of at least 90% of the particles the size of virus-containing aerosols.
Using Facemasks
The CDPH guidance recommends use of face coverings for all staff and students, regardless of vaccination status.
Masks, particularly high-quality and well-fitting masks (PDF), remain highly effective, inexpensive, and dynamic tools to protect oneself and mitigate transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory pathogens.
In accordance with the guidance:
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Wearing masks is no longer a requirement for K-12 and Childcare settings, regardless of vaccination status. Students and staff should follow CDPH masking guidance for the general public, unless otherwise directed by local health departments or as indicated for specific situations. See the Guidance for Use of Face Masks web page.
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Students who use face coverings will use those provided from home. Schools will maintain a supply of masks in case a student or staff member does not have one and needs one for the day.
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People do not need to wear masks when outdoors.
- No person can be prevented from wearing a mask as a condition of participation in an activity or entry into a school, unless wearing a mask would pose a safety hazard (e.g., watersports).
- Beginning April 3, 2023, masks will no longer be required in indoor high-risk and health care settings.
Maintaining Clean Hands
Hand hygiene can prevent the spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19.
As recommended in the CDPH guidance, our staff will teach proper handwashing (soap and water or hand sanitizer) and conduct routine, frequent hand-washing activities throughout the school day. Hand hygiene instruction will include:
- Reinforce washing hands, avoiding contact with one's eyes, nose, and mouth, and covering coughs and sneezes among students and staff.
- Promote hand washing throughout the day, especially before and after eating, after using the toilet, and after handling garbage, or removing gloves.
- Ensure adequate supplies to support healthy hygiene behaviors, including soap, tissues, no-touch trash cans, face coverings, and hand sanitizers with at least 60 percent ethyl alcohol for staff and children who can safely use hand sanitizer.
Managing Individuals with Symptoms
Daily screening for symptoms an essential measure to reduce spreading illnesses, including the coronavirus.
Before sending your child to school or the bus stop:
- Parents/Guardians need to check their child for symptoms of illness. Common symptoms on the virus that causes COVID-19 are: Fever or chills; Cough; Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; Fatigue (tiredness); Muscle or body aches; Headache; New loss of taste or smell; Sore throat; Congestion or runny nose; Nausea or vomiting; Diarrhea.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU TEST POSITIVE
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All persons with COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status or previous infection, should
- Isolate. If the student is sick, keep the child at home and report the absence to the school.
- If symptoms are concerning for COVID-19, it is strongly recommended that students wear a mask and consider getting tested*. Students should also follow CDPH recommendations isolating if results are positive.
* CDPH recommends that antigen tests be the primary option for detecting COVID-19 in schools, rather than PCR tests. Both the professional, on-site antigen tests as well as over-the-counter (OTC) at-home antigen tests have been effective in identifying persons who have infectious levels of all known variants of the COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2).
Note:
Due to the increased travel and social interactions that often occur during school-breaks, it is recommended that students and staff get tested for COVID-19 prior to returning to school following major breaks (e.g., summer, winter, spring). As supplies are available, the school will provide an antigen test for each student.
Support from School Staff
- All staff have been trained on signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
- Students who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 will be safely isolated until they are picked up. Employees exhibiting symptoms will be sent home, regardless of vaccination status.
- Our school nurses have reviewed all student health plans to prepare health support for returning students.
- Alternate assignments are available to children who need to stay home because they are sick or in isolation due to COVID-19 infection.
COVID-19 Testing Plan
Explanation of district's COVID-19 testing plan for 2022-23.
Testing continues to be a key measure in a multi-layered approach to preventing COVID-19 and keeping students in the classroom for in-person instruction.
In compliance with recommendations from CDPH, Campbell Union School District leverages at-home, over-the-counter (OTC) testing as the primary option.
Our COVID-19 Testing Plan indicates that:
- Staff and students should consider using an over-the-counter test when symptoms consistent with COVID-19 arise. (See also our section Managing Individuals with Symptoms.) For students: If an OTC indicates a positive result for COVID, we request that the parent contact the school with that information.
- As tests are provided to the district, they will be distributed to employees and students. Due to the increased travel and social interactions that often occur during school breaks, we request that students and staff test for COVID-19 prior to returning to school following extended breaks.
- The district will monitor updates to guidance and legislation, and adapt if/when requirements change. (For COVID-19 data for Santa Clara County, please visit the CDC’s COVID Data Tracker web page.)
For questions about CUSD’s testing and COVID Response Plan, please email our Public Information Office at https://www.privatedaddy.com/?q=UDNjTWwMWElJGjFrSwhRRVovZh89NzBnNWVB_1464/r=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2FtcGJlbGx1c2Qub3JnL2RvY3Mvc2FmZS1zY2hvb2xzLW9wZW5pbmctcGxhbg-3D-3D/v=Mi4z/p=OC4yLjIx, or phone 408-364-4200 extension 6254. For state-level information, visit the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) website.
Reporting COVID-19 Disease burden to local health authorities
Prompt reporting of positive COVID-19 cases can help to reduce greater transmission of the virus.
By law, health care providers (HCP) and laboratories are required to report cases of COVID-19.
When using an at-home test, please notify your healthcare provider of any positive test results. If your child tests positive, please keep the child at home and contact the school to report the absence due to COVID-19. If you do not have a healthcare provider, please contact the Santa Clara County Public Health Department.
Schools are no longer responsible for tracking and tracing student cases. The Public Health Department will manage all tracking and tracing. The California Department of Public Health offers this link to a secure platform for reporting at-home COVID-19 test result to your California Local Health Department. Please report both negative and positive results to help your local health department track COVID-19 in your community. (https://my.primary.health/l/caschools)
Guidance for isolating and testing is available from the Public Health Dept. and/or your healthcare provider.
Managing Students Diagnosed with COVID-19
Students diagnosed with COVID-19 should follow recommendations listed in Table 1 (Persons with COVID-19) of CDPH's guidance for the general public, including staying home for at least 5 days and wearing a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings.
Managing Students Exposed to COVID-19
Prompt notification to students and families regarding exposure to infectious diseases, including COVID-19, can allow for rapid testing, early treatment, and prevention of further spread.
It is recommended that families notify schools if their child has COVID-19 and was on school grounds during their infectious period.
When the school is notified of a positive case, the school will send a general notification, via ParentSquare, to families of students who may have shared air space with an individual who is confirmed positive for COVID-19.
All students with known exposure to persons with COVID-19 should follow recommendations listed in Table 2 (Asymptomatic Persons Who are Exposed to Someone with COVID-19) of CDPH's guidance for the general public. If they remain without symptoms, students may continue to take part in all aspects of K–12 schooling including sports and extracurricular activities. As recommended in Table 2, they should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days and get tested 3–5 days after last exposure.
We will continue to follow County Public Health Department notification guidelines, which include protections for student and family privacy.
Managing COVID-19 Outbreaks
CDPH will continue to support local health and education officials in managing suspected or confirmed outbreaks of COVID-19.
- Broad disruptions to in-person learning, such as temporary school or classroom closures, due to COVID-19 should remain a last resort and considered only after all available resources have been exhausted, and only after conferring with local health officials.
- Local public health officials are encouraged to contact CDPH to learn more about consultation, testing and vaccination resources to support management of COVID-19 outbreaks.
Visitors on Campus
We value the participation of family members in their student's education, and welcome their visits to our campus with the following understanding:
- Symptomatic individuals should not come to school.
- Parents/Guardians may walk their student to/from class.
- Masks are strongly recommended, and not required.
- Families may come onto campus for various school events, such as plays, celebrations, graduations, and will not be required to show proof of vaccination to attend.
Cleaning Facilities
In general, routine cleaning is enough to sufficiently remove the virus that causes COVID-19 from surfaces.
“Cleaning” involves water and soap or a detergent, does not use disinfecting agents, and significantly decreases germs on surfaces and decreases infectious risks.
The District uses greener products for cleaning and disinfecting, and keeps those products away from students. Use of disinfectants follows health and safety guidelines for school settings.
“Disinfection” kills germs on surfaces using specific agents (see below for those approved for use). Frequent disinfection can pose a health risk to children and students due to the strong chemicals often used.
Updates and Publishing Information
Updates to the Opening Plan for 2022-23 School Year will appear in this section.
List of updates to the COVID-19 Response Plan
- Visitors to campus no longer need to prove full vaccination, 10/21/2022
- District's COVID-19 Testing Plan, 12/15/2022
Updates for 03/15/2023
- Effective March 13, 2023:
- A COVID-19 positive person may end isolation after five days and return on day six if they feel well, have improving symptoms, and are fever-free for 24 hours, with less emphasis on testing negative. They must continue to wear a mask until after Day 10. This change aligns with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations.
- After ending isolation, individuals may remove their mask sooner than Day 10 with two sequential negative tests one day apart.
- Updates to the definition of infectious period.
Updates from the CDPH: Effective April 3, 2023:
- Masks will no longer be required in indoor high-risk and health care settings. They are optional.
- Schools will no longer send exposure notices home when a positive COVID-19 case is reported
Governing Board
Danielle M.S. Cohen, Chris Miller, Richard H. Nguyen, William Slade, Michael L. Snyder
Dr. Shelly Viramontez, Superintendent
Published 08/5/2022; Last update: 03/15/2023