Welcome to Lincoln Consolidated Schools

Community Message - January 10

Dear Lincoln Family,

As we begin a new year, I want to thank our entire school community for all of your support. I’m filled with pride with how our amazing staff and community continue to partner together for our kids. As we continue to partner together and model  kindness, compassion and  love, I know there are such bright days on the horizon for our amazing community. 

Last Friday, our staff had a very productive day as we trained and revisited many of our safety protocols. We will continue to follow up with our training and will always keep safety at the forefront. The safety of our staff and students is a top priority. 

As the current COVID numbers are spiking we are monitoring the situation very closely. We are taking it one day at a time and will keep you updated on any modifications to our current instructional model. We need to remain nimble and flexible, especially the next few weeks. 

As districts across the state have been experiencing staffing and substitute shortages, LCS is no exception. As COVID-19 numbers continue to rise in our area, we are seeing the impact of these shortages more than ever before. We ask for continued patience, flexibility and support of our students, staff, families and community as we navigate these difficult staffing shortages and rising COVID-19 numbers.

In the coming days and weeks, and as some of you experienced today, it is possible that we may experience some of the following:

• Consolidated, changed, or canceled transportation routes
• Interruptions to after school activities
• Postponed or canceled events

It is also possible that a classroom or school may need to transition from in-person learning to virtual learning. We will treat this as a case-by-case scenario based on many factors, including:

• Availability of staff to safely operate in-person learning in a school
• High volumes of positive COVID-19 cases within a given classroom or school
• Guidance from the Washtenaw County Health Department

Families are encouraged to prepare for alternative childcare and transportation arrangements in the event that there are disruptions. Though these are not ideal situations, please know that our school and administrative teams continue their unwavering commitment to offering exceptional learning experiences for our students during the school day.

Here are some ways we as a community can help. First, please join me in continuing to show appreciation to our staff in all departments who are showing up every day and giving their best efforts for our kids. When we are short, that puts extra work and stress on those that are here. Gratitude for these efforts goes a long way.

Second, please help us spread the word as we work to fill the following vacancies. We especially need additional bus drivers, cafeteria help, custodians, and hard-to-fill educator positions. Please share the following information: Employment Opportunities - Human Resources - District. 

Additionally, we are in desperate need of Substitute Teachers and Parapros. If you are interested or are willing to help us work through this time and meet the following requirements, please apply with Edustaff at https://account.edustaff.org/apply/. If you know a retired teacher, a parent with an expired teaching certificate, or have at least 60 credit hours, including college students, who would like to make some extra money and help our school community, please encourage them to apply and substitute here at Lincoln Consolidated Schools.

Lastly, the number one way that our families and community can help is to monitor for symptoms daily and stay home if any symptoms develop regardless of vaccination status.We cannot reiterate enough; If your child does not feel well, they need to remain at home. Some of the biggest disruptions to our school community come from the spread of COVID-19, staying home when sick is the simplest way to reduce the risk of spread in our school community. Our goal is to limit the disruptions to student learning and we all need to do our part in keeping each other safe and healthy. 

Please look for a follow up communication regarding updated guidance and protocols from the Washtenaw Area Health Department soon.

We need to continue to partner together now more than ever to keep our school community as a safe haven for our children. Let’s continue to model kindness, compassion and love.

Sincerely,

Robert Jansen
Superintendent

COVID Protocols Update - January 10

High Risk Exposure Flow Chart

Illness Decision Making Flow Chart

The Washtenaw County Health Department issued revised guidance which will greatly reduce the number of student quarantines and increase test-to-stay opportunities for our students. The revised guidance also changes the duration of isolation and quarantines for staff.
 

Isolation Changes

Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 will still be required to isolate at home, but only for five (5) days from symptom onset if they are able to mask in all environments. Students who test positive will be required to mask at all times except when eating or drinking. Students who are unable to mask will need to be excluded from school for the full ten (10) day quarantine period. 

Quarantines, Communications & Vaccination Status
 

Positive Test

• Both students and staff will be able to return to campus five (5) days after a positive test if they have no fever and their symptoms have improved. 

Potentially exposed to COVID-19

• Students that are close contacts when engaging in low risk activities (for example,  sitting in a classroom, lunch, outdoor activities, riding on the bus, or most non-athletic after school activities) will no longer be required to quarantine regardless of vaccination status. 
• Students that are close contacts when engaging in high risk activities (for example, basketball practice, choir class, or in environments where masking is not possible) will be eligible for the District’s test-to-stay program if the parent gives consent for testing. Students that are vaccinated will not be required to test, but are required to wear masks in all environments where it is safe to do so (including basketball practice). Students in the test to stay program will need to be transported by their parents to and from school. District transportation is not available for those students.
• Staff who are required to quarantine because they are not fully vaccinated will be able to return on the sixth day after an exposure provided they are able to mask. 

Communication Changes

• Low Risk Environments: Families will receive a classroom communication when a student in the class tests positive, but the District will no longer be identifying or specifically communicating with close contacts in low risk environments
• High Risk Environments: Families will receive a close contact communication. Students that are vaccinated will be able to continue with their regular schedule.
• In certain circumstances, even low risk activities will be classified as high risk. For example, if an outbreak is identified in a single classroom, the contacts may be considered high risk and the District will conduct contact tracing and may exclude students based on the Washtenaw County Health Department’s guidance. We will continue to work with the WCHD in order to identify high risk environments and take appropriate steps to keep our students and staff safe.

Household Contacts

• Students that are household contacts of a positive case (for example, a parent or other resident in the house has tested positive) will be eligible for “test to stay” to return to school once the student is no longer exposed to the infectious individual. Usually, that will be five days. Students that do not have parental permission to test to stay will be required to quarantine. 
• Vaccinated students that are household contacts are able to return to school and continue with their regular activities. 

Covid Protocols & Testing Permission Forms

Permission to Conduct Covid-19 Testing Form 

Permission NOT GIVEN to Conduct Covid-19 Testing Form 

Dear Lincoln Families,

Please read the following information regarding Covid testing options at school, and return the attached form, or copy of vaccination card to your school no later than October 29. 

In an effort to keep students in school as much as possible this school year, in light of the Covid rates and working with the MDHHS through their school related Covid case guidelines, please be aware of the following: 

If your student is identified as a close contact in a classroom, you will be notified directly from your child’s school. There are three options available to you:

• Keep your child home for the full 10 day quarantine. (Day 0 is the close contact day). 
• Keep your child home for a 7 day quarantine, have them tested on day 6 or 7 by a doctor, urgent care or testing site, and provide a negative test result they can return to school on day 8. 
• Sign a parental consent form, allowing the District Nurses and/or staff to perform a Covid Antigen test on your child every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the first 7 days during their 10 day quarantine period, and as long as they remain negative, they may stay in school. 

*If your child is fully vaccinated, there is no need for testing or quarantine, but you must monitor for symptoms. Please provide a copy of their card for our files. 

As we work to make this a smooth process for testing students, there are a few things we are requesting from parents. 

• If you would like your student to be able to have Covid testing done at any point this school year where they are identified as a close contact at school, please return the attached Parental Consent form for testing to the school by October 29. 
• If your student has been vaccinated for Covid, they will not need to be tested and can remain in school, however we will need a copy of their vaccination card for our records. Please send in a copy of the card by October 29. 
• If you chose not to have your child tested and keep them home for the 10 day quarantine period, please complete the second form, indicating that you are NOT giving consent for testing and will be keeping your child home for 10 days should they be identified as a close contact. Return the form by October 29.

If you choose the Antigen testing, here is some helpful information about the testing: 

• You only need to complete the consent form once to cover the 2021-2022 school year. 
• The Covid Antigen test is NOT the same as the PCR you would receive in the hospital or doctors offices. This test does not require a q-tip to go deep into the nostrils, the q-tip is only inserted about half an inch, no further than the bridge of the nose. Very easy and not painful, please make sure your child knows this so they are not fearful of testing procedures.
• Your child may NOT ride the bus to school during their 10 days, a parent must drive them to school for testing at the beginning of the day and remain there until results are in. Results take 15 minutes. If the test is positive, the student must return home with the parent and begin their 10 day quarantine. If the test is negative, the parent will be notified, and the student may head to class. 

Testing window for each building are as follows: (District Nurses will only be available during these times, you must arrive during the testing window or will have to wait until the next testing day to return to school) 

• High School: 7:00-7:30  
• Middle School: 8:00-8:30 
• Childs Elementary: 8:05-8:30 
• Bishop Elementary: 9:10-9:40 
• Brick Elementary: 9:10-9:40 

We thank you for your cooperation to help make this a smooth process to ensure we keep our students in school as much as possible this school year. 

Together We Can!

Parents/Guardians:

Please review this short list each morning before your child leaves for school. This is for home use. You DO NOT need to turn into your school. 

COVID-19 Daily At Home Screening for Students

Volunteers/ Building Access 

District visitors, including parents/guardians, will only be able to enter buildings by appointment only. The District has to limit visitors to the buildings, and as a result, visitors and volunteers will only be permitted when necessary. 

Following these procedures will ensure the safety of all of our children. 

We are following the CDC/health department color system, the current protocol level/color will be determined and communicated by the district.

Thank you!