In-Person Instruction Policies/Procedures

Last Updated: 8/12/22 (For policies effective for the 2022-2023 School Year)

SPBS In-Person Instruction

Detailed COVID-19 Policies/Procedures

The following is a detailed list and description of updated policies and procedures that are being put into place at Saint Paschal Baylon School to adhere to the most recent guidelines issued by state and local county public health officials, as well as those put forth by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Department of Catholic Schools (DCS). Due to the fluidity of the pandemic situation, this is a living document. These policies and procedures will continually be assessed in action and modified as needed.

While many of the policies have begun to shift as we transition COVID-19 from a pandemic to an endemic, it is important to remember that we are still in this together as a community. Many individuals have strong ideological opinions on the matter, which is warranted and supported. However, these are the current policies of the school and everyone in the school community is expected to respect and abide by them. There is a level of trust in each of us that must be maintained.

Masks

Since March 12^th, the CDPH and VCPH transitioned to masks in K-12 school settings being Recommended, rather than Required, no matter an individual’s vaccination status. This policy is for all students, staff, and visitors to campus, and means masks are optional. It is a personal decision for each family and staff member on masks, and their personal choice will be respected and supported. Masks will still be made available by the school to all students, staff, and visitors if they need one. The school office has a limited supply available if s student would like a mask and has forgotten one.

Physical Distancing/Cohorting

The current guidelines no longer support/require physical distancing/cohorting.

Ventilation Recommendations

As with before, we will continue to have increased ventilation, including the ion generator purifiers throughout the school and the MERV 13 filters in all our HVAC systems.

Staying Home When Sick & Testing

Students and staff must still remain home when they are sick and displaying any potential symptoms for COVID as outlined by the CDC, or with a temperature equal to or greater than 99.5 degrees. If students or staff begin showing symptoms while at school, they will be sent home as well. Staff members and students with symptoms of COVID-19 infection are not to return for in-person instruction until they have met CDPH criteria to return to school for those with symptoms:

At least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications; and
Other symptoms have improved; AND
They have a negative test for SARS-CoV-2, OR a healthcare provider has provided documentation that the symptoms are typical of their underlying chronic condition (e.g., allergies or asthma) OR a healthcare provider has confirmed an alternative named diagnosis (e.g., Streptococcal pharyngitis, Coxsackie virus), OR at least 10 days have passed since symptom onset.

Cleaning & Disinfecting

Hand sanitizer stations will still be used throughout the school plant. Students will be regularly encouraged to wash their hands throughout the day, including reminder signs throughout the school plant.

Case Reporting & Vaccination Status

Saint Paschal Baylon School is required, per AB 86 (2021) and California Code Title 17, section 2500, to report COVID-19 cases to the local public health department. Eligible students and staff are encouraged, but not required to be vaccinated by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Staff who are unvaccinated or who do not wish to share their vaccination status are required to be tested weekly.

Exposure Management

Group Contact Tracing

Saint Paschal Baylon School will no longer be conducting Individual Contact Tracing. As with the end of last year, the school will now be utilizing the Group Contact Tracing approach as recommended by the CDPH. This approach is utilized ONLY for students exposed to someone with COVID-19 in a K-12 school.

Saint Paschal Baylon School will notify parents of students who spent more than a cumulative total of 15 minutes (within a 24-hour time period) in a shared indoor airspace (e.g., classroom) with someone with COVID-19 during their period of infectiousness.
1. Notification will occur to "groups" of exposed students (e.g., classmates, teammates, etc.) rather than contact tracing to identify individual "close contacts" (e.g., those within 6 feet).
2. Notification will be provided to all individuals considered exposed, no matter if you are vaccinated, unvaccinated, and/or recently infected.
  1. For example, if a student in fifth grade is diagnosed with COVID-19, SPBS will notify groups with whom that student interacted as per the criteria above, such as those in the same class, sports team, and/or other extracurricular cohorts.

Saint Paschal Baylon School will no longer be sending a school-wide email when a positive test case has occurred on campus; only the “group” will be notified.

Exposed students, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status or prior infection, are encouraged to get tested for COVID-19 with at least one diagnostic test obtained within 3-5 days after last exposure.

Any FDA-approved antigen diagnostic test, PCR diagnostic test, or pooled PCR test is acceptable for evaluation of an individual's COVID-19 status. For individuals who have been recently infected (within the past 90 days), antigen testing is strongly recommended as PCR results may remain persistently positive and not be indicative of a new active infection. Repeat antigen testing and/or confirmatory molecular testing should be considered in individuals who receive a negative result with an antigen test but have symptoms specific for COVID-19 (such as loss of taste and smell).

Masking for Exposed Students

Students who have been deemed a close contact of a positive case in their home are Required to wear a mask for 10 days after exposure. Students who have been exposed in a K-12 school setting are Recommended to wear a mask for 10 days after exposure.

School Participation for Exposed Students

Exposed students who participate in testing may continue to take part in all aspects of K-12 schooling, including sports and extracurricular activities, unless they develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19. They should test as recommended, report positive test results to the school, and follow other components of these policies as directed.

1. Exposed students who develop symptoms should see section Staying Home When Sick & Testing (above).
2. Exposed students who receive a positive test result should isolate in accordance with Section Persons Who Test Positive for COVID-19 (below).

Procedures for Positive Cases

The school must be informed if a student/staff member tests positive for COVID-19.

All guidelines for informing DCS and any health department officials will be followed.
1. VCPH requires that each school designate a liaison to work with their Communicable Disease Program when there is a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 exposure within the school. Notifications can be sent to [email protected] or by calling 805-981-5101 and following the prompts for K-12 schools.

Saint Paschal Baylon School will no longer be conducting Individual Contact Tracing, nor sending a school-wide email when there is a positive case on campus. The school will now be utilizing the Group Contact Tracing approach (see above) as recommended by the CDPH, and will only communicate to the affected class.
Parents will receive a letter informing them if their child has been deemed a close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, however, due to HIPAA regulations, families will not be informed of the identity of that person.
If a cluster of three or more positive cases in a class occur within fourteen days, the school will consult with DCS and DPH officials about whether it is considered and outbreak and will take any appropriate next steps.
Students and/or staff members who test positive for COVID-19 will not be able to return to school until they have met CDC criteria to discontinue home isolation, including at least 24 hours with no fever, symptoms have improved and at least 5 days since symptoms first appeared.
As of now, SPBS will no longer be offering Distance Learning for Positive Cases of COVID-19. This position may change dependent on the community status level.

Persons Who Test Positive for COVID-19

Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, previous infection, or lack of symptoms MUST:

Isolate at home for at least 5 days.
Isolation can end after day 5 if symptoms are not present or are resolving and a diagnostic specimen (Antigen Test Preferred) collected on day 5 or later tests negative.
If unable to test or choosing not to test, and symptoms are not present or are resolving, isolation can end after day 10.
If fever is present, isolation should be continued until fever resolves without fever reducing medication.
If symptoms, other than fever, are not resolving continue to isolate until symptoms are resolving or until after day 10.
It is strongly recommended that persons wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings.

We are continually monitoring the situation, and will update our guidelines as the both the CDPH and the VCPH update their own requirements. The safety of everyone in our community is very important to us.

The following individual is the school's point person for the Department of Public Health relating to COVID-19 issues:

Ryan Bushore ([email protected])

Additional Documents