Adams County School District 14’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols align with guidance from state and local health agencies, including the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), and Tri-County Health Department (TCHD).
As we begin the 2022-2023 school year, the TCHD has released important COVID-19 updates. TCHD has transitioned its COVID-19 response away from a case-investigation response model to a typical routine disease control model in schools. Based on this guidance, Adams 14 has developed a protocol that keeps students and staff safe while maintaining its educational goals.
As was done at the end of the 2021-2022 school year, there will be a reduced emphasis on case investigation and quarantine. Adams 14’s response will focus on reporting clusters of cases, outbreaks and evidence of ongoing transmission in schools to health agencies.
As new data and public health recommendations emerge, Adams 14 will update its COVID-19 protocols for the 2022-2023 school year.
The Adams 14 COVID-19 Response Team (CRT) is in charge of tracking new cases and reporting positive cases to TCHD. Health clerks, school nurses, and attendance liaisons keep the response team informed on a regular basis through Illness Surveillance Forms.
As the CRT learns of clusters of cases and/or possible outbreaks, it will report those cases and implement a determined course of action from the TCHD. The response team also keeps Adams 14 administration informed on outbreaks, new recommendations and/or requirements, and increased cases.
If a student tests positive for COVID-19, the school health clerks will obtain verification of the positive test and notify the CRT. The school nursing team and CRT will work together to establish a return date for the student.
Health clerks will then follow up with the student’s family to inform them of the return date, resources, and to excuse absences.
The health clerk will consult with the school nurse on established guidance if a student reports specific symptoms but does not take a COVID-19 test. The health clerk will monitor a student’s symptoms and inform their family on when the student may return to school.
Health clerks will excuse absences per district policy. An unexcused absence may be changed to an excused absence if the family provides proof of a positive COVID-19 test result or sufficient documentation from a health professional.