2022-23 COVID Protocols in RCSD Schools

As of September 23, 2022, students can now wear a face mask at school based on “personal preference.” 

The change that masking is now based on personal preference is taking place based on California’s new SMARTER Plan, which is the next phase of California’s COVID-19 response that was announced earlier this year. The SMARTER Plan calls for masking recommendations that follow a framework intended to provide information and recommendations that each individual should consider based on the unique circumstances happening locally in their own community and county. This means that individuals are encouraged to use local information about the current COVID-19 Community Levels (CCL) in their county to decide which preventions to take based on their own risk for severe illness and that of members of their household, their risk tolerance, and setting-specific factors. The community levels are based on hospitalization rates, hospital bed occupancy, and COVID-19 incidence during the preceding period.  

There are three community levels--low, medium, and high. The levels included in the SMARTER Plan are based on CDC COVID-19 Community Levels, which were also released earlier this year in March. The SMARTER Plan is also based on California’s historical data.

As San Mateo County is currently in the low level, school children can now wear a face mask to school based on personal preference.

Per California Department of Public Health (CDPH) masking guidance, infected persons should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings.

There are differing points of views on masking. RCSD is not requiring masking, however at the same time, the District is not stopping individuals from masking. District staff will not supervise who wears or does not wear a mask.

Masks remain one of the most effective and simplest safety mitigation layers to prevent transmission of COVID-19 infections. High-quality masks with the best fit and filtration will provide the best protection.

Vaccination verification is not required, but RCSD will collect proof of COVID vaccination with all other immunizations by online submission HERE or parents may turn in a copy to their school’s main office secretary. 

In 2022-23, RCSD is moving from surveillance testing to symptomatic testing and/or back-to-school testing.

This means that test-kits will be provided to symptomatic individuals and individuals in isolation who need to test in order to return to school/work after initially testing positive.

Because RCSD was providing on-site testing in previous years due to a State grant that expired, RCSD no longer has the State license needed for employees to administer tests on site. RCSD employees are not able to administer tests for adults or students. 

Symptomatic individuals and individuals testing to return to school/work will be able to use their own at-home test kit, visit a community testing center, or arrange with RCSD for pick-up of a test kit.

Asymptomatic exposed students and employees, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status or location of exposure, do not need to quarantine.

It is strongly recommended that exposed students and employees wear a well-fitting mask indoors around others for at least 10 days following the date of last exposure, if not already doing so.

Exposed students and employees, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status, should get tested for COVID-19 with at least one diagnostic test obtained within 3-5 days after last exposure, unless they had COVID-19 within the last 90 days.

Exposed students and employees who had COVID-19 within the last 30 days should be tested after exposure. If symptoms develop, they should stay home and test. If they test positive, they should isolate themselves.

If a student is symptomatic at school or at home, it is recommended for the child to be tested. If the student is symptomatic, the school office can provide a box of COVID tests (2) to take home for the child to be tested. Children will not be tested at school.

Families may also choose to take their child to their medical provider or a local community testing location.

Individuals who are exposed to COVID-19, including all employees and students, do not need to be quarantined, no matter their vaccination status as long as they remain asymptomatic. This includes exposure at home, the school environment, or the community.

Per the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) masking guidance, close contacts should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings and when near those at higher risk for severe COVID-19 disease.

Parents should complete the District’s self-reporting form when reporting a student positive case. This form is available on the “Quicklinks” section of the RCSD website as well as all 12 school websites.

The Department of Student Services will contact parents to review the case and answer any return to school questions via StudentCOVIDResponse@rcsdk8.net

Parents need to call the school office and report a student’s absence.

• Student Services will contact parents to review the case and answer any return to school questions via StudentCOVIDResponse@rcsdk8.net

• Families with questions should contact StudentCOVIDResponse@rcsdk8.net

1. Employees who have have a COVID related incident to report will email EmployeeCOVIDResponse@rcsdk8.net

2. An automatic response with guidelines and next steps will be sent to the employee. 

3. Human Resources staff is monitoring the email account and will respond individually as needed.

Any staff member who is diagnosed with COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, previous infection, or lack of symptoms, need to follow the following directions per CalOSHA. 

• Stay home for at least five days after the start of symptoms (or after the date of first positive test, if no symptoms). 

• Isolation can end after day five if symptoms are not present or are mild and improving and individual is fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication)

• If fever is present, isolation should be continued until 24 hours after fever resolves

• If symptoms, other than fever, are not improving, continue to isolate until symptoms are improving or until after Day 10. 

• If symptoms are severe, or if the infected person is at high risk of serious disease, or if they have questions concerning care, infected persons should contact their healthcare provider for available treatments. 

• Per the masking guidelines by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), infected persons should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings*.

  • *After ending isolation (no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and symptoms are improving), confirmed cases may remove their masks sooner than Day 10 if they have two sequential negative tests at least one day apart. If antigen results are positive, the person may still be infectious and should continue wearing a mask and wait at least one day before taking another test. 

• After ending isolation, if symptoms recur or worsen, get tested again and if positive, restart isolation at Day 0.

Volunteers are welcome to be back on school campuses after following the volunteer onboarding process with the Dept. of Human Resources. 

As part of the process to welcome back volunteers, the School Board agreed to require all individuals to be fully vaccinated.

All volunteers, returning and new to the district, follow the already established process led by the Department of Human Resources, which includes the need to fulfill important steps depending on whether the volunteer is returning or new. Print copies are also available in all school offices should a volunteer not be able to fill out the form online.

The department of human resources contacts each volunteer once they are cleared to start volunteering.

Staff continues to provide safe learning and working environments for students and staff including when students are not on campus. All high-touch areas will continue to be cleaned and disinfected throughout the school day including restrooms, which are serviced three times a day. In the event a positive case is reported at school, an electrostatic sprayer is used to disinfect the area.

All ventilation systems across the school district have been serviced and upgraded to a Merv-13 air filter, which is a higher grade filter that catches more particulates. All units are serviced quarterly and documented. Additionally, all dampers have been opened to allow more outside air into all district facilities.