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Test to Stay Program Information
Dear Zizzer Families,
In an effort to limit the number of students required to quarantine when exposed to COVID-19, the West Plains School District will implement the Test to Stay protocol. The protocol is a recommendation from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) as well as the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. The purpose is to balance the need for in-person instruction with the need to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Beginning October 22, 2021, students in school will be able to participate in Test to Stay protocols. It is important to note that Test to Stay is completely voluntary and the decision to participate in that program is left to parents.
Test to Stay allows students who have been in close contact with someone who tested positive to remain in school as long as they don’t have symptoms and test negative for the virus daily. The tests will be supplied and administered by the district health staff, as long as the student’s parents or guardians consent. The district or a contracted testing site will test those that participate in events on the weekends and the day of the event. The district is currently working through this procedure. If a student is vaccinated and or recently has had Covid, a test is not required.
To take advantage of Test to Stay:
- A student must be identified as a close contact. A close contact is someone who is within 6 feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period during the school day and or outside of school.
- Be entirely asymptomatic. (zero symptoms)
- Wear a mask consistently and correctly in school at all times during their quarantine period.
- The close contact does not include household exposures (i.e., exposures among persons who live in the same household).
- Building level offices will make contact with those students in quarantine that qualify.
More specific information will be shared with students and parents who have a reason to consider Test to Stay.
Our top priorities are to keep our students and staff safe and for our students to receive in-person instruction. Thank you in advance for your continued support, and patience as we work hard to implement practices to best meet the needs of our students and families.
Sincerely,
Dr. Lori Wilson
Superintendent of Schools
West Plains School District
