Please read these important updates regarding COVID-19 isolation and quarantine changes, district plans to address staffing shortages and reminders regarding testing and when to keep your student home.
Planning for Potential Temporary Classroom or School Closures
We are experiencing a significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and absences which are causing serious staff shortages in our schools and district operations. The state Department of Health anticipates the region will reach a peak in COVID-19 cases over the next few weeks, which we expect to continue impacting district staffing.
The school district is not planning on a districtwide shift to virtual/remote learning from home at this time. However, we are preparing for the possibility of temporarily shifting classrooms or schools to virtual/remote learning if we experience significant staff shortages that cannot be covered with current district staff.
What does this mean for your student?
If your student’s classroom or school temporarily shifts to virtual/remote learning, we will inform you immediately.
- Virtual/remote learning: Your school will communicate with you directly about your student’s school schedule. Students will use their district-issued laptop/tablet to access their classroom teams.
- Technology: It is important for your secondary student to bring their district-issued laptop/tablet home with them each evening. At the elementary level, your student’s school will send your student’s device home with them if possible or allow a day for device pick up.
Bus transportation
Additional adjustments may need to be made to bus routes and pick-up/drop-off times to address continued bus driver staffing shortages. The district will communicate directly with families regarding adjustments to their child’s bus transportation.
Changes to COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Protocols--effective Jan. 12
The state Department of Health and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department have recommended changes that reduce the number of days for isolation or quarantine. These changes are effective Jan. 12.
Isolation changes
Students who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate at home for at least 5 full days, regardless of their vaccination status. The student may return to school when ALL of the following criteria are met:
- 5 full days from symptom onset or when positive test sample was collected
- No symptoms are present or symptoms are improving
- No fever without the use of fever-reducing medications within 24 hours
Quarantine changes
Students who are close contacts may or may not have to quarantine (see below):
No Quarantine |
Shorten Quarantine |
Full Quarantine |
Close contacts do not have to quarantine if:
- They are fully vaccinated and do not have symptoms
- They are still encouraged to get tested 5-7 days after exposure.*
OR
- They tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days and do not have any symptoms.
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Unvaccinated close contacts can shorten quarantine if they receive a lab-verified, negative COVID-19 test no sooner than 5 days after exposure.
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Unvaccinated close contacts must complete the full 10 days of quarantine if they do not have a lab-verified, negative COVID-19 test.
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*Full vaccination for students 18 and older includes a booster dose at least two weeks prior to exposure.
Preschoolers and children in childcare
Students in preschool and childcare (non-school age) must quarantine 14 days after exposure.
If your student receives an isolation or quarantine notice, please review the following chart which provides key dates your child might be able to return to school earlier.
Isolation - An individual will be directed to isolate if they are diagnosed with COVID-19.
Quarantine - An individual will be directed to quarantine if they have been exposed (identified as a close contact) to an individual with COVID-19 within the last 14 days.
Isolation Windows
K-12
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Quarantine Windows
K-12
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Date of COVID-19 Positive Test
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Earliest return if symptoms improving and fever free for 24 hours
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Date of COVID-19 Exposure
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Earliest date eligible for testing
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Return to activities with NEGATIVE test
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Return to activities with NO TESTING
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Jan. 12
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Jan. 18
|
|
Jan. 12
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Jan. 17
|
Jan. 18
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Jan. 23
|
Jan. 13
|
Jan. 19
|
|
Jan. 13
|
Jan. 18
|
Jan. 19
|
Jan. 24
|
Jan. 14
|
Jan. 20
|
|
Jan. 14
|
Jan. 19
|
Jan. 20
|
Jan. 25
|
Jan. 15
|
Jan. 21
|
|
Jan. 15
|
Jan. 20
|
Jan. 21
|
Jan. 26
|
Jan. 16
|
Jan. 22
|
|
Jan. 16
|
Jan. 21
|
Jan. 22
|
Jan. 27
|
Jan. 17
|
Jan. 23
|
|
Jan. 17
|
Jan. 22
|
Jan. 23
|
Jan. 28
|
Jan. 18
|
Jan. 24
|
|
Jan. 18
|
Jan. 23
|
Jan. 24
|
Jan. 29
|
Jan. 19
|
Jan. 25
|
|
Jan. 19
|
Jan. 24
|
Jan. 25
|
Jan. 30
|
Jan. 20
|
Jan. 26
|
|
Jan. 20
|
Jan. 25
|
Jan. 26
|
Jan. 31
|
Jan. 21
|
Jan. 27
|
|
Jan. 21
|
Jan. 26
|
Jan. 27
|
Feb. 1
|
Jan. 22
|
Jan. 28
|
|
Jan. 22
|
Jan. 27
|
Jan. 28
|
Feb. 2
|
Jan. 23
|
Jan. 29
|
|
Jan. 23
|
Jan. 28
|
Jan. 29
|
Feb. 3
|
Jan. 24
|
Jan. 30
|
|
Jan. 24
|
Jan. 29
|
Jan. 30
|
Feb. 4
|
Jan. 25
|
Jan. 31
|
|
Jan. 25
|
Jan. 30
|
Jan. 31
|
Feb. 5
|
Jan. 26
|
Feb.1
|
|
Jan. 26
|
Jan. 31
|
Feb. 1
|
Feb. 6
|
Jan. 27
|
Feb. 2
|
|
Jan. 27
|
Feb. 1
|
Feb. 2
|
Feb. 7
|
Jan. 28
|
Feb. 3
|
|
Jan. 28
|
Feb. 2
|
Feb. 3
|
Feb. 8
|
Jan. 29
|
Feb. 4
|
|
Jan. 29
|
Feb. 3
|
Feb. 4
|
Feb. 9
|
Jan. 30
|
Feb. 5
|
|
Jan. 30
|
Feb. 4
|
Feb. 5
|
Feb. 10
|
Jan. 31
|
Feb. 6
|
|
Jan. 31
|
Feb. 5
|
Feb. 6
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Feb. 11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Note: If your student was directed to isolate or quarantine prior to Jan. 12, those return dates remain in effect.
When to Keep Your Student Home
Please notify your school and keep your child home if your child is not feeling well, has tested positive for COVID-19 or has been directed to quarantine for COVID-19.
COVID-19 Testing
CPSD has partnered with the Health Commons Project to provide free COVID-19 rapid testing for quarantined staff and students. The testing center operates Monday through Thursday at the Harry E. Lang Stadium ticket booth (6015 111 St. SW, Lakewood) from 12-5 p.m.
Staff and students can test on the 5th day of quarantine or after and return if they have negative COVID test result and improving or no symptoms. Lines are long due to the high number of individuals being testing at this time. Additional testing locations can be found online.
We’re Hiring - Hiring Bonuses Available for Some District Positions
Due to the pandemic, we have many positions to fill inside and outside of the classroom. Hiring bonuses are available for some hard-to-fill positions. This includes bus drivers, paraeducators and substitute teachers.
- $3,500 for Bus Drivers & LPNs
- $500 for Paraeducators & Food Service Workers
Visit our district website for more information and to view available openings.
We appreciate your support as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and provide continuous instruction for your student this school year.