top of page

Health & Safety Protocols

Update from FDOE

View Decision Tree
View Guidance Memo

March 3, 2022

​

Dear Educators:

 

Last week, Governor Ron DeSantis and State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced sweeping changes to Florida’s COVID-19 guidance affecting schools, child care facilities and employers in general. This news in mind, we anticipate and celebrate the opportunity to see many Floridians freed from outdated federal COVID-19 requirements of the past two years.

 

First and foremost, the guidance addresses the needs of parents, children and employees by advising the removal of burdensome isolation requirements. Specifically, the updated guidance recommends employers, schools, and child care facilities allow employees and students who test positive for COVID-19 to return after only five days if they are fever-free for 24 hours without the need for additional testing, and allow those who do not test positive or develop symptoms to forego quarantine entirely.

 

In addition, the updated guidance advises that Florida businesses should “no longer require facial coverings for employees, as there is no proven significant clinical benefit for facial coverings among the general population.” Moreover, the guidance makes clear that child care facilities should never force children to wear masks, and should leave decisions on facial coverings, given a lack of evidence supporting their efficacy, to parents alone. 

 

In closing, I know that educators, students and parents across the state—myself included—are encouraged by this recent announcement, knowing it will take us all one step closer to normalcy. I am equally enthused with and strongly applaud the Governor’s and Surgeon General’s decision to support Florida workers and their families by reducing the unnecessary and arbitrary burdens placed on them by this pandemic. It is my hope that you will join me in my enthusiasm, do what is best for all Floridians and immediately update your policies to comply with this guidance. 

 

Sincerely,

Commissioner Corcoran

Health & Safety Protocols

Lea en español

Updated September 23, 2021

​

The health and safety protocols outlined in this document shall apply to FSDB students, staff members, volunteers, visitors and contractors for the 2021-22 academic year. These protocols are based on guidance for COVID-19 prevention strategies in K-12 schools issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Florida Department of Education (FDOE), Florida Department of Health (FDOH) and executive orders issued by Gov. DeSantis.

On July 30, Gov. DeSantis issued Executive Order 21-75 (Ensuring Parents’ Freedom to Choose – Masks in Schools), directing the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) to enter rulemaking in collaboration with the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) and protect parents’ freedom to choose whether their children wear mask. As stated in the order, this directive is consistent with HB 241 (Parents’ Bill of Rights), signed into law on June 29; the bill outlines parental rights relating to a minor child’s education, upbringing and health.

 

On Sep. 22, FDOH issued an updated Emergency Rule 64DER21-15 Protocols for Controlling COVID-19 in School Settings, which supersedes the Aug. 6 rule. On Sep. 22, FDOE issued an updated COVID-19 Symptomatic Decision Tree, which supersedes the earlier version.

​

According to Gov. DeSantis, the Sep. 22 emergency rule "prevents the unnecessary exclusion of healthy students from in-person schooling, safeguards the rights of parents/legal guardians and their children, provides health protocols for symptomatic or COVID-19 positive students, and provides opportunities for parents/legal guardians to choose which protocols to implement when their student has had direct contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19." 

​

Note: Periodic updates to this document will be posted to the school website as new guidance and orders are released.

Vaccination

  • According to the CDC, vaccination is currently the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Promoting vaccination can help K-12 schools to safely conduct in-person learning as well as extracurricular and athletic activities.
     

  • Information about vaccinations is available on the CDC website and via county health departments; please see Resource Links toward the end of this page.

Face Coverings

  • Face coverings shall be optional at this time. The CDC strongly recommends wearing face coverings. If worn, face coverings should cover both the nose and mouth and fit snugly against the face.
     

  • Face coverings shall follow general dress code and school uniform requirements.
     

  • Students and staff members may wear clear face shields in addition to face coverings.
     

  • Face coverings shall be required for all who enter the campus Health Care Center.

Temperature Checks

  • Temperature checks are no longer a daily routine. The Health Care Center shall conduct such as necessary for students who are admitted for evaluation.

Social Distancing

  • Social distancing shall be encouraged to the greatest extent possible, in line with CDC recommendations for all indoor spaces.

Personal Protective Strategies

  • Adequate supplies of hand sanitizer and soap/water shall be available across campus to promote healthy hand washing and hygiene practices.
     

  • Adequate supplies of cleaning and disinfection products shall be available to employees for use in their workspaces, meetings and training activities.

Cleaning & Disinfection

  • Enhanced cleaning and disinfection practices for shared spaces and objects shall be maintained across campus.
     

  • School buses shall be cleaned one time per day at the end of the route, with deep spray cleaning in the evenings. Hand sanitizers have been installed on all buses and shall be replenished going forward.

Snacks

  • Provision of individually wrapped snacks for students shall continue to be encouraged for campus and off-campus activities.

Athletics

  • Athletics shall continue to be offered during the school year. FSDB shall adhere to safety and distancing requirements of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) for practice and game schedules.

Field Trips & Large Gatherings

  • Field trips and large group gatherings will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the President's Administrative Team.

Volunteers & Visitors

  • Volunteers who provide essential services support to students/staff members shall be allowed to work on campus.
     

  • Volunteers and visitors shall continue to follow normal check-in procedures.

Screening for Illness

  • Students are strongly encouraged to stay home when they have signs or symptoms of infectious disease and see their health care provider for testing and care. The same shall apply to staff members, volunteers and visitors.
     

  • Signs and symptoms associated with COVID-19 include:

    • Fever (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or greater)

    • Chills, fatigue or muscle pain

    • Congestion or runny nose

    • Coughing or sore throat 

    • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

    • Headache

    • Loss of taste or smell

    • Nausea, diarrhea or vomiting
       

  • Students who become ill or symptomatic while at school, during after school activities, or in the boarding program shall notify their administrator for prompt referral to the Health Care Center for evaluation, testing and initial care.
     

  • Staff members, volunteers and contractors who become ill or symptomatic shall promptly notify their supervisor, take leave and seek medical attention.

Contact Tracing, Testing & Quarantine

  • Contact tracing, review of seating charts, surveillance and reporting by the school administration uses a COVID-19 tracking system in line with established local and state education, health, and personnel protocols.
     

  • Testing of students shall be conducted on a case-by-case basis in compliance with federal and state protocols and privacy laws and, when applicable, with the explicit approval of parents/legal guardians.
     

  • FDOH Protocol 1: Symptomatic or COVID-19 Positive Students 
    If a student is experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or receives a positive diagnostic test (PCR or rapid test only), the student is not permitted to attend school, school-sponsored activities, or be on school property until one of the following occurs: 

    • The student receives a negative diagnostic COVID-19 test and is asymptomatic, or

    • 10 days has passed since the onset of symptoms or a positive test result, the student has had no fever for 24 hours, and the student’s other symptoms are improving, or

    • The student receives written permission to return to school from a medical doctor. 
       

  • FDOH Protocol 2: Students with Exposure to COVID-19 Positive Case (Direct Contact)
    Parents/legal guardians of a student who has been in direct contact with an individual who has a positive diagnostic test for COVID-19 may choose one of the following options:

    • Allow the student to attend school, school sponsored activities, or be on school property without restrictions or disparate treatment, as long as the student remains asymptomatic, or

    • Quarantine the student for a period of time not to exceed seven days from the date of last direct contact with an individual who is positive for COVID-19.

 

​Please note: If a student becomes symptomatic following a direct contact with an individual that has tested positive for COVID-19, or the student tests positive for COVID-19, the first protocol explained above for symptomatic or COVID-19 positive students shall be followed.

​

  • Students who test positive for COVID-19 and are symptomatic shall be isolated at the Health Care Center and shall be picked up by their parents/legal guardians within the required timeframe. Following FSDB attendance procedures, these students shall be excused from school due to illness.
     

  • Students and family members exposed to confirmed COVID-19 cases shall inform their school administrator. Staff members and others shall notify their supervisor.
     

  • Students who are quarantined due to exposure to COVID-19 and are asymptomatic shall have the opportunity to continue their learning. Student participation shall count as an educational activity and therefore shall be in attendance during their stay-home directive. (Engagement in these educational activities shall be asynchronous.).

Return to Campus

  • The Health Care Center shall work with parents/legal guardians of students who are cleared for return to school.
     

  • Staff members shall work with their supervisor/school administrator on clearance for return to work.

Questions

  • Students and parents/legal guardians shall work with their school administrator on school-related questions and with the Health Care Center administrator on health-related questions.
     

  • Staff members and volunteers shall work with their supervisor unless directed otherwise.
     

  • Campus personnel hosting visitors or working with contractors shall ensure they have access to and are aware of school health and safety protocols.

bottom of page