Effective today, Friday August 20th, new policies for parents regarding COVID-19 within the Okaloosa County School District take effect.
The Florida Department of Education and the Florida Department of Health released information on August 6th, four days prior to the opening of our school year, directing how the quarantining and isolation of students will be conducted in schools across the state of Florida.
- Based on this information, the OCSD have made some adjustments to their plan that was released to schools and families on July 28th.
Here are the most notable changes:
- Voluntary COVID-19 vaccination clinics will be available at secondary school sites Sept 20-22. Exact times and locations will be available soon.
- Temporarily suspend parents and visitors in cafeterias.
- Parents will be permitted to come to school for parent conferences; schools may encourage virtual meetings where/when possible.
- Visitors with official business are permissible.
- Essential volunteers are permitted as determined by the principal.
- Mentors may meet with a student as approved by the parent and principal.
- Temporarily suspend field trips during the school day.
- Temporarily suspend indoor large group gatherings.
- Recognizing that 6-foot social distancing is not feasible in many school settings, continue to be mindful of spacing in hallways, classrooms, and cafeterias.
- Parents are urged to keep their children home if they are symptomatic.
- Working with the Department of Health to establish testing sites for students and staff at selected off campus locations.
Additionally, the ELLUME at home COVID-19 test is the ONLY test currently recognized by the Department of Health for return to work and school of an asymptomatic individual with a negative test on or after day 5.
- All other at home COVID-19 tests are recognized for positive results only.
