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1/2/2022

Dear AOS 98 School Communities,

 

I hope you have all had a restful and joyful winter break!  I’m looking forward to our students and staff returning tomorrow for the second half of our 2021-2022 school year!  As we prepare for our return to school I have a couple of reminders and some updates to share with you all as student and staff safety and In-person instruction remain our top priorities:

 

If you tested positive for COVID-19 during break:

 

  • Please notify your school nurse if you have not already done so
  • If you tested positive prior to 12/25/21 you may return to school on Monday January 3, 2022. (provided you are asymptomatic)
  • If you tested positive on 12/25/21 or later please remain home on Monday and contact the school nurse if you have not already done so.  You will be contacted with more specific information about a return to school date on Monday. 

 

The Maine Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has revised the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on 12/30/21.  You may recall that this document guides the districts response to COVID-19. 

 

  • Our administrative team, school nurses, and medical consultants are reviewing the revised SOP and we will share the pertinent details with you as soon as possible. 
  • Until that time, all existing protocols will remain in place.
  • School Superintendents and School Nurses have meetings with the Commissioner of Education and her team to review the changes and ask for clarification on the revised SOP on Monday January 3, 2022.

 

I thank you in advance for your continued cooperation.  We do know how tiring and stressful having to make alternate arrangements with short notice is.  Community Transmission Rates remain high, but these steps you take contribute greatly to our ability to remain open safely for in person instruction:

 

  • At home symptom checks
  • Keeping Students home if they are experiencing symptoms – even mild cold symptoms as that is how COVID-19 often initially presents
  • Informing the school nurse of any positive tests or exposures.

 

If you would like to arrange a COVID-19 Test for your child we recommend that you:

 

  • Contact your child’s Primary Care Physician
  • Miles Hospital 563-4353 at St. Andrews Urgent Care Center
  • Our nurses recommend the PCR test as these are the most accurate tests readily available for public use.

 

The link below will take you to the Department of Education website with the updated SOP

 

 

Be well and please feel free to contact me directly should you have any questions,

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Robert Kahler, Superintendent of Schools