July 30 Monthly Update
Here are important reminders and information for you as we prepare for the 2021-22 school year.
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The current Coronavirus Pandemic Protocols are in effect until August 1, 2021. Click here to preview the PROPOSED 2021-22 Safe Return to School Plan and offer comments and suggestion through our webform by July 9. A finalized plan will be posted on July 15 and will take effect on August 2, 2021.
Announcements
June 25 Monthly Update
Below is a monthly update with important reminders and information for Lincoln Public Schools families.
Changes to LPS pandemic protocols effective May 21
With the new Directed Health Measures from the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department going into effect after midnight tonight, Lincoln Public Schools has made the following adjustments to our building protocols beginning Friday, May 21.
Changes to the 2021-22 High School Remote Learning Program
Lincoln Public Schools has made the difficult decision to end the High School Remote Learning Program for the 2021-22 school year. Student’s high school counselors will be reaching out to those affected as soon as possible to get them registered for their classes next fall at their home high school.
Four Pillars to Prevent Spread
Self-Screening
- People with COVID-19 self-isolating at home will reduce the spread.
- Staff and students are expected to conduct a self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms every day prior to entering an LPS building
Face Coverings
- Face coverings reduce the spread of droplets containing the COVID-19 virus
- Based on recommendations from the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department and their current Directed Health Measures, the LPS plan for face covering requirements follows the current CDC guidance for schools.
Hand Hygiene
- Washing your hands along with cleaning and disinfecting surfaces frequently touched will reduce the spread of COVID-19
- Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds
- Use hand sanitizer
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
Physical Distancing
- Keeping physical distance from others will reduce the spread of COVID-19
- Maintain three to six feet of distance from others whenever possible
- Any distance makes a difference. Space out as far as you can, where and when you can.
LPS and the City of Lincoln — Working Together
Lincoln Public Schools staff continues to work collaboratively with the City of Lincoln and the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) to develop plans for school operations. You can learn more about the City of Lincoln’s response to COVID-19 by visiting: https://app.lincoln.ne.gov/city/covid19/
Coronavirus Dashboard (Updated Daily)
Our Pandemic Procedures
Lincoln Public Schools staff continues to work collaboratively with the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) to develop plans for school operations. Staff gathers information from various sources and draft plans for discussion with LLCHD topic by topic (i.e. health protocols related to hygiene, instructional delivery model, cafeteria operations, etc.). The joint team meets routinely and communicates constantly by sharing documents, questions and clarifications in between meetings. LLCHD gives feedback and LPS adjusts plans throughout the process. This work will be ongoing as new research emerges and LLCHD has further guidance to provide the school district.
We will continue to update this webpage and communicate any changes to our protocols through email.
Procedures Detailed
Lincoln Public Schools will operate under the following general procedures based on recommendations by the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department. There may be some modification based on current community conditions and specific recommendations by the health department.
Symptom Screening
Attendance and Reporting an Absence
Attendance In-person
- Attendance will be taken as normal for all students.
- Students MUST self-assess for symptoms at home before coming to school. Students who are sick or have symptoms need to stay home and parents call the school or use ParentVue to report the illness.
- If students or family members test positive for COVID-19, stay home and report the absence to the school. Follow the return to school after exclusion protocols.
Attendance Remote Learning Program
- Regular participation via Zoom is required and attendance will be taken as normal for all students.
- If the student will miss their Remote Learning session, parents MUST call the school or use ParentVue to report the absence.
Communications about Positive Cases of Covid-19
- LLCHD will lead all contact tracing working closely with LPS staff. Those students and staff with direct exposure that need to self-monitor or self-quarantine will be contacted directly.
- Anyone identified as a high-risk close contact with the positive case will be called directly and given instructions on next steps.
Return to School after Exclusion
Once a student is excluded from the school environment, they may return if they satisfy the recommendations of the CDC.
Currently those guidelines are:
Untested
Persons who have not received a test proving or disproving the presence of COVID-19 but experience symptoms may return if the following three conditions are met:
- They have not had a fever for at least 24 hours (no fever without the use medicine that reduces fevers); AND
- Other symptoms have improved (for example, when your cough or shortness of breath have improved); AND
- Ten (10) calendar days have passed since your symptoms first appeared.
OR - Students may also return if they are approved to do so in writing by the student’s health care provider.
- Ten (10) calendar days have passed since your symptoms first appeared.
Household Contact
Individuals who are household members with a positive COVID-19 case need to do the following:
- If the individual can completely isolate from the positive COVID-19 household member, then individuals follow the directions outlined.
- If the individual CANNOT completely isolate from the positive COVID-19 household member, then the individual will begin their self-monitoring count on the last date of exposure from the positive case inside the home. The last day of exposure is considered day zero (0).
Please note: A person identified as a close contact or a household contact with symptoms remain in quarantine even if the person tests negative.
Tested
Positive
Persons who experienced symptoms and have been tested for COVID-19 and are found to be positive, may return to school if the following three conditions are met:
- They have not had a fever for at least 24 hours (that is one full day of no fever without the use medicine that reduces fevers); AND
- Other symptoms have improved (for example, when your cough or shortness of breath have improved); AND
- Ten (10) calendar days have passed since your symptoms first appeared
Negative
Persons who experienced symptoms and have been tested for COVID-19 and are found to be negative, may return to school if the following two conditions are met:
- They no longer have a fever (without the use medicine that reduces fevers); AND
- Other symptoms have improved (for example, when your cough or shortness of breath have improved)
Close contacts with a positive COVID-19 case
Updated on May 6, 2021 based on the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Directed Health Measure.
A close contact is someone who has had contact with a positive case 48 hours prior to onset of the positive case’s symptoms or test date if the positive case is asymptomatic. A close contact has been within 6 feet of the positive case for a cumulative 15 minutes or more and one or both persons were not wearing a face covering. A close contact may return to school if the following conditions are met:
Without Symptoms
- Individuals WITHOUT symptoms identified as a high-risk close contact with a person positive for COVID-19 must do the following in order to return to school:
- Appropriately wear face coverings in public for 14 days following exposure, and
- Practice social distancing, and
- Self-monitor twice daily for fever and other symptoms listed below for 14 days and have no symptom development.
- Please note: if a student is unable to wear a face covering fully over their mouth and nose, they will be required to self-quarantine.
- If the student develops symptoms within the 14 day period, then they will be required to move into self-isolation.
With Symptoms
- Individuals WITH symptoms still need to quarantine for the full 14 days, even with a negative test result.
Tested with No Symptoms
Persons who have not had symptoms but test positive for COVID- 19 may return to school when the following three conditions are met:
- They have not had a fever for at least 24 hours (no fever without the use medicine that reduces fevers); AND
- Any symptoms that develop have improved (for example, when your cough or shortness of breath have improved); AND
- Ten (10) calendar days have passed since the positive test was done.
Pending Test Results
Any student or staff with pending test results for COVID-19 are quarantined until results return. Only the student or staff with a pending test needs to be quarantined.
Students may start a remote learning plan while excluded especially if for an extended period of time.
Face Coverings
Face Covering Expectations: May 21 through August 1, 2021*
The Lincoln Public Schools plan for face coverings is based on recommendations from the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, the current local Directed Health Measure, and follows the current CDC guidance for schools.
Vaccination status is based on a self-identified system. Staff and students will make the determination to wear a face covering based on their vaccination status.**
According to the CDC, in general people are considered fully vaccinated:
- Two weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
- Two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
If you don’t meet these requirements, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated. The CDC recommends you keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.
| Location | Students | Staff* |
|---|---|---|
|
Pre-K through 5th Grade |
Face Covering Required |
Fully vaccinated = Face covering optional |
|
Grades 6 through 8 |
Face Covering Required |
Fully vaccinated = Face covering optional |
|
Grades 9 through 12 |
Fully vaccinated = Face covering optional |
Fully vaccinated = Face covering optional |
|
District Office and Other District Locations |
Fully vaccinated = Face covering optional |
|
| Audience or Situation | Permitted? | Staff* |
|---|---|---|
|
Volunteers |
Yes |
Fully vaccinated = Face covering optional** |
|
Visitors |
Yes |
Fully vaccinated = Face covering optional** |
|
Professional Learning Sessions or Meetings |
Fully vaccinated = Face covering optional |
|
* Subject to change based on review and current conditions.
** Proof of vaccination may be required in individual circumstances.
- Face coverings must be multilayered.
- Per our current school dress code, bandanas are not allowed.
- Plastic face shields are not a suitable replacement for multilayer cloth face coverings.
- LPS will have face coverings available for staff and students who do not provide their own.
- Families are allowed to provide their own multilayer cloth face coverings. Please note: Gaiters are single layer and can only be used if doubled up and cover both the nose and the mouth.
- Students and families are responsible for laundering and wearing their face coverings each day.
- LPS will treat face coverings as a required part of dress code where applicable and discipline for not following dress code is outlined in our Important Information Handbook.
- There will be time during the day when students and staff can break from wearing a face covering. Those include: while eating, when physical distance can be maintained outside and during scheduled breaks.
Hand Hygiene
- Wash hands frequently for at least 20 seconds.
- Use hand sanitizer
In our schools:
- Cleaning materials and hand sanitizer will be provided in each school.
- Each classroom will have a spray bottle of cleaner and paper towels.
- Custodial staff will clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in common areas and classrooms at the end of the day.
Drinking Fountains and Water Bottles
Drinking Fountains and Water Bottles
- All “mouth-on” drinking fountains will be covered and cannot be used.
- Classroom sinks will be available.
- Water bottle fill stations will be accessible where available.
- K-12 students may bring bottles full of water from home.
- Paper disposable cups will be provided by schools for students who do not have water bottles.
Volunteers and Visitors
Volunteers and Visitors
Volunteers and visitors are welcome in our school buildings*. All guests must adhere to the face covering protocols:
Fully Vaccinated** = Face covering optional
Unvaccinated = Face covering required
*Subject to change based on review and current conditions.
**Proof of vaccination may be required.
Donations
Donations
- Donations of materials and items will continue with items needing to be quarantined for a minimum of 72 hours before distribution.
- Monetary donations should go through the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools.
Physical Distancing
- Keeping physical distance from others will reduce the spread of COVID-19.
- Maintain three to six feet of distance from others whenever possible.
- Any distance makes a difference. Space out as far as you can, where and when you can.
- Desks will be placed as far apart as possible.
Self-Screening
Every day ask yourself or your student the following screening questions PRIOR to entering an LPS building
Do you have one of the following?
- Fever of over 100.4
- Onset of shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- New onset of dry cough
- New onset of loss of taste or smell
Do you have 2+ of the following?
- Chills longer than two hours
- Congestion and/or runny nose
- Nausea, Vomiting or Diarrhea
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Muscle Pain
Have you had contact with Covid-19?
- Have you had close contact with someone positive for COVID-19?
Contact longer than 15 minutes within 6 feet without a face covering or residing with someone who is positive
Have you been directed to self-isolate?
- Have you been directed to self-isolate due to a positive COVID-19 result or for having contact with someone with COVID-19?
If you answered YES to ANY of the above questions, do NOT go into an LPS building, instead:
- Contact your doctor or seek medical care
- Get tested for COVID-19
- Self-isolate. Do not go to an LPS building until you have a negative COVID-19 test result or cleared by a medical professional.
GET TESTED for COVID-19
Our Pandemic Plan
The Lincoln Public Schools (LPS), in creating a pandemic plan has grounded its decisions in social, economic and political policy which include the balancing of important educational and public health considerations, within the confines of its budgetary limitations, to allocate resources and staff in a way that mitigates risk but also seeks to achieve important educational goals.
There currently is an ongoing public health emergency related to the COVID-19 virus, and while LPS has undertaken measures to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission as explained in this reopening plan, these measures are intended to mitigate, but not completely eliminate, risk and by attending school the COVID-19 pandemic presents unique health and safety risks and dangers, known and unknown, inherent and otherwise, that cannot be eliminated and which can cause injury, illness, paralysis or death.
Families are being asked to screen their students for temperature and other recognized COVID-19 symptoms.
