Dedham Public Schools will be following the outline guidance provided by the CDC, Mass Dept of Public Health and DESE for the 2022-23 school year.
In summary:
NO Masks will be required for students or staff - except in school nurse offices, or upon return after a positive COVID test Days 6-10.
NO Pooled testing will be conducted.
NO Quarantine is required or recommended for children (or staff), regardless of vaccination status or location where individual was exposed.
Dedham will continue to encourage and support those staff and students who choose to wear masks.
All positive COVID-19 tests conducted by school staff at school must be reported to MA DPH
If a student or staff member exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 during the course of the school day, they will be referred to the Nurse's office.
WITH CONSENT FORM: The school nurse will conduct a BinaxNOW or iHealth test to check for COVID.
WITHOUT CONSENT FORM: The school nurse will call the parent or guardian on file to pick up the student - OR - to immediately complete the consent for testing.
Students or staff who present with COVID symptoms during the school day - and who DO NOT have a new 2022 consent on file with the school nurse - will be sent home.
INDIVIDUALS WHO TEST POSITIVE:
Individuals who test positive must isolate for at least 5 days.
Return to school after Day 5 if: asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and the individual is fever free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication).
If ABLE to mask: Must do so through Day 6 - 10
If individual has a negative test on Day 5 or later, they do not need to mask.
If UNABLE to mask after testing positive for Covid ; you MUST stay home for a full 10 days. Unless documentation is provided of a negative test after day 5.
Dedham Public Schools follow the guidelines and guidance set by the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). All detailed guidelines and updates can be found here.
