Attention Please

Changes to COVID-Related Guidance

Darrel Kohlman

January 20, 2022

Dear Parents and Guardians of USD 115 Students & USD 115 Staff, 

Thank you for your continued support of our students, staff, and school community. Please take a moment to thoroughly review the information below, as we learned about some changes to COVID-related guidance on Tuesday, January 18th. 

To begin, the current surge in COVID is creating immense pressure on Kansas schools and staff members, including USD 115, as we work to keep classrooms staffed and in-person learning occurring as much as possible. With the number of positive COVID cases that are currently being identified, the likelihood of exposure is high in public settings throughout our community. Additionally, school buildings are no different despite our best efforts to follow mitigation practices.

To alleviate some of the pressure on Kansas schools, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), along with the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), both support schools implementing a 30-day temporary suspension on contact tracing activities.

Based on the new guidance from KDHE and KSDE, here is the updated protocol our schools will follow regarding positive COVID-19 cases and identifying close contacts:

  • Beginning immediately, USD 115 will no longer notify families whose child may have been in contact, through classroom or extracurricular settings, with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19. 

    • If someone in your household tests positive for COVID, it is your responsibility to inform any close contacts. 

  • The superintendent will continue to provide a daily update of positive cases for students and staff within the district. 

The following information has not changed from the last time we issued USD 115 COVID guidance. However, it is being shared with you again as this will continue to be protocol:

If your child tests positive for COVID-19, please do the following as per guidelines from the Nemaha County Public Health Officer:

  • Do not send your child to school & please notify the school. You can do this by email or phone call:

  • Your child will need to be released from either KDHE or the Nemaha County Public Health Officer before he/she will be allowed to return to school.  Please contact Heaven Schuette, the Nemaha County Public Health Officer, to determine when your child’s release date will be and then please share this information with the school.  Please note the Public Health Officer will send the release directly to the school.  If there is a delay with Nemaha County Public Health Officer issuing a release date, the school nurse will work with families to determine a school return date. Here is the contact information for the Nemaha County Public Health Officer:

If someone in your household tests positive for COVID-19 or your child is a close contact outside of the school setting, please do the following as per guidelines from the Nemaha County Public Health Officer:

  • If your child IS NOT vaccinated, most likely, he/she will need to quarantine and should not attend school. Please do not send your child to school until after you have contacted the Nemaha County Public Health Officer. 

    • If your child is quarantined, your child will need to be released from either KDHE or the Nemaha County Public Health Officer before he/she will be allowed to return to school.  Please contact Heaven Schuette, the Nemaha County Public Health Officer, to determine when your child’s release date will be and share this information with the school. Please note the Public Health Officer will send the release directly to the school.  If there is a delay with Nemaha County Public Health Officer issuing a release date, the school nurse will work with families to determine a school return date. Here is the contact information for the Nemaha County Public Health Officer:

  • If your child IS FULLY VACCINATED, you should contact the Nemaha County Public Health Officer. Your child may not need to quarantine unless he/she is showing signs & symptoms.  

    • While not required, you may consider having your child wear a mask for 10 days after exposure. 

    • Additionally, as a parent, you also may choose to keep your child home from school for 10 days after exposure. 

To learn more about this guidance change, visit https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/283/Education-K-12.

If you have any questions regarding this change to school contact tracing protocols, please contact Mr. Darrel Kohlman dkohlman@usd115.org; 785-336-6101.  

Thank you for your continued support as we navigate this challenging time for our schools and communities. We will continue to keep you informed as guidance changes are announced.

Sincerely,

Darrel Kohlman

USD 115 Superintendent