Neshaminy To Consider Ending Contact Tracing, Make Changes To Health & Safety Plan

The Neshaminy School Board will consider making changes to the district’s COVID-19 mitigation plan.

In a letter to the public, Superintendent Dr. Rob McGee wrote the proposed changes to the health and safety plan will continue masks recommended but not required for students, end contact tracing for positive cases, and move to five days out of school and five with a mask requirement for COVID-19-positive students.

Neshaminy’s proposed changes come as COVID-19 cases in county are at high levels. Although, district data shows COVID-19 cases in schools are not seeing such extreme increases in the number of cases as of last week.

McGee wrote in his letter that the task of contact tracing positive cases when the county and state health departments are not doing so is no longer viable.

“I believe it is time for Neshaminy to refocus on what we are built to do well — attend to the academic, social and emotional progress of our students while ensuring a safe environment for students and staff,” he wrote.

The Mayo Clinic stated kids are less likely to become as sick as adults with COVID-19, but risk of illness among kids and transmission to others remains.

Neshaminy was among the first districts in the county to return to in-person learning during the early months the pandemic.

McGee said the district does not have plans to require COVID-19 vaccinations for students. He noted the state has not required students or staff to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

The school board will vote on the updated health and safety plan at their Tuesday, January 4 meeting at 7 p.m.

Below is the letter from McGee to parents:

Good Afternoon Neshaminy,

On Tuesday, January 4 at 7:00PM, the Neshaminy Board of School Directors will consider adopting a Revised COVID Health & Safety Plan based on the below recommendations. This meeting was originally scheduled for January 11 but has been moved up a week and is now on January 4, 2022.

The Executive Summary:

1. Neshaminy will continue as “Masks Recommended” for students.
2. Neshaminy will exclude COVID Positive Individuals for 5 calendar-days and those individuals must
   wear a mask in school for 5 additional calendar-days.
3. Neshaminy will no longer Contact Trace.
4. Neshaminy will no longer exclude Asymptomatic Students/Staff from School/Work.
5. Neshaminy will continue to Dashboard Positive Cases and track school/classroom connections of
   positive cases for potential school-based spread.

The Discussion:

I am fairly certain there is something in the following that will upset just about everyone on the COVID Continuum regardless of which side you lean toward…

At the end of the summer, I had hoped we were at the “Beginning of the End of the Pandemic” thinking by this time we would be well on the way to returning the school setting to pre-pandemic conditions. Clearly, that is not to be the case as the “Beginning” of the end is far lengthier than we all had anticipated.

That said, locally, we are well on the way to moving COVID to the Endemic State as we learn to live with the virus for years to come. As a Nation, vaccines are readily available, and we better understand how to treat those who contract COVID. Our community has a high vaccination rate and an excellent medical system. As a District, we have the means to ensure our schools are clean and well-ventilated, including the Bi-Polar Ionization System and an amazing staff of more than 1000 to navigate the next uncertainty.

Last year, Neshaminy was one of the first to reopen schools safely in October in the Blue/Red Hybrid Model; in November we expanded to “All-in” Grades K-4 at less than 6 feet in the classrooms and by early April we had all students back to full, 5-days a week in-person learning. All safely; though at the time, each such expansion was outside the norm of most districts in the surrounding four-county area.

The priority continues to be a safe learning environment for students and staff coupled with full-time in-person learning for all students. Defining “Safe” is the point of disagreement. Every child and family have different circumstances. As a result, there are differing tolerances for risk.

Last year, as a Nation, we closed and limited children’s access to school for their safety and the safety of a broader global society fearing that schools would be the mass- spreaders. Based on the uncertainty of the times, it appeared to be the correct thing to do. Unfortunately, in doing so, we unintentionally eliminated invaluable academic, social, emotional, support and services to millions of children across the Nation. And as it turned out, schools and children were not mass-spreaders of the disease in our communities last year.

Though this year brings new uncertainties and new variants, I believe our schools are safe but not without some risk of exposure and contracting COVID. Sadly, it appears this type of annual/seasonal spike in COVID Cases may be the norm for years to come. It is for this reason, I believe we need to refocus the metrics away from “Case Count” to “Severity of the Disease” among those who contract COVID. Case Count may (will) rise and children may contract COVID. The more important metric is what happens after children contract COVID. If the answer continues to be “mild” symptoms, then our schools can continue to operate normally.

It is for these reasons, I am recommending Neshaminy continue as “Masks Recommended” for students and we stop, what is a logistically problematic process, of tracking the health status of nearly 10,000 students, their families and 1,300 employees.

We can no longer expect our schools to Contact Trace Positive COVID Cases when our State and local Departments of Health are not doing the same for our students and families beyond the school day or for other Commonwealth/County residents.

Last year, Neshaminy worked in concert with the BC DoH to assist in notifying students of their Isolation and/or Quarantine for the BC DoH while the department worked to address the non-school related issues on their plate. The Isolation and Quarantine Order of the last school year issued by Neshaminy on behalf of the BC DoH extended the expectation beyond the school days.

This year, Neshaminy has issued “Exclusions” from only school/work, as we have no authority to issue Isolation Orders or to Quarantine anyone. Since September, the County has not been issuing Isolation Orders to county residents when COVID Positive. Additionally, the County has not been Contact Tracing COVID Positive Cases or issuing Quarantine Orders to Close Contacts.

Why… because it’s logistically impossible to do so with any reasonable expectation of validity, reliability or fidelity. Instead, the model moving forward is simple, if you are COVID Positive follow the advice of your Healthcare Provider. If you’re not feeling well, stay home. If symptoms persist, seek the advice of your Healthcare Provider.

Therefore, I believe it is time for Neshaminy to refocus on what we are built to do well — attend to the academic, social and emotional progress of our students while ensuring a safe environment for students and staff.

What about lmmunocompromised Students?
This group of students has our full attention. We will continue to work with these students, their parents and their pediatricians to make the best health decisions for the child, balancing the need for in-person learning.

What about lmmunocompromised/At-Risk Family Members/Extended Family Members?
This is the significant change in thinking from last year. Last year, we limited children’s education and socialization to protect the potential transmission from school to a child to at-risk family members or extended family members. We have learned that the cost of such limitation on all children’s education and socialization are significant and arguably may outweigh the risk of transmission to others. Though it does not give me any pleasure to say it… the responsibility must shift to the individual family to implement mitigation strategies in their lives to reduce the risk of their child transmitting the disease to an at-risk loved-one at home.

What about the Neshaminy Staff?
The Neshaminy Staff — in all Job Classifications — has been nothing short of exceptional since March of 2020. Not only is each living through the Pandemic as an individual and parent themselves, each comes to work to be surrounded by other people — lots of them — as an essential function of their job. The Neshaminy Staff’s collective navigation of each “Plot Twist” for nearly two years is simply remarkable.

Fortunately, our staff is covered by many Federal, State and Local Provisions that assist them in their decision-making as to how their job requirements during present conditions impact them personally and their families. Each must weigh their personal circumstances, the expectations of their job and available ADA, FMLA and local benefits to determine their individual future course.

As with each iteration of the reopening of Neshaminy Schools over the past two years, these recommendations are not on the “Cutting Edge” in the County. Two school districts have been running similar plans since September and most recently, two districts began in mid-December. We are again positioned to watch, listen and learn. Then we can implement safe, well-coordinated and well-communicated adjustments shortly thereafter.

I know whatever lies ahead, we (Students, Parents, Staff and the Community) will civilly debate while working together to continue to provide an outstanding education to Neshaminy Students.

With Neshaminy Pride, Rob

More Details:

The Academic Model:
• The Primary Academic Model is in-person instruction, 5 days a week in classrooms configured to utilize the best-practices for student success including plenty of social interactions and collaboration.
• For parents who are not comfortable with the traditional academic model, we will continue to offer the Neshaminy School District Virtual Academy (NSDVA).
• Daily Synchronous Live-streaming from the Classroom will not be available at this point as the simultaneous dual model significantly complicates the in- person instructional model thereby lessening the effectiveness. However, the options can be quickly “turned on” if necessary, based on changing circumstances.

Masks/Face Coverings:
• Wearing a Mask is recommended for students when in school.
• Masks for students will be an individual student/parent choice in schools.
• Masks will remain a requirement on School Buses as per Federal Requirement.
• Neshaminy Staff and Contractors will be expected to wear a mask indoors when within 6 feet of students and/or other staff.
• Masks will not be required outdoors.
• Mask Expectations for Indoor Special Events — Athletic, Co-curricular and Social — will be determined on an event-by-event basis by District Administration.

Distancing:
• Elementary Lunch Time will remain in the classroom until a time determined by District Administration.
• Middle School Lunches will remain with individual desks in the cafeteria until a time determined by District Administration.
• Otherwise, there are no distancing requirements.

Transportation:
• Bus/Van Loads will remain at pre-pandemic conditions which is 2-3 students per seat.

School Hygiene/Sanitation:
• We learned a lot about Physical Hygiene and Sanitation last year. Neshaminy was the first to install Bi-Polar Ionization Systems in each school’s HVAC System to ‘clean’ the air.
• Hand Sanitizer will continue to be readily available at each classroom door and throughout the hallways.
• Materials to clean surfaces will continue to be supplied to each classroom.

COVID Positive Isolation & Exclusions from School/Work:
• Presently, the Bucks County Department of Health does not issue Isolation Orders to those testing positive for COVID.
• However, Neshaminy will continue to exclude COVID Positive Individuals from School/Work for 5 days then require a mask in school for 5 additional days.

Close Contacts/Exclusions/Quarantines/Contact Tracing:
• The BC DoH does not issue Quarantining Orders to individuals in Close Contact with someone testing positive for COVID.
• The BC DoH does not do Contact Tracing of students or staff.
• Therefore, Neshaminy will no longer Contact Trace nor exclude students/staff from school/work.
• The plan moving forward is similar to that of most other illnesses. If you are not feeling well:
1) Stay Home;
2) If the symptoms continue, see your doctor;
3) Follow your physician’s directions;
4) Return to School/Work when symptom free.

Notifications:
• Neshaminy will continue to Dashboard COVID Cases that fall within the 48-hour Window of Concern.
• Neshaminy will continue to notify parents if there was a COVID Positive Individual in their child’s classroom.

Vaccinations:
• There are no plans to require COVID Vaccinations for students or staff at the local level. As you know, there is a list of required vaccinations for students as required by the Commonwealth of PA. Presently, the COVID Vaccination is not on that list of required vaccinations for students.

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