August 26, 2022

Dear Williamsville Central School District Families,

As we prepare for the 2022-2023 school year, we wanted to share the current health and safety guidelines from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and the New York State Education Department (NYSED), which are available along with a frequently asked questions document on the District’s COVID-19 Education Page.

Symptomatic Individuals

• Any individual, regardless of vaccination status, who has symptoms of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, such as cough, fever, sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea will be sent home from school or directed to stay home
  • Testing is recommended as soon as possible
  • Symptomatic individuals who choose not to test, will need to stay home for at least 5 days
  • A symptomatic individual who tests negative on a COVID-19 test, including an at-home test, may return to school provided they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication

COVID-19 Positive Individuals & Isolation

• Any individual who tests positive, regardless of vaccination status, needs to isolate for a minimum of 5 days and follow CDC isolation guidance
• A positive individual or a symptomatic individual who chooses not to test may return to school on day 6 if their symptoms are improving and they are fever free for at least 24 hours without the aid of fever reducing medication
  • Please note, a negative test is not required to come out of isolation
  • A positive individual should wear a mask while indoors when they return to school on days 6 – 10

Exposure and Notification

• The District will no longer be publishing a daily COVID-19 report on the District website
• Any individual who was in the same school setting (i.e. bus, classroom) as a COVID-19 positive individual is considered exposed and parents/guardians will be notified through WITSmail
  • If an individual is exposed to a positive COVID-19 individual, a COVID-19 at-home test kit will be provided to families upon request through WITS
  • Regardless of vaccination status, individuals who were exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual do not need to quarantine and are not excluded from school

 

Testing Following COVID-19 Exposure

• Regardless of vaccination status or history of prior COVID-19 infection, the CDC recommends to test on or after day 5 of their last known exposure or sooner if symptoms develop

Masking Following COVID-19 Exposure

• The CDC recommends that those exposed to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status or history of prior COVID-19 infection, wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days in public, indoor settings, including indoors at school

Please know the information above is subject to change based on updates provided by the NYSDOH and NYSED.

If you have any questions regarding these items, please contact your building.

Sincerely,

Dr. Darren J. Brown-Hall
Superintendent of Schools