I want to thank you for all that you have done and are doing to keep our students participating in in-person learning. As the number of new COVID 19 cases increases daily in the state of Maine we are asking for your continued help and cooperation. Please keep your child home if they have any symptoms or are not feeling well. MSAD 13 is an optional masking district and not participating in pooled testing. The district has had 2 confirmed positive COVID cases since returning from winter break. I know that when we ask students and staff to quarantine that this creates a hardship for everyone, but I want you to know that MSAD 13 continues to do well. Haylie Kennedy, MSAD 13’s school nurse compiled the following information that demonstrates how MSAD 13 compares to other districts.

Since winter break Greenville has had 22 positive student cases and 5 staff members, they are pooled testing and masking. They cancelled all sports for next week and moved to remote learning. Dexter high school (200 students) are masking and pooled testing. They had had 36 positives from the start of school to winter break, since returning from break they have had 37 positives. They had 5 positive pools last week resulting in the individual testing of 50 students to find 6 positives. Maine and most of the country are in the middle of a surge with the peak expected in mid-February. Unfortunately, that is right about the time of Maine’s High School basketball tournament. We do not know what the impact will be on the basketball tournament.

I am asking you to continue to keep your student home if they don’t feel well or have any symptoms. You have done a great job helping us keep our schools open for in-person learning. We have done well and want to continue to do so. Please do not let your guard down. It is very likely that we will have more cases during this surge and have to ask students and staff members to quarantine.

I am being asked if there is any way to avoid quarantining and the answer is yes. Students and staff do not have to quarantine when identified as a close contact if they are fully vaccinated. Other options are universal masking and/or participating in pooled testing. The district will continue to explore these options. If you have questions please call me at 672-5502.

Sincerely,

Sandra J MacArthur,

MSAD 13 Superintendent

Weekly Lunch Menu

Dear Students, Staff, Parents, and Community Members,

The Maine CDC recently updated the COVID 19 quarantining requirements and exemptions. The following is a snapshot of the changes and their impact on MSAD 13 as of today. I do expect that this guidance will change again.

• MSAD 13 remains an optional masking school.

• If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID 19 they must quarantine 5 days and may return when symptoms have improved. They are then required to wear a mask for 5 additional days.

• If a student or staff member is fully vaccinated and deemed a close contact to someone that tests positive for COVID 19 they do not need to quarantine but will be required to mask for 10 days.

• If the student or staff member is unvaccinated and exposed to a positive COVID case, they must quarantine 5 days and then mask 5 days.

• If a student or staff member is living in a home with a person that tests positive for COVID 19 and unvaccinated, then they must quarantine during the time that person has symptoms and must quarantine (minimum of 5 days) and then an additional 5 days to ensure that they do not develop symptoms. They will be required to wear a mask for an additional 5 days when returning to school.

• Home tests are not accepted, PCR testing is still easily available at BAHC at no cost.

• When a student or staff member returns to school the 5 days of masking will be enforced.

• Masks may be removed when eating or drinking. Masks may also be removed during outdoor activities.

Fully Vaccinated is defined at this time as someone that has had two doses of either Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months. If the student or staff member received their vaccines  more than 6 months ago, they must have received a booster. If the staff member received J&J within the last two months, they are considered fully vaccinated. If the JJ vaccine was received longer than 2 months ago the staff member must receive a booster to be considered fully vaccinated.

· Students are exempt from boosters currently. If a student is eligible for a booster, they should plan to receive one as I suspect the requirement is coming. Fully vaccinated is still defined as two doses at this time for students.

If a student or staff member appears unwell after their return to school from quarantine, they may be sent home, for their wellbeing and the safety of others.

Sincerely,

Sandra J MacArthur

Superintendent of Schools

December Wellness Corner

• Within the past 24 hours have you had a fever* or taken fever reducing medicine?  YES = Do not come to School

• Do you feel sick, had vomiting/diarrhea, fever*, sore throat, or felt unwell? YES = Do not come to School

• Have you been told to stay home and isolate/quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure? YES = Do not come to School

Stay home with any YES response to the questions above.

Attend school when all answers are NO and your child is feeling well with no other symptoms of illness. Call or see your school nurse or other designated person at school if you have questions.

IF YOUR CHILD HAS ANY ILLNESS THEY SHOULD STAY AT HOME UNTIL NO FEVER FOR 24 HOURS WITHHOUT TAKING FEVER REDUCING MEDICATION AND SYMPTOMS ARE IMPROVING OR GONE.

*A fever is 100.4F/38C or greater.