Coronavirus

Monroe County Schools is closely monitoring all developments related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), and we take this and any other health-related concern very seriously. District officials will remain in close contact with local, state, and federal agencies – such as the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), the Monroe County Board of Health (BOH), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for the latest information on this disease.

In this case, many of the decisions and plans around quarantines or school closures will be led by the federal government with assistance from state emergency management officials. We have received guidance from those agencies and are incorporating key components into the District’s emergency management practices. We will provide updated information to students, families and District employees as we receive directives from local, state, and federal health officials.

At a district level, Monroe County Schools strongly encourages students, schools, families and staff to engage in a few protective measures:

Students and staff will be encouraged each day to wear a mask.
Highly recommend that unvaccinated staff and students 12 years and older (with written parental permission) receive the Covid-19 vaccination. We will work with DPH to set up vaccination schedules for willing staff and students.
Contact trace exposures within 6 ft for 15 minutes in the school setting, allowing parents the option to quarantine their child. Household contacts of a positive case will be asked to quarantine. Absences for opting to quarantine will be excused and students may make up work.
Mandatory masking on buses (this will help cut down on multiple cross grade exposures).
Use social distancing as needed to help reduce exposures.
Temporarily suspend visitor access in classrooms and lunchrooms.
Additionally, we are increasing our facilities cleansing and providing preventative care resources as suggested through CDC guidance.

Response Measures

Upon any notification by an official source that an MCS student or employee has been diagnosed with COVID-19, we will institute our emergency management protocols, which includes notification of the MCS community and further strengthening of health and preventive measures and infection control precautionary measures. We will adhere to guidance provided by the Department of Public Health related to containment, quarantine, safety measures, etc.

Ongoing Communications

We will continue to provide updated information to students, families, and employees as we receive directives from local, state, and federal health officials