May 10, 2021

Board of Education Decision on Quarantine Recommendations

HPS Board of Education votes to no longer require the quarantine of students considered "close-contacts"  of positive cases at school with some exceptions. Any student who is currently on quarantine, and who is not impacted by one of the three conditions noted below, may return to school and extra-curricular activities effective immediately.

This evening, Monday, May 10, the HPS Board of Education carefully reviewed:

  • the District's board-approved Return to Learn Plan; specifically assurance number 6,
  • a legal opinion from Thrun Law regarding the discretion for local boards of education to act in collaboration with local county health departments and the following of recommendations, requirements, and orders,
  • the current recommendations and requirements of both Ottawa and Allegan Counties,
  • local and county data including positive cases, quarantines, hospitalization, and mortality rates, and
  • an Ottawa County study that found that of the quarantined students this year who were considered close contacts, only about 1.4% became positive cases because of exposure in school.  Of the over 1,400 students that have been quarantined as a result of prior quarantine measures in HPS, this number has been less at around 0.007%.
As a result, effective immediately, the HPS Board of Education has voted to no longer require the quarantine for students to be considered close contacts to COVID-19 cases at school except for the following:
  1. the student has been identified by the health department as part of a school outbreak,
  2. the student is from a family who has other members of the household who have tested positive, and/or
  3. the student has been identified as a close contact and exhibiting symptoms congruent with COVID.
We will continue all of our in-school mitigation strategies as well as continue to notify families of any exposures to COVID-19 at school.  We ask that you continue your communication with us and to keep your child at home if they have tested positive and/or are exhibiting symptoms.
 
Any student who is currently on quarantine, and who is not impacted by one of the three conditions noted above, may return to school and extra-curricular activities effective immediately. If you have any questions, please contact your school nurse or principal for clarification. 
 
If your child has been identified as a close contact, you may keep them home and self-quarantine as a recommended best practice from the health departments. This will be counted as an excused absence provided that the student keeps current with his/her academic work.
 

 It takes all of us to keep our schools healthy and safe. We are nearing the end of the school year, so let's all continue to do our part.

Share