BBB COVID Guidelines Update

Good morning, BBB families,

We wanted to share our updated COVID-19 protocols. These protocols align with current Oakland County Health Division (OCHD) recommendations for students 2 and older, and with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for students ages 0-2, these are the same protocols we followed this summer, with an update on masking in the building.  Please note these may change with the most recent CDC guidelines. If our licensing or public health institutions change their guidelines, we will share updates with our school community.

As a reminder, families are no longer required to use Clear To Go but it is important to monitor your child’s symptoms daily. If you feel your child is ill or develops any illness symptoms (especially fever and cough), please keep them at home and consider testing them for COVID-19. At this time, the District’s daily testing clinic is closed, however, the District has home test kits available, while supplies last. As a reminder, it is still required to tell the BBB staff if your child tests positive for COVID-19. 

Mask Policy

• Effective Wednesday August 17, 2022, students, staff and families will no longer be required to wear face coverings while inside Berkley Building Blocks, however, masks do remain optional for those who wish to wear one.

• I know this may be difficult news for some and welcome news for others. OCHD still recommends wearing a mask while in public indoor settings.

• Families and providers in our Early Intervention and Early On Program will no longer be required to wear their masks during home visits.

• Masks will continue to be welcome and supported in our schools. We will also continue to provide KN95, cloth and surgical masks to any staff or student who requests one. There are a few situations where masks may continue to be required:

• As part of the quarantine guidelines, following guidance from Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

• If there is evidence of classroom or school spread, which will be determined and communicated by District administration

• Prior to returning to school on August 22, 2022, we encourage you to take the time to have a conversation with your children about mask wearing. If your decision is to continue to wear masks, make sure your children know your family rule. Our teachers will be focusing on the teaching and learning in the classroom, not managing mask wearing or classroom configurations related to masking. We encourage you to discuss with your children that every family may not make the same choice as yours, and students should lead with kindness while they are at school. We know this may be hard, and this decision may impact families differently, however, we all need to be respectful of each family's choice. 

The following details will outline what to do if your child tests positive, if a household member tests positive and how you will be notified if someone in your child’s class has COVID-19. 

Positive Cases - Children Ages 2 & Older

If your child tests positive for COVID-19, whether on a rapid or PCR test, they will need to do the following:

• Monitor symptoms for Days 0-10 (Day 0 is the day symptoms started or the test date, if asymptomatic)

• Stay home and isolate for Days 0-5 

• If symptoms have improved or no symptoms develop, children can return to school if they wear a well-fitted mask for Days 6-10

• If your child tests positive but is asymptomatic, and symptoms develop after testing positive, the 5 day isolation period will start over

Household Exposure - Children Ages 2 & Older

If someone in your household tests positive for COVID-19, but your child has tested negative, your child will need to do the following:

• Monitor symptoms for 10 days 

• Recommended: Wear a mask around others for 10 days following last exposure

• Recommended: Take a COVID-19 test 3-7 days after last exposure or if symptoms develop

Positive Cases - Children Ages 0-2

If your child tests positive for COVID-19, whether on a rapid or PCR test, they will need to do the following:

• Stay home (isolate) for Days 0-10

Household Exposure - Children Ages 0-2

If someone in your household tests positive for COVID-19, but your child has tested negative, your child will need to do the following:

• Stay home (isolate) for Days 0-10

Case Notification Protocols

If someone in your child’s class tests positive for COVID-19, the following will take place:

• Positive cases will receive an email with isolation guidance

• Cases will be reported to the Oakland County Health Division, but a District dashboard will no longer be maintained

• Classroom communities will receive a notification email that a positive case was identified

• Families should monitor symptoms and children should stay home if any new symptoms develop. The District will no longer complete the contact tracing process.

• Home test kits will be available to families while supplies last

We continue to partner with Oakland County Health Division and will advise you of any changes OCHD makes to isolation/quarantine protocols. 

If you are looking for a vaccine appointment for your child, visit the Oakland County Vaccine website. They are now scheduling for ages 6 months and older.

Thank you for following our COVID-19 safety protocols. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Katie Fotiu

BBB Supervisor