USD480 will continue to work with the Seward County Health Department
and follow the guidance of the Kansas Department of Health and
Environment and the Kansas State Department of Education on issues and
protocols related to Covid-19 mitigation and management. Interventions
will be evaluated on a regular basis with the implementation of
changes subject to the severity index of the community Covid-19
status. For updated information on the status of Seward County in regard
to Covid-19 please access the website sewardcountyks.org.
Several measures were implemented during the 2020-2021 school year
that were different from the norms. With the introduction of the Covid-19
vaccine, conditions have improved, but the disease is still a present
concern for communities. The district looks to return to as normal as
possible while still remaining cognizant and compliant with Covid-19
measures. All measures utilized in our schools are for the concern of the
health of our students, staff and families of the community.
Health protocols from the nursing office have to remain consistent with the
practices of the 2020-2021 school year. The health management protocols
for Covid-19 have not changed. Parents are asked to continue the practice
of self-screening their child for symptoms of illness prior to sending them to
school or allowing them to ride the bus. Confirmed positive cases will need
to be isolated from others. Close contacts will be identified. Quarantines
will be enacted for close contacts and Seward County Health Department
will complete investigations. Any individuals with a confirmed positive case
of Covid-19 or in quarantine due to exposure outside the school will be
required to have a letter of release from the Seward County Health
Department (or their local health department if not a Liberal resident).
