District Return to School Plan

Return to School Plan 2022-2023

Highland CUSD No. 5 plans to offer 5 days of in person learning to all students aligned to pre-COVID daily schedules.

Social Distancing

While staff and students will be encouraged to attempt social distancing as much as possible while indoors, best educational practice often requires students to work together in small groups in close proximity.  Parents and/or students concerned about these situations need to communicate directly to the building administrator to identify a remedy if possible.

Wearing masks

Wearing of masks is optional for all students and staff.

Staying home when sick/COVID testing for symptomatic individuals

As was the case in the 2021-22 school year, the District will continue to ask parents to keep students home that are exhibiting COVID symptoms.  Keeping students and adults who are sick home from school remains the number one way to prevent the spread of COVID as well as other illnesses.    

Handwashing and respiratory etiquette

Frequent hand washing and hand sanitizing will help prevent the spread of illness. The district has provided most classrooms and entryways with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 80% alcohol that can be used. Handwashing and respiratory etiquette (covering coughs/sneezes) will be encouraged and emphasized throughout the school year. 

Contact Tracing/Quarantine from School

Keeping students in school is a primary focus.  Only students and staff exhibiting symptoms of illness will be asked to stay home.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Proper Cleaning and Disinfection       

Staff and students will have the ability to sanitize their work spaces with appropriate cleaning agents that will be available in all classrooms.

Highland CUSD No. 5, in consultation with the Madison County Health Department will make decisions about when to add or remove any of the prevention strategies for the students and staff based on local conditions, transmission rates of the virus within our school and local community.  

We are very excited about the start of the 2022-23 school year.  We know we are better equipped to keep our students in-person for full days of school as the 2022-23 school year begins. We need everyone’s help, support and patience to keep our students safe and focused on learning.