Stay Healthy

The COVID-19 pandemic has put us into uncharted territory. As health care professionals continue to work on better treatment and a vaccine, we must work together to lower the risk of exposure and supporting the health and well-being of our entire district community, while still educating and supporting our students.

Our plan has been developed using recommendations from: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) | MN Department of Health (MDH) | Carver County Public Health

Information & Resources: How COVID Spreads | Protect Yourself

Important Health Reminders:

While the CDC has provided guidance for a shortened quarantine period, the MN Department of Health, Carver County Public Health, and our Regional Support Team continue to recommend the 14-day quarantine period as the best way to prevent the spread of the virus. Our district will continue to follow the 14-day quarantine period for those deemed "close contacts" of a positive case.
Students must wear their masks at all times except when eating their lunches or during organized mask breaks that include social distancing. The updated guidance from the MN Departments of Education and Health now require masks to be worn during physical education, which is a change from the fall. If your child has a medical exemption, please contact your school nurse.
Please pack extra masks for your child, they often become wet during the day. Wash masks often.
Domestic Travel: We do not require quarantine after domestic travel.
International Travel (CDC guidance):
- Vaccinated people:
  - Mask required on planes
  - All passengers coming to US are required to have negative COVID test within 3 days of travel or documentation of COVID illness in past 3 month.
  - There are no quarantine rules for anyone who is fully vaccinated and comes in contact with a COVID positive person
- Unvaccinated people:
  - Mask required on planes
  - Negative 3 days test prior to arrival
  - After travel, follow the shortened quarantine guidelines:
    - Self-quarantine for 10 days after travel OR
    - Test 3-5 days after travel and self-quarantine. May return after day 7 if test negative.

Parents are important to the screening process, and know their child best. If your child has any symptoms of illness, please keep them home and contact your school nurse. If anyone in your family is waiting for results of a COVID-19 test, please keep your child(ren) home until test results are received. Siblings of ill students should also be kept home while waiting for further instructions. Even minor symptoms could be a symptom of COVID-19. For example: “They just had a little cough”. In a typical year they would still come to school for a little cough. With the pandemic, they should be evaluated for the same symptom. Many symptoms of COVID-19 are consistent with other common illnesses like colds, influenza, strep, stomach bugs. MDH Decision Tree
“Rapid” (antigen) tests are not as accurate. When getting tested, please look for a PCR (nasal or saliva) test. There are numerous testing locations or you can order one to your home.
Please continue to contact the school nurse if your child has been exposed or tested positive during distance learning. The better our local data, the better informed our learning plans. This information can also be helpful in determining if a student needs to quarantine based on other exposures.

Staying Healthy FAQ

How will we handle COVID cases in our schools?

What communication can I expect if a positive Covid-19 case is reported in the district, or in my school?

That’s a complicated question, and the answer, unfortunately, is it depends. There are several federal and state laws that protect privacy, especially around medical information. Our district is closely partnered with Carver County Public Health. When notified of a positive or suspected positive case, the district works in collaboration to determine who might have a risk of exposure. Those individuals are notified and, depending on the circumstances, quarantine may be needed.

It is important that no information is shared that could be used to identify individuals. At the county level, they don’t report case numbers if they are less than 10. What we can assure is that if our health experts determine there is a risk to an individual, a classroom, a bus, or a building, we will work quickly to inform those impacted. Our Buildings and Grounds team is also always at the ready to do a deep clean of any spaces that might have been exposed.

The best thing we can all do is to continue to be vigilant about wearing a mask, social distancing where possible, washing hands, and doing everything we can to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Monitor your child for illness. Use this checklist as a guide for symptoms to look for each day.
If your child is sick, please keep them home.
If you are waiting on test results, please keep them home.

The Return To Learn Website has more information about steps in place to keep our school communities safe and healthy. There’s also a new Data Dashboard that provides an up-to-date picture of Carver County’s numbers. If you have any questions, contact your building nurse.

Who has to wear face coverings in our schools?

Beginning July 25, 2020, people in Minnesota are required to wear a cloth face covering at all indoor businesses and public indoor spaces, this includes all of our schools. All staff and students (kindergarten and up) are expected to wear a face covering unless an accommodation is requested through an IEP or documented medical exception.

Types of face coverings can include a paper or disposable mask, a cloth mask, a neck gaiter, a scarf, a bandanna, or a religious face covering that completely covers the nose and mouth. Any mask that incorporates a valve is insufficient.

There are many types, styles, and fits of facial coverings – we recommend students and staff try different options to find the best fit for each person.

Student Mask Guide

Additional resources regarding facial coverings

When should I keep my child home from school?

Will ECCS conduct daily health screenings?

No, the CDC does not currently recommend universal symptom screenings (screening all students grades K-12) be conducted by schools. Parents or caregivers are strongly encouraged to monitor their children for signs of infectious illness every day. Students who are sick should not attend school in-person. Additional information about when to keep a child home from school (English) | Spanish Version | Somali Version

ECCS will continue with existing health and safety protocols
All staff will wear masks and face shields
All staff will have access to COVID testing on a bi-weekly basis
Students will wear masks during physical education
Elementary students will continue to eat lunch and specials will happen in the classroom to the extent possible

MN Department of Education Safe Return to Learn Plan

Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

High Schools

District Services