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Lake Oswego School District

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LOSD COVID-19 Protocols

LOSD follows state and local guidance mandated by the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Education. When guidance changes, which it has over the course of the pandemic, LOSD updates protocols. These protocols are outlined in the information provided below.

Communicating Cases in School Community
Community Transmission Metrics

ODE and OHA are using metrics provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in determining the COVID-19 community level.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looks at the combination of three metrics — new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population in the past 7 days, the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past 7 days — to determine the COVID-19 community levels. Using this data, the COVID-19 community level is classified as low, medium, or high.
Bus Transportation
Cohorting
COVID-19 Testing

Antigen Rapid COVID-19 tests are available at all schools for students and staff if they become symptomatic while at school (CHANGE: no drive-up testing will be available at the Nurse’s window at PAL); Nurses will come to school sites to assist with COVID-19 testing.

COVID-19 test kits are available for at-home use; if interested, request one from your school.
Distancing
Environmental Cleaning & Disinfection

Regular cleaning procedures are implemented in all LOSD buildings. Special attention is given to high-touch surfaces. Classroom outbreaks of COVID-19 result in comprehensive disinfection of associated areas, per CDC guidance.

Products and equipment

Electrostatic disinfectant equipment is used at each facility. This equipment allows custodial staff to rapidly clean areas of the building with full coverage of all surfaces. Our staff is trained to use the equipment.

Disinfectant spray is available in every classroom along with microfiber cloth rags for application.
Face Coverings
Hand Washing
Isolation & Quarantine

Isolation separates people who have a contagious disease from people who do not. Contact a district nurse to report a case of COVID-19.

OHA Did you test positive for Covid-19? COVID-19 Case Support Hotline (866) 917-8881

Individuals who have COVID-19 should isolate for at least 5 days. To calculate the 5-day isolation period: Day 0 is the first day of symptoms, or a positive test result if no symptoms. Day 1 is the first full day after the symptoms developed or a positive test result. Isolation may end after 5 full days if the individual is fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and other symptoms have improved. Students and staff may then come back to school on Day 6.

Individuals should wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public for 5 additional days (day 6 through day 10) after the end of the 5-day isolation period.

Quarantining is not required and close contacts are not being traced.

Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who are exposed to a contagious disease. On February 28, 2022, the CDC updated its guidance regarding case investigation and contact tracing. Universal case investigation and contact tracing are no longer recommended outside of high-risk settings. Effective March 12, 2022, Oregon paused contact tracing and quarantine for the general population, including K-12 settings, including unvaccinated individuals.
Keep Students With Symptoms Out of School

People with COVID-19 can have a wide range of symptoms, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. The “primary” COVID-19 symptoms require exclusion from school. The “non-primary” COVID-19 symptoms can be seen with many other illnesses, in addition to COVID-19. The nonprimary symptoms do not always require exclusion, but students and staff with these symptoms should be encouraged to stay home.

Please Keep Students With Symptoms Out of School provides instructions on exclusion from school for communicable disease symptoms.

Primary symptoms of covid: Cough, Temperature 100.4 degrees F. or higher, Chills, Shortness of breath, Difficulty breathing, New loss of taste or smell.

Non-primary symptoms of COVID-19: Fatigue, Muscle or body aches, Headache, Sore throat, Nasal congestion or runny nose, Nausea or Vomiting, Diarrhea. This list does not include all possible symptoms.
Vaccinations

Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the best way to protect individuals and communities, slow the pandemic, and return society to more typical functioning.

State Mandate

Per OAR 333--19-1030, teachers, school staff, and volunteers may not teach, work, learn, study, assist, observe, or volunteer at a school, unless they are fully vaccinated or have provided documentation of a medical or religious exception and the exception has been approved/accepted.

You are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. If you do not have proof of vaccination, you will need to apply for an exemption with LOSD. To apply for a COVID-19 vaccination exemption, please email Scott Schinderle, Director of Student Services at: schindes@loswego.k12.or.us
Ventilation & Airflow

Per OHA and ODE guidance, LOSD has implemented layers of mitigation measures for the health and well being of our learning community. One of those measures is ensuring effective ventilation as outlined by the CDC. Based on our building mechanical systems, air purifiers, and windows cracked open, LOSD is meeting or exceeding standards for patient rooms in hospitals, as recommended by The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The following is how LOSD is meeting that standard:

In the fall of 2021, LOSD engaged mechanical engineers to study how air moves around our classrooms and agreed that HEPA units would provide an added layer of protection on top of all of the other air flow and filtration measures in place. LOSD spent more than $120,000 of our ESSER funds to install HEPA filters in classrooms, offices, healthrooms, breakout spaces, and other spaces in all of our schools. The exact location and type of HEPA units are based on the type of unit currently serving the room. District Facility mechanical distribution was achieved by two ways - unit ventilation and mechanical exhaust, and overhead air distribution. The recommendations for HEPA units include:

Unit Ventilators

Add multiple air purifiers at the midpoint to 2/3 position along the sides of the room pointed toward the front or far end away from the unit ventilators. Doing this for each classroom will provide both air circulation and increased filtration.

Install two air purifiers per classroom if noise levels are acceptable (an approx. 900 ft² classroom).

Overhead Air Distribution

Add an air purifier at the opposite side of the room as the return air grille, pointed toward the interior of the classroom. Doing this for each classroom will provide both air circulation and increased filtration.

In the fall of 2020, prior to students and staff returning for limited in-person instruction, LOSD engaged mechanical engineers to assess air flow and circulation in all of our schools. As a result and since then, LOSD air flow and circulation improvements have included:

HVAC systems have been programmed in all LOSD buildings to provide increased outside air volumes, increased exhaust, and increased frequency of system filter replacement.

Also, ionization units have been installed in all of our schools. The ionization equipment improves indoor air by reducing airborne particles, including odors, viruses and bacteria. The technology produces a high concentration of positive and negative ions into spaces. Within the air stream, ions attach to particles, where they combine, become larger and are more easily filtered from the air. When ions come in contact with pathogens, they disrupt the pathogens’ surface proteins, rendering them inactive. Through the needlepoint bipolar ionization or NPBI® technology, clean indoor air is delivered — producing neither ozone nor other harmful byproducts.

Building air purging will occur prior to occupying each day and during morning/afternoon transition, this process schedules our mechanical equipment to activate and bring in outside air.

Building automation systems have been modified to bring in higher volumes of fresh outside air into occupied spaces. Building exhaust systems have also been programmed to increase exhaust and maintain constant exhaust.
Visitors & Volunteers

State Mandate

Per OAR 333--19-1030, teachers, school staff, and volunteers may not teach, work, learn, study, assist, observe, or volunteer at a school, unless they are fully vaccinated or have provided documentation of a medical or religious exception and the exception, has been approved/accepted.

Volunteers

Volunteers must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination or be approved for a vaccination exemption for religious or medical reasons. Unvaccinated volunteers are required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours prior to volunteering.

Visitors/Guest Speakers

Long-term Visitors/Guest Speakers (more than 15 minutes) must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination or be approved for a vaccination exemption for religious or medical reasons. Unvaccinated volunteers are required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours prior to volunteering.

Short-term Visitors

People dropping off items or other individuals making deliveries (15 minutes or less) are exempt from the vaccination requirements.

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