Sikeston R-6 Board amends quarantine policy, adds fall break

Friday, September 24, 2021

SIKESTON — The Sikeston R-6 Board of Education amended the district’s COVID-19 operations plan and added a fall break during a special session Thursday at the board office.

Sikeston R-6 Superintendent Dr. Tony Robinson said the decision was made following a review of current information and data and a lengthy discussion with the Board of Education.

“Our current plan is still in place with the exception of school contact quarantines,” Robinson said Thursday in a letter to parents and guardians. “Beginning Monday, Sept. 27, we will no longer require our students to quarantine if they are in close contact with a student or staff member who is positive.”

If a student or staff member is positive in a classroom from prekindergarten through sixth grade, the whole class will be sent an automated text message from the administrator or the secretary, Robinson said.

If a student or staff member is positive in the Junior or Senior High, only those in close contact (regardless of mask or vaccine) will be sent an automated text message from the administrator or secretary, the superintendent said.

“This message will let parents and guardians know that their child was in a classroom with a positive student and that we highly recommend their child to mask for seven days or they may still choose to quarantine them on their own,” Robinson said.

If a parent or guardian chooses to quarantine their child, they should inform the school building immediately and arrange for any work to be completed while the student is at home, Robinson said.

“As always, all students and staff should monitor symptoms at all times, especially if they have been informed that they are in close contact,” Robinson said.

Also during Thursday’s special session, the Board approved an amendment to the 2021-2022 school calendar.

“Administration and the board of education believe with all the undue stress since the start of school and the myriad of issues we’ve had, that our staff, students and families would benefit from a fall break,” Robinson said.

The district’s current calendar had R-6 students out both Oct. 8 and 11.

“We will add Oct. 12 and 13 as days off. This will effectively close our district down from Oct. 8-13,” Robinson said.

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