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February 25, 2021

Dear TSD Families,

I am providing a few positive (as in “uplifting”) mid-week updates.

1. Our delayed test results from last week have all come in negative!  Here is our updated chart on Positivity Rate:

2. We have received updated guidance from San Miguel County Public Health.  As our county metrics have come down SMCPH is now aligning with the state guidelines for schools.  This loosens up some of the restrictions we have been operating under.  Highlights include:
   • If a student (or staff person) is identified as a close contact to a person that tests positive, household members of that close contact no longer need to stay home AS LONG AS that close contact is not symptomatic.  Previously we were asking that siblings of close contacts stay home.
   • At grades 7-12 at least, we are moving to targeted contact tracing if there is a positive case in a classroom.  Using seating charts and confirming no one has been within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more, we will in most cases no longer need to quarantine entire classrooms at TMS and THS. At the lower grades, students are together all day long, at recess together, and often within 6 feet, so at those grades at least we will in most cases need to continue quarantining entire classes.  We will handle each upcoming situation on a case by case basis.

3. We recently compiled year-to-date data on student and staff testing.  A brief summary of that data is below:
   • Student testing:
     • We have tested 665 individual students to date for a total of 1523 tests.
     • 82% of all students, and 86% of students who are not 100% remote, have opted in to testing.
     • The student positivity rate is 0.59% (9 positives in 1523 tests).
   • Staff testing:
     • We have tested 198 individual staff members to date for a total of 2324 tests.
     • 100% of our staff have tested at least once.
     • On any given week >70% of our staff test.
     • The staff positivity rate is 069% (16 positives in 2324 tests).

Please enjoy the rest of your week,

Have a wonderful week!