Dear IW Families:
I just wanted to take a moment to update you on the implementation of the newest Executive Order (2021-24) at IW.
Section 1, Item b (ii) of the executive order states: As an alternative to Exclusion, Schools may permit Close Contacts who are asymptomatic to be on the School premises, at extracurricular events, or any other events organized by the School if both the Confirmed Case or Probable Case and the Close Contact were masked for the entire exposure period and provided the Close Contact tests negative on days 1, 3, 5 and 7 following the exposure.
Without any further guidance from ISBE or IHSA, we interpret the phrase “to be on the School premises, at extracurricular events, or any other events organized by the School” – to allow students and staff considered to be Close Contacts to continue to attend classes, extracurricular activities, and other School events provided the other conditions are met.
Those conditions include:
The Close Contact and the Confirmed Case/Probable Case were both masked and,
The Close Contact continues to test negative post-exposure on days 1, 3, 5, and 7.
We further interpret this to mean that these Close Contact students can participate in extracurricular events and activities and in other School events and activities provided they continue to test negative through the 1, 3, 5, and 7-day tests.
I realize that for many of you this is extremely frustrating and of little condolence, given all the COVID-related ground we've already covered this year. But I loved sports in high school and so did my kids and if there was a way for my kids to stay in school and/or still practice and play, I would want to know about it.
I am currently working to find out what options parents have for obtaining the negative test. As soon as I have any additional information related to this, I will provide it to you.