R-9 Makes Changes To Quarantine Protocol

The Trenton R-9 School District has announced some changes in the school’s quarantine protocol regarding students who are considered “close contacts.”
Superintendent Mike Stegman said the district plans to implement modifications recently announced by Gov. Mike Parson, the Department of Health and Senior Services, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, with the changes taking effect at the high school and middle school today (Tuesday, Dec. 8). Rissler Elementary will look into modifying the mask mandates currently used to take advantage of the new protocols. While not all students will be able to utilize the changes, Stegman said they should help some and allow students who follow all of the guidelines and have no symptoms to stay in school. Students will still be close contact-traced and placed on quarantine with those who meet the established guidelines to come to school during the regular day as long as no COVID symptoms are present.
Stegman said the district has had a large number of students quarantined in the last few weeks due to close contact with a positive COVID-19 student within a classroom and that the administration has worked to keep students safe by wearing masks and social distancing. The district has seen a drop in the quarantine numbers since the Thanksgiving break and Stegman said administration felt this would be a good time to implement the modifications.
Stegman said no activities are allowed for students outside of the school day while in quarantine. The update will not change the quarantines in athletics and other large groups not wearing masks as well as for classes that are in cohorts and not wearing masks in the classroom. Close contacts during the lunch period will still be in quarantine.
Stegman said he does not believe the changes will not create additional risk in the district, adding there have been no signs the spread of the virus is happening within the schools. He said the positive cases the district has had are tracked to activities and contacts outside of the school day. He also believes not all students sent home are staying quarantined as intended and those students would be better off in school where they will wear masks as much as possible and receive an educational benefit.
Stegman noted that if the district finds it has a positive spread due to the changes, it will go back to more restrictive protocols.
DESE reopening guidance information, along with frequently asked questions regarding the reopening procedures, are included on the school website, trentonr9.k12.mo.us, where a letter about the changes also appears.