Clinic Policy for COVID-related Illness 

IMPORTANT: 

• IF STUDENT or STAFF TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19,  PLEASE STAY HOME (even if vaccinated) AND YOU MUST COMPLETE THE FBISD Wellness Survey ASAP.   
  • This will notify the school so we can initiate contact tracing, notifications and provide guidance to you for return and remote conferencing information. 
    

    •  The following criteria must be met to return to school/work:

      • At least 5 days since symptoms first appeared (or tested positive, if never had symptoms); AND,
      • At least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medication; AND,
      • Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving

      *A negative COVID-19 test is NOT required to return AFTER your initial  positive test

• If student or staff has fever > 100F or is too unwell to come to school, please remain home and contact your healthcare provider for guidance.   For fever > 100F, the policy is to be fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication to return.    
• Parents:  Email AttendanceEHS@fortbendisd.com to tell them your student will be absent due to illness.
• Students: Please utilize Schoology if you are well enough to continue asynchronous work if available.

• Is a student or staff member required to quarantine if they are identified as a "close contact" to a positive COVID-19 case?   

STUDENTS:  Quarantine or Not? 

The district's recommendation for students who are unvaccinated and have been identified as a close contact is to quarantine.

If your child is fully vaccinated and not experiencing any symptoms they will not need to quarantine. Please provide a copy of the record of your child’s COVID vaccination to the school nurse. Individuals who are fully vaccinated are not considered close contacts, per the Texas Education Agency (TEA) guidance issued on August 5, 2021

Someone who had tested positive for COVID-19 within the previous 3 months, has recovered, and remains symptom-free (for example, no cough or shortness of breath) may not be required to quarantine, per the CDC guidance. Seek advice from your doctor.

It is recommended, due to being exposed to a positive COVID-19 case, your child gets tested for COVID-19. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. If your child displays symptoms or tests positive for the virus, please seek advice from your child’s doctor. If your child tests positive, please enter the positive case of COVID-19 into the Wellness Screener linked here.

If you choose to quarantine your child; your child may return to school from quarantine:

• After 10 days of being symptom-free with no test
• After 5 days, following receipt of a negative COVID-19 Test (test must occur on day 5 or later) and being symptom-free 

Parents:  Email AttendanceEHS@fortbendisd.com to tell them your student will be absent due to close contact AND the last day of close contact.

Students:  Please utilize Schoology if you are well enough to continue asynchronous work if available.

STAFF:    FBISD employees who are close contacts, symptomatic or test positive for Covid-19 should use the flow chart below for their return to work guidelines.

Click here for the Employee Flowchart to follow

Click here for more information on REMOTE CONFERENCING

Students who tested positive for COVID-19 or are identified as a close contact to a positive case at school and may qualify for remote conferencing.  If so, you will receive a separate communication regarding participation in a temporary remote learning experience to support students with instruction while in isolation.  Teachers will continue to post asynchronous work in Schoology for students to access and students will have the opportunity to engage in Remote Conferencing if the parent indicates interest through Skyward.  Remote Conferencing will provide live synchronous instructional support and allow for students to be counted as present if the student engages in the required synchronous learning experiences. Please look in your email for communication on how to access Remote Conferencing for your child.  

Illness and/or Injury While At School

When a student feels ill or is injured at school and needs to see the nurse, he or she must get a pass from the teacher who is sending the student to the clinic. If the student goes to the clinic between classes or during a lunch period, he/she must get a pass from a teacher on duty or his/her next period teacher.  Exceptions are for sudden illness and serious injury. 

The student will be signed in upon arrival to the clinic. When leaving, the student must get the signed pass back from the nurse showing the time he/she left the clinic.

First aid will be administered when needed. A parent/guardian will be notified if a student is unable to remain at school or if an emergency arises requiring that he/she be taken to a medical facility. If a student must be transferred to an emergency facility before you arrive, a representative from the school will remain with the student until your designated person arrives.

It is required that illness/injury occurring at home be taken care of at home and that students do not go directly to the clinic upon arrival at school. 

*FBISD POLICY WHEN A STUDENT IS SENT HOME BY THE NURSE: 

A student will not be allowed to remain in school if he/she complains of any of the following:

• temperature of 100.0 or greater
• vomiting and/or diarrhea
• runny nose, congestion, sore throat, new/persistent cough, difficulty breathing, headache, chills, loss of taste/smell, significant muscles pains/aches
• an undetermined rash
• feeling too ill to remain at school 

A student may return to school when:

• Rash has been identified as non-communicable by a physician licensed to practice in the State of Texas
• All other symptoms may require the following:

  • A person with symptoms that could be COVID-19 must meet one of the following to return to school/work:

    • Obtain a negative COVID-19 test, and 24 hours have passed since start of symptoms or fever. OR
    • Obtain a note from a physician indicating an alternative diagnosis, and 24 hours have passed since start of symptoms or fever. OR
    • Persons who have COVID symptoms and were directed to care for themselves at home or have not been evaluated by a medical professional may discontinue isolation under the following conditions; At least 24 hours have passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications; Symptoms have improved; and At least 5 days have passed since symptoms first appeared
     

   SEND CLEARANCE NOTES OR LAB RESULTS TO:  Fax 281-327-2624 or ansie.philip@fortbendisd.com 

If a student must leave school due to illness/injury, the parent/guardian is responsible for transportation. If you are not available, the person you designated on your student‘s emergency contact in Skyward will be notified to pick them up. Facilities for keeping your child are limited; therefore, it is important that your child be picked up promptly.

Click here for all up-to-date information on COVID-19 policy and procedures 

Temporary Disabilities

Any student who needs assistance with getting around the campus must bring a note from the parent/guardian or a physician‘s statement describing ability/modifications needed and for how long. Five minute passes may be issued to assist injured/disabled students in crowded hallways. Physical education exemptions will be given at the parent‘s request for one week only when indicated. PE exemptions for periods longer than a week require an M.D. note.