Dear Parents and Guardians:

Thank you for your patience as we continue to navigate updates from the Washington state Department of Health. We are excited about the updates that are summarized below as they represent additional steps toward a return to “normal.” Your support and understanding throughout the past two years is greatly appreciated. 

The health department recently announced several changes to COVID guidelines for schools. The full update can be found at DOH K12 Guidance.  Following is a summary of what will take effect on Saturday, March 12. 

• Masks and face coverings: Masks/face coverings are optional in school buildings and on buses. People may continue wearing masks or face coverings if they would like to do so. We respect individual choices regarding masks and will continue to supply them to students and staff.
  • Masks/face coverings may be temporarily required in some situations by the state and/or local health departments. 
  • Masks will be required in school health rooms as these are considered health care settings.

• Symptoms: Students and staff members who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms are required to stay home until symptoms resolve and/or they test negative.

• Testing: Optional testing for students and staff members will continue to be offered at each of our schools.
  • COVID-19 testing for high-contact sports and performing arts is no longer required.
  • Optional testing is available for anyone who is symptomatic or feels they might be a close contact to someone who has contracted COVID-19.

• Distancing: Maintain physical distance in classrooms and common spaces to the degree possible and reasonable.

• Quarantine: Close contacts (individuals who may have been exposed) no longer have to quarantine if they are not experiencing symptoms. They should watch for symptoms, consider wearing a mask and consider being tested three to five days after they were exposed to COVID-19.

• Isolation after testing positive: People who test positive must isolate for five to ten days from the onset of their symptoms, or their test date if they are not experiencing symptoms. Read the DOH guidance.

• Close contact tracing and notification: Case investigation and contact tracing are no longer required. However, we will continue to notify staff and families of positive COVID-19 cases in our schools and maintain the district dashboard where we share reported positive cases.

• Cleaning and ventilation: We will continue cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces. The district will continue to monitor and maintain HVAC systems to ensure systems are functioning as intended.

You are likely to receive additional updates from your school principal and/or the district.  We will do our best to keep you updated as we receive additional guidance and clarifications. 

Thank you,

Longview Public Schools