January 20, 2021

Dear Students, Staff, Parents and Guardians,

Please review the information provided in the message below updating you on COVID-19 reporting tool availability, updated guidance on isolation length of time, and what to do if a member of your household is awaiting results of a COVID-19 test.

 

COVID-19 Interactive Tool  

West Ada School District is utilizing a COVID-19 interactive tool for parents, students and staff to: 

• Report positive COVID-19 results after hours, during the holidays and school breaks.  
• Use as a daily symptom check list – the tool includes the list of symptoms to guide you through the assessment process.  
• Seek answers to some common questions and alleviate the large volume of calls coming into schools regarding COVID-19. 

The interactive tool is located on the upper portion of each school homepage in the section titled “Learning in 2021,” as well as the school district homepage. The information collected is confidential. The health services department may use the information provided for charting purposes and school administration may utilize the data to inform operational decision making.  

One of the resources within this tool is the exposure decision tree. In December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed their guidance on quarantine length of time and Central District Health adopted this guidance on December 11. West Ada School District has aligned with these recommendations. You can find quarantine length of time for non-test-based scenario and the test-based scenarios in the below communication or on the school district website here: https://www.westada.org/healthguidance.  

 

Exposure Quarantine Length of Time 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Central District Health have implemented options to shorten isolation to reduce the burden on individuals, families, and businesses. The shortened options include a 10-day, non-test-based strategy and a 7-day, test-based strategy. 

While Central District Health supports the revised guidance for quarantine, it favors the non-test-based strategy currently because asymptomatic testing is not widely available within its jurisdiction. A longer quarantine also decreases a person’s chance of unknowingly spreading the virus to others if infected without symptoms.      

This outlines the quarantine scenarios for West Ada School District.    

Exposure Quarantine Length Options 

CDC/CDH have implemented options to shorten isolation to reduce the burden of isolation on individuals, families, and businesses.  The shortened options include a 10-day non-test-based strategy and a 7-day test-based strategy.   

While Central District Health supports the revised guidance for quarantine, it favors the non-test-based strategy currently because asymptomatic testing is not widely available within its jurisdiction. A longer quarantine also decreases a person’s chance of unknowingly spreading the virus to others if infected without symptoms.     

This outlines the quarantine scenarios for West Ada School District.   

14-Day Option: Preferred method 

Community or School Based Exposures 

1. Quarantine 14 days from the last contact with the positive COVID-19 case. 

Household Exposures to a Positive COVID-19 Person– two steps to calculate the length of quarantine. 

1. The person who tested positive for COVID-19 in the household may spread the virus for up to ten days from onset of symptoms or if asymptomatic for ten days from COVID-19 test date; therefore, the rest of the household members need to quarantine for those ten days. PLUS;
2. The household members could convert to a positive case during the next 14 days; therefore, the household members must quarantine for another 14 days for a possible total of 24 days. 

If a household member develops symptoms, contact the primary care provider OR contact Central District Health. 

If another family member tests positive, to calculate the quarantine times, reset to step one. 

10-Day Option Non-Test-Based Scenario: Person was exposed, has no symptoms, and was not tested.   

1. Isolation can end after day 10 from the last day of close contact with the positive case, provided no symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring. 
2. Symptom monitoring (via Covid-19 Interactive Tool), masking, hand hygiene, and physical distance must continue through day 14. If at any time an individual develops symptoms during the 14 days after exposure to an individual who tested positive, they should isolate and seek testing.  

7-Day Option Test-Based Scenario: Person was exposed, has no symptoms, and has a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test result. If a PCR test is not taken, this is not an acceptable quarantine period.   

1. The specimen (PCR test) may be collected as early as day five after exposure.
2. Quarantine can end only after the negative test result is available, but no earlier than day seven. Student/staff return on day eight.
3. Symptom monitoring (via COVID-19 Interactive Tool), masking, hand hygiene, and physical distance must continue through day 14. If at any time an individual develops symptoms during the 14 days after exposure to an individual who tested positive, they should isolate and contact primary care provider.    

 

What steps should my family take while we wait for COVID-19 test results? 

Self-isolate: Your child and your family should stay home and away from others to lower the chance of spreading the illness.  

Keep your child in one room of the house. Your child should stay in one room or be at least 6-feet away from other people.  

Use a delivery or pick-up service for groceries or ask friends or family members to drop off groceries and supplies at your front door to avoid direct contact. Avoid visitors and public places – gatherings outside your home, like school, church/mosques, grocery stores or restaurants are not recommended.  

If caregivers must come into your home for your child’s care, let them know your child has been tested for COVID-19. Caregivers should wear personal protective equipment (mask).

 

Sincerely,

West Ada School District

Dear West Ada Family, Beginning this month, the Covid-19 public data on our website is changing. After receiving feedback from the public and Central District Health we will now only be reporting positive cases that were infectious while attending school in person. This means that if a student did not attend school in person, but tested positive for Covid–19, they would not be included in the positive case data on our website.

Previously, the dashboard reported all students and staff that tested positive for Covid-19. For example, during the Thanksgiving break there were students and staff that tested positive during the nine days we were out of school but were reported on the West Ada public dashboard. 

Examples that will no longer be reported: 

• Students or staff who tested positive while on a holiday break, never on campus, were previously reported on the dashboard.
• Students and staff members who were in quarantine due to an exposure, never on campus, who tested positive were previously reported on the dashboard.

Therefore, you will not see positive case results for those which occurred during the 16-day winter break unless the individual participated in a school activity.

This information will be more helpful to you when it comes to understanding the risk to you or your student and what is occurring in a specific building. Please note that all positive case numbers will still be included in the data for Ada County and Idaho Health and Welfare, including those positive cases over Christmas break.  

Dear Students, Parents and Guardians, 

This week marks my sixth year as the superintendent in West Ada School District—three years longer than I promised the Board in 2016. Serving in this capacity has been a dream come true personally and professionally, and I will be forever grateful and dedicated to our staff, students, parents and patrons. 

For personal reasons involving my family, I have submitted a letter of resignation to the Board of Trustees as Superintendent of Schools effective June 30, 2021. By making this announcement now, the Board will have time to conduct a thoughtful search for the next superintendent. 

During the next six months, we will continue to focus on educating our children and taking care of one another. Thank you for the opportunity to serve. 

Warm regards, 

Dr. Mary Ann Ranells

Superintendent of Schools

West Ada School District

Reminder: The deadline for the West Ada Board of Trustee Zone 4 application has been extended from January 1 to January 11 at 5 p.m. The extension was made to allow applicants more time to apply due to the busy holiday season.

Application Process -

The resignation of the Trustee in Zone 4, and the declaration of a vacancy in the zone, requires West Ada School District to fill the seat according to Idaho Statute section 33-504.

Timeline:

Application Posted to Website - Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020
Application open and available until 5:00 p.m., Jan. 11, 2021
The clerk of the Board will verify applicant eligibility
The applicant will be interviewed by the Board of Trustees during the online January 19, 2021, Special Board Meeting
The Board will appoint the new Trustee during the January 19, 2021 meeting
The new trustee will be sworn in on January 26, 2021, during the Regular Board meeting
The new trustee shall serve for the balance of the unexpired term of the office, which ends January 1, 2024
Click here to access the online Zone 4 application

Criteria & Eligibility:

The applicant must:

• be able to attend the online candidate interview, on Thursday, January 19, 2021, starting at 5pm
• be over 18 years old
• be a registered voter
• currently live in Zone 4 - (Yellow Area on this map)
• provide a current resume
• not be an employee of the West Ada School District
• attend regularly scheduled meetings and special meetings (calendar of regular meeting schedule is established in January)
• attend high school graduations

The main responsibility of a Trustee is governance of schools, not the daily operations of the District.

The Board is an entire body. No one trustee, other than the Chair may speak for or represent the will of the Board.

The full duties of a Trustee are outlined in Idaho Statutes Section 33-512

NOTE: This is not a paid position.

For more information about the West Ada Board of Trustees, go to: https://www.westada.org/BoardofTrustees

Dear West Ada Family, For those wishing to make public comment on the proposed attendance area plan please see the information below.

It is important to note that based on the feedback we received, the attendance committee did review the feedback and in some cases changes have been made to several of the proposed attendance areas. The changes include:

            Extending the proposed Eagle Hills Elementary attendance area to include the students living north of Floating Feather (east of Eagle Rd) in the walk zone.

            Extending the Star Elementary area to include students living south of Highway 44 just to the East of Star Road.

            Changing the northern boundary of Owyhee High School from the Farmers Canal to New Hope Road and then extending east in a straight line until Highway 16.

            Extending the Willow Creek, Sawtooth and Rocky Mountain boundary west to Black Cat Road just north of Chinden.

            Changing the proposed Hillsdale Elementary attendance area to include The Keep subdivision on Eagle Road south of Lake Hazel.

The list of schools that will have proposed attendance area changes are:

Elementary Schools:

Seven Oaks

Eagle Hills

Eagle

Star

Pleasant View

Willow Creek

Chaparral

Peregrine

Mary McPherson

Hillsdale

Pepper Ridge

Middle Schools:

Star

Sawtooth

Lake Hazel

Lewis and Clark

High Schools:

Rocky Mountain

Eagle

Meridian

Please click on the individual school proposals to see updated maps here  https://www.westada.org/AttendanceAreaProposal  

Three public hearings are available for patrons wishing to provide in-person commentary on the attendance area proposal for the 2021-22 school year. These meetings will be live streamed with a link provided on the school district’s website. Go to www.westada.org/AttendanceAreaProposal, click on the link that says “Live Stream Public Hearings”.

These meeting will be focused by area but if you're unable to make a specific meeting, you will be allowed to speak at any of meetings about any attendance area.

• January 5 from 6-8 p.m. - High School Attendance Area Proposal Hearing (minor changes will also affect Sawtooth and Star Middle School)
• January 6 from 12-2 p.m. - Southern Elementary School Attendance Area Proposal Hearing (Chaparral, Peregrine, Mary McPherson and Hillsdale. Minor changes will also affect Pepper Ridge Elementary, Lake Hazel Middle and Lewis and Clark Middle)
• January 6 from 6-8 p.m. - Northern Elementary School Attendance Area Proposal Hearing (Seven Oaks, Eagle, Eagle Hills, Star and Pleasant View. Minor changes will also affect Willow Creek Elementary)

Due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions, the number of people who can physically attend the meeting is limited. Stage 2 order restricts gatherings to less than 10 people. West Ada School District will provide an overflow room for attendees (10). Wi-Fi information will be shared with those viewing from personal devices in the parking lot. Meetings need to be held this week in order to put this proposal in front of the board on January 12 and send the information to registrars for the 2021-22 school year.

Patrons wishing to provide in-person commentary will sign up to speak upon entering the District Service Center east entrance (1303 E Central Dr, Meridian). Patrons will receive a text message when it is their turn for testimony. Patron comments are limited to three minutes each. Please do not sign up for in-person testimony if you have already provided your testimony using the online form. For the sake of time we won’t be able to answer questions during these sessions, just take comments.

View the attendance area proposal and see interactive maps here: https://www.westada.org/AttendanceAreaProposal  

The proposal will be reviewed by the committee after these meetings, changes considered, and will be presented to the Board of Trustees on January 12, 2021.

Three public hearings are available for patrons wishing to provide in-person commentary on the attendance area proposal for the 2021-22 school year. These meetings will be live streamed with a link provided on the school district’s website. 

·         January 5 from 6-8 p.m. - High School Attendance Area Proposal Hearing 

·         January 6 from 12-2 p.m. - Southern Elementary School Attendance Area Proposal Hearing (Chaparral, Peregrine and Mary McPherson)

·         January 6 from 6-8 p.m. - Northern Elementary School Attendance Area Proposal Hearing (Seven Oaks, Eagle, Eagle Hills, Star and Pleasant View)

These meeting will be focused on the above topics but if you're unable to make a specific meeting, you will be allowed to speak at any of meetings about any attendance area.

Due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions, the number of people who can physically attend the meeting is limited. Stage 2 order restricts gatherings to less than 10 people. West Ada School District will provide an overflow room for attendees (10). Wi-Fi information will be shared with those viewing from personal devices in the parking lot. Meetings need to be held this week in order to put this proposal in front of the board on January 12 and send the information to registrars for the 2021-22 school year.

Patrons wishing to provide in-person commentary will sign up to speak upon entering the District Service Center east entrance (1303 E Central Dr, Meridian). Patrons will receive a text message when it is their turn for testimony. Patron comments are limited to three minutes each. Please do not sign up for in-person testimony if you have already provided your testimony using the online form. For the sake of time we won’t be able to answer questions during these sessions, just take comments.

View the attendance area proposal, see interactive maps, and submit written testimony/questions here: 

https://www.westada.org/AttendanceAreaProposal  

The proposal will be reviewed by the committee after these meetings, changes considered, and will be presented to the Board of Trustees on January 12, 2021.