Alma School District Newsletter
August 7, 2020
To Alma parents and members of the community,
We are all dealing with a new and very different world. As we approach the beginning of the school year and move into it, there is a high likelihood that we will have some students and staff become infected with Covid-19. As you may know, we have already had some.
We are going to follow the rules and guidelines given to us by the Arkansas Department of Health, exactly as they are given to us. The rules and procedures that we have been directed to follow concerning who to contact when someone needs to quarantine and for how long, who can be given what information, are very specific. They have been developed by medical and legal authorities that are very knowledgeable and certainly have the best interests of all Arkansans in mind. Following is a summary of the procedures that we have been directed to use at the present time. They certainly may change in the coming days and weeks, and if they do, we will make those changes.
Probable Close Contact - District identified individuals that have likely been within 6 feet for 15 cumulative minutes or longer within a 24-hour period to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, during the infectious period. This person(s) will be expected to self-quarantine immediately for 14 days from the last date of contact with the positive case and await their Close Contact status to be confirmed by ADH Contact Tracing. A quick response to identify and quarantine will slow the possible transmission of the virus. The POC will notify probable close contacts initially.
Secondary Contact – An individual who has had contact with someone identified as a Close Contact to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19. In most instances, these individuals will not require quarantine but are encouraged to monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19
Contact Tracing - ADH Case Investigators and Contact Tracers reach out to COVID-19 patients after a positive test result is confirmed in order to identify the patient’s close contacts. The POC will not be responsible for contact tracing but will work with other school personnel to identify Probable Close Contacts within the district and share that information with ADH for the purpose of Contact Tracing.
Infectious Period – The two days (48 hours) prior to the onset of symptoms or the two days (48 hours) prior to the test date, if asymptomatic, until the individual is released from isolation by ADH.
Asymptomatic - Testing positive, but not exhibiting any symptoms. COVID-19 transmission in the absence of symptoms reinforces the value of measures that may prevent the spread by infected persons who may not exhibit symptoms despite being infectious.
We will announce all of the information that we are allowed to release. Keep in mind that there is information that we are prohibited by law from making public, such as student’s names. But other than those things, we will announce information about cases as quickly and as completely as we can.
I frequently say for you to contact us if you have any questions. My email is dwoolly@almasd.net. Feel free to contact me about anything related to Alma Schools. We always want everyone to have accurate information and correct answers to any and all questions.
David Woolly, Superintendent
WE NEED TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR PLANS FOR THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR!!
The Learning Options for Students Survey will be accepting responses until Sunday, August 9 at 7:00 pm.
Fall Enrollment Options
We need to hear from you! Below you will find the link to a survey. If you have not done so, please take a few moments to complete it. This is your opportunity to let us know what type of enrollment option will best meet the needs of your student(s) for this school year. If you have any questions about what each option looks like, you can reference the Alma School District Opening of School 2020-2021/What Parents Need to Know document. This document should be helpful in assisting you to know what the upcoming school year will look like for each learning option.
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Alma Primary School
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Help us Fill the Bus!!!
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are offering a no –contact option for making donations to Fill the Bus! Walmart indefinitely suspended allowing volunteers of any kind on their property due to the increased risk of the COVID-19 spread so we were unable to collect school supplies this year.
We know that with these times of change that students need school supplies more than ever so I ask that you share the attached Fill the Bus flyer with staff, friends, local businesses, and social media. Please spread the word that donors can designate their donations to your school district. 100% of designated donations go directly to your school. The virtual school supply drive will be going now until August 10 to allow us time to distribute supplies to schools before the first day of school.
There are three ways to donate:
- Donate by texting “schoolbus” to 41444
- Visit https://unitedwayfortsmith.org/fill-the-bus-school-supply-drive/ to select the school district of your choice and make a monetary donation
- Order supplies from the Walmart “Registry for Good” and they will be shipped to the United Way office and distributed to local school districts as normal. To find this “Registry for Good” visit https://unitedwayfortsmith.org/fill-the-bus-school-supply-drive/ or https://www.walmart.com/registry/registryforgood/5ed55932-d041-4847-bbc6-df40b075c02a/view.
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Alma School District
Email: webmaster@almasd.net
Website: www.almasd.net
Location: 916 U.S. 64, Alma, AR, USA
Phone: 479-632-4791
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/almaschools/
Twitter: @AlmaSchools
Please send any news items including Alumni News to webmaster@almasd.net