Hart County Charter System Updates COVID Mitigation Plan

The Hart County Charter School System has issued new guidelines for mitigating COVID among school staff and students.

According to Grayson Williams, Director of Community Relations for the Hart County Charter System, the new procedures began today and will be reviewed as new guidance becomes available.

Williams said the goal is to continue in-person learning.

So, under the new mitigation plan, if a student is exposed to COVID-19, the parents will be notified via SchoolStatus.

Exposed students will be required to wear masks at school and on buses for 14 days.

The district will provide masks to those who need them.

Masking will allow continued participation in in-person learning, extracurricular activities, and school-sponsored events.

If a student chooses not to wear a mask, they must quarantine at home for the 14-day period, and while at home, students will not be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities or school-sponsored events.

In the schools and on buses, enhanced cleaning procedures are now in place, including the use of electrostatic sprayers, and all classrooms will continue to be equipped with hand sanitizer stations.

Students/staff diagnosed with COVID-19 must follow DPH guidelines and quarantine for 10 days with day 0 being the onset date of symptoms.

Students who have COVID-19 positive individuals living with them at home must quarantine for a minimum of the quarantine time of the positive individual. They can return to class at the same time as the positive individual is released from quarantine.

Students experiencing COVID-19 symptoms will not attend school. When any household member undergoes testing for COVID-19, all students within the home will quarantine until test results are known. Parents must notify school officials of these situations.

Staff, students, and visitors are encouraged, but not required, to wear masks while on Hart County Charter System (HCCS) properties.

COVID-19 vaccinations are not required for employees or students.

However, all staff members are encouraged to get vaccinated. Vaccinations remain available and accessible at various locations.