Starting August 11th, on the first day of school, masks will be required for all students and staff in Henderson County Schools regardless of vaccine status.
This is different from our original healthy at school announcement, but the number of positive cases has continued to increase in our area at an alarming rate. Wearing masks will help lower the number of students required to quarantine due to exposure and will help keep students in school.
We ask for everyone to do their part to help slow the spread. We will continue to monitor our local incidence rate and will make necessary adjustments such as making masks optional again in the future when numbers begin to lower.
In Henderson County Schools, we value in-person learning over any other type of learning. Our # 1 goal this year is the safety of our students and staff while continuing in-person learning for our students. We appreciate the support of our families and community.
Here’s the complete Healthy at School Guidance for the Henderson County School District:
UPDATED AUGUST 9, 2021
HCS Healthy at School Guidelines 2021-2022 school year
● Require masks for all persons while indoors in all classroom and non-classroom settings,
regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status as required under the Kentucky Department for Public
Health Guidance for K-12 School Operations.
● Require masks on school buses for all students (preschool through 12th grade) and for
drivers/monitors as required under the Kentucky Department for Public Health Guidance for K-12
School Operations.
● Contact Tracing and Quarantine: A close contact is someone who was within 6 feet of an
infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes while the person was considered contagious.
* Exception: In the K-12 indoor classroom setting, the close contact definition excludes
students who were at least >3 feet away from an infected student if both students were
engaged in the consistent and correct use of masks and other K-12 prevention strategies were
in place. This exception does not apply to teachers, staff, or other adults in the indoor
classroom setting.
Unvaccinated students, teachers, or staff who are identified as close contact
should be instructed to self-quarantine regardless of whether the exposure occurred
within or outside of the school setting. Quarantine may be discontinued when the local
public health department determines the individual is safe to be around others or:
– after day 7 if the individual is symptom-free and receives a negative COVID-19 test
5 days or later after the last date of exposure to the case.
– after day 10 without testing if the individual is symptom-free.
Fully vaccinated persons do not need to quarantine following exposure to a person
diagnosed with COVID-19 if he/she is not experiencing symptoms but are recommended
to be tested 3-5 days after exposure.
● Social distancing of 3 feet will be practiced to the greatest extent possible.
● Proper handwashing techniques will be practiced and hand sanitizer will be available throughout
the building.
● Parents/guardians are requested to screen students for symptoms before sending them to school.
Please report symptoms and/or positive Covid-19 cases to your child’s school.
● High traffic areas and school buses will be cleaned frequently.
● We will continue to limit visitors to schools. Nonessential visitors, volunteers, activities, & field trips
will be limited.
● Vaccination clinics (for those 12 & up) are available at the local health department and
hospital/clinics. Showing proof of vaccination is not required.
● Parents/guardians that would like to discuss possible alternative learning options may call HCS
Student Services at 270-854-0141.
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