Maine School Administrative

District No. 33

COVID-19 Transition Plan

On March 2, The Maine Department of Health and Human Services and
the Maine Department of Education advised Maine school units and
child care providers that, effective March 9, 2022, universal masking is no
longer a statewide recommendation in these settings but is optional.
Consistent with Maine’s tradition of local control, local school boards
have the authority to determine requirements in their respective schools.

As the US CDC makes changes to other prevention strategies, we would

like to begin the transition with small changes to our layered strategies.
New Recommendations and
Relaxed Measures
Optional Masking

In alignment with the Maine CDC’s recommendation to move from universal

masking to optional, MSAD33 would recommend we follow the new guidance,
with the following consideration:

● School Outbreak: In the event that the Maine CDC places a school in
“outbreak status”, which is currently defined as 15% or more of the school
population being out for school for COVID19 related reasons, the school will
move back to universal masking for a 5 day increment, until school
absenteeism rates decline to less than the 15% threshold.
Optional Masking Continued

Staff: For those staff who chose to continue to wear masks, the district will have
a supply of Kn95 masks available upon requests.

Students: For those parents who chose to have their children wear masks in
school, the parents will need to communicate that request with the teacher and
school administration. Those students will receive reminders from school
personnel to the extent possible. Students who do not comply with this parent
request will be referred back to the parent. Schools will not discipline students
for non-compliance of mask wearing as requested by the parent.
Optional Masking Continued

Optional Masking and the Core Values: Prior to the change from universal to
optional masking, students will receive information from school personnel
regarding adhering to the Core Values as it relates to students who do or do not
choose to wear masks. At no time will there be any tolerance for teasing,
harassment, or bullying of those who chose one way or another. We will respect
each individual’s choice, we will be responsible to what our family’s preference
is, we will be honest when we test positive or are a close contact and return to
school wearing a mask for days 6-10, and we will engage/invest in learning,
regardless of masking option.
School Transportation

On February 25, the US CDC removed the public transportation mandate for face
masks. Based on this change, recommendations for school transportation will
follow the same recommendations for school buildings moving forward. If the
schools have moved to optional masking, so will the transportation. If schools
move to universal masking, so will the student transportation.

It is also no longer recommended that school buses keep windows open for the
purpose of ventilation, however, we will continue to do so when the weather
permits.
Other Relaxed Measures
1. Temperature Scanning Units: We will no longer use our
temperature scanning units unless the school reaches
outbreak status, at which time, we will use for 5 day
increments, until school absenteeism case rates decline.
Temperature scanning units will be moved to the office of
the school nurse for continued use as needed to detect
fever.

2. Water Fountains: All caps on school water fountains will

be removed; however, it will be recommended that
students/staff continue to use bottle filling stations for
the purpose of added filtration.
Other Relaxed Measures

3. School Lunches: Directional seating (students all facing the same way) is no
longer necessary in the cafeteria; however, 3 feet between students is still
recommended when unmasked. Diagonal seating should be utilized when
possible.

4. School Visitors: We will no longer limit access to school visitors who make
an appointment with the school administration for the purpose of
volunteerism, or other school visitations, to the extent possible where space
is available. School visitors must follow the same guidance adopted in
schools. (Please note that with 3 foot distancing still recommended,
allowing visitors to attend lunch will still be difficult.)
Other Relaxed Measures
5. School Presentations/Trips: We will no longer limit access to school
presentations, school trips, and school functions as long as the school is
not in outbreak status.

6. Building Usage: Building usage and rental from outside parties can resume
as they were pre-COVID19, as long as the appropriate documentation is
filled out and collected.

7. Staff Entrance: Because temperature scan units will not be utilized, we will
allow staff to enter the building from the same locations they were using
pre-COVID19.
Recommendations that have not
Changed
Isolation and Quarantine
Isolation and quarantine determinations are
guided by the Maine CDC in their Standard
Operating Procedures. Independent school
districts must adhere to the guidance for
isolation and quarantine, as the Maine CDC is
the local public health authority for the state of
Maine.
Isolation/Quarantine
As of 2.26.22, the following guidance is provided in the SOP for Isolation and Quarantine:

Isolation: Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 will have to isolate from school and the
community for a period of 5 days, which begins on the day of their positive test result. If their
symptoms have subsided, they may return to school on day 6. Throughout the next 5 days
(day 6 - 10), the individual must wear a mask at school and in the public while indoors,
regardless if the school is in an optional mask determination.
Quarantine: Individuals who are determined to be a close contact of a positive COVID-19
individual, unless fully vaccinated or participating in pooled testing, must quarantine from
school and the community for a period of 5 days, which begins on the day of their close
contact. Throughout the next 5 days (day 6-10), the individual must wear a mask at school,
regardless if the school is in an optional mask determination.
Both of the above recommendations will be very difficult to manage; however, we will attempt
to do so using shared Google Documents at each school, updated daily with student return
information.
Contact Tracing

Contact tracing will only be done to the extent

possible, focusing on family units for
quarantine recommendations for close
contact.
Physical Distancing

To the extent possible, schools will continue to provide

distance of 3 feet between individuals when indoors
and unmasked. If 3 feet cannot be maintained for
periods of time longer than 15 minutes, masking is
recommended.
Outdoors
There continues to be no layered strategies (no
masking, no physical distancing, etc.)
recommended for outdoor settings. This
includes recess, outdoor sports, outdoor
classrooms, etc.
Athletics / Sports
Sports guidance will continue to come from the
Maine Principals Association for varsity sports. We
will apply this guidance for all sub-varsity sports,
including middle school athletics.

In the event that a host school has different

guidance adopted than our district, we will adhere
to the host school’s guidance.
Go/Stay Home when Sick

Schools have been requesting that sick

staff/students go/stay home when they are sick,
even prior to COVID-19. This recommendation
remains in place. If you have any symptoms,
including fever, cough, congestion, runny/stuffy
nose, stay home and get tested immediately.
 Pooled Testing Strategy

Student and staff participation in Pooled Testing is

still recommended by the Maine CDC and remains
one strategy that can keep unvaccinated close
contacts out of quarantine.

Early detection of COVID-19 can help stop the

spread of the virus to others.
Recommendations from School
Nurses (Supported by SOP)
Return from Isolation/Quarantine Testing

After the 5 day isolation/quarantine period, a negative

test result will be needed to return to school. We will
accept a copy of test results from Walgreens, SJVRx,
NMMC and FRRH, or we will provide a test at school if
the family does not have access to get tests at one of
our local providers.
On track to get “Back to Normal”

Although the recommendations in this transition do not put us “back to normal”

as compared to pre-COVID19 years, it is a wonderful step in the right direction.