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    DSISD has 7,431 students enrolled in the district with 5,506 in-person learners and 1,026 staff in person. PHOTO BY STEFFANY DUKE

Parents question quarantine protocols in Dripping Springs ISD

The mantra last spring was “14 days to flatten the curve.” Nearly a year later, some parents in the Dripping Springs Independent School District (DSISD) have grown weary about the district’s COVID-19 and quarantine protocols. However, representatives from the district said they are following recommendations from the county.

The month of January has seen entire classrooms shuttered into quarantine and remote learning for two weeks at a time as positive cases rise in the area—an after effect of holiday vacations, the district says.

Currently, students, staff and teachers who are identified as close contacts of a positive individual must stay home for 14 days. Persons who test positive may return to campuses 10 days after their first symptom, and with at least 72 hours fever-free.

In an email response from Dale Whitaker, the district’s Executive Director of Communications, she notes, “When looking at the six similarly-sized campuses -- elementary and middle schools -- they have averaged about 100 quarantined close contacts (both staff and students) since the start of the year dating back to August 18. DSHS, which of course has a higher enrollment and higher case numbers -- has had around 250 students and staff quarantined this year.” In-person learning for the majority of the district’s students resumed Sept. 14. after starting the first three weeks as remote only. Currently, DSISD enrollment stands at 7,431 with 5,506 in-person learners and 1,026 staff in person.

No one can “test out” of the quarantine and return to school sooner than 14 days. Terri Matthews, a parent of first grade twins and a preschooler says her kids’ quarantine experience has been greater than 14 because she tested positive. Her students have been home 24 days.

“They couldn’t go back until Feb. 10,” Matthews said. “I tested positive and was told my children can’t return to school until 14 days after their last exposure, so the calculation ended up being to start their 14 days, 10 days after my first symptom-- a total of 24 days.” Matthews says her children have tested negative multiple times since the initial 10 days after her first Covid symptom has ended, but the school’s policy would not allow their return any sooner.

Another parent, Monica Willis, has concerns over inconsistencies she’s seeing in the community. “My daughter was in quarantine over winter break because of a possible exposure,” Willis said. “She could still go to gymnastics after being symptom-free for five days, but she wouldn’t have been allowed at school. The inconsistencies of how we’re treating school children makes no sense. Why are we in some instances sending them home for three days [in the community] and if they get a negative test, they’re fine, and other people are out for 20 or more [in the district]?”

Other parents say they appreciate the district’s policies and its work to keep schools from completely shutting down. Cynthia von Gluck, a parent of a first grader, said it was difficult for her and her husband to decide to let their daughter return to school in person because von Gluck has a chronic illness that leaves her immunocompromised. “We decided it was best for her mental health to be at school with her friends and classmates,” von Gluck said. “We are depending not only on the district and school policies for a safe environment but also on other school families to make sure their children are well if they are in the classroom. I agree with the policy of a 14- day quarantine period for students that may have been exposed to an individual with Covid-19. I understand that may be difficult for some families to transition to virtual learning temporarily, but overall it's important to ensure we are keeping our Dripping Springs schools as safe as we can."

The school district says it follows the recommendations of Hays County Epidemiologist Eric Schneider. “The county still recommends 14 days, and we have followed it to this point,” Whitaker said. “We are in communication with the county almost daily. Based on current conditions related to COVID-19, and an abundance of caution, at this time we are continuing the protocols we have been using.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) new guidelines, published on their website Dec. 2, “the CDC currently recommends a quarantine period of 14 days. However, based on local circumstances and resources, the following options to shorten quarantine are acceptable alternatives:

  • Quarantine can end after Day 10 without testing and if no symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring, or
  • When diagnostic testing resources are sufficient and available, then quarantine can end after Day 7 if a diagnostic specimen tests negative and if no symptoms were reported during daily monitoring. The specimen may be collected and tested within 48 hours before the time of planned quarantine discontinuation, but quarantine cannot be discontinued earlier than Day 7.”

When asked about the CDC’s quarantine alternatives, the school district reiterated that it was following the county’s recommendation, and Hays County Communications Manager Kim Hilsenbeck said in a statement, “Hays County Local Health Department makes the quarantine recommendation based on what our (Epidemiologist) team is seeing here locally, including hospitalizations, community spread and other factors. Each school district can make its own decision to follow the local health department’s recommendation or the CDC guidelines. In essence, they get to choose which protocols work best for their district.”

Dr. Karen Kidd, Assistant Superintendent for Learning and Innovation says she hears the concerns of parents over the quarantine protocols, but the district isn’t shortening it until the county recommends it. “Last week [Jan. 25- 29] was probably the toughest week of quarantines so far and close contacts so far,” Kidd said, “This week [Feb. 1-5] is not nearly the number of quarantines and close contacts at all, so we want this to change. It would actually benefit us for this to change to 10 days, but it has always been our mission to make sure that everybody is safe. Right now, we are seeing evidence of our system working because the people that are quarantined a lot of times are testing positive. It saves more students and staff and allows them to be at school because they’re not considered close contacts.”

Some parents disagreed and stated they felt testing negative should allow students to exit quarantine early and return to class. “Why are we only thinking about the virus and not thinking about other impacts.” Willis said. “I think about my children’s mental states more than anything.” Willis says her third grade daughter experienced agitation for the first time in her life this school year, and it got so bad she developed a tic for a short period of time. “She was just so frustrated and not understanding the why.” After getting involved with extracurricular activities that have less restrictions, Willis’ daughter has overcome the tic.

Matthews says her kids have experienced confusion and frustration about the rules too. “They feel detached,” she said. “They’re missing out on the full day of education. The teachers have been amazing and supportive. My son’s preschool teacher even puts the computer at the table where he would sit, so he can interact with his friends, but there is only so much they can get from the computer.”

Stefani Reinold is a psychiatrist in Dripping Springs who says she has seen an influx of children, adolescents and women, especially moms, in her practice this year. “From a mental health perspective, it [quarantine] not only causes a ton of anticipatory anxiety for parents, especially parents who have full-time jobs, who can’t just pick up and stop their lives to be home with their kids; it also puts anxiety on kids,” Reinold said. “They feel like they did something wrong or bad and feel like they’re being punished. There is an interruption in their education. I have seen the greatest influx of children and adolescents in my practice this year. From eating disorders to self-harm and suicidal thoughts to dissociation and trauma and anxiety.”

DSISD says they too are concerned about the mental health of all students, staff and teachers, and the district is in the first year of implementation of a mental health initiative to enhance social-emotional support for students. According to a press release on the district’s website, “all employees are engaging in Mental Health First Aid training this year.” Additionally, “the district also has taken action from a staffing perspective, adding two elementary counselors, a middle school mental health professional, and one full-time professional at Dripping Springs High School.”

The full impacts of the pandemic are still unknown. Reinold said, “Trauma is one of those interesting diagnoses that can have symptoms immediately, but we know that a lot of times, and really the vast majority of diagnoses of trauma disorders or stress disorders come years later. So even if we think, ‘oh my kid is not affected’ or ‘my kid seems to be fine,’ I think we are causing irreparable damage for decades in the future. It’s only a matter of time before we see all of this is a constant state of trauma that we are putting our kids and parents and even teachers into this situation.”

Assistant Superintendent Kidd left the door open for the quarantine protocols to change soon; however, Whitaker said it is not on the Board of Trustees agenda for February’s regular scheduled meetings.

Hays County Epidemiologist Eric Schneider was not available for an interview before the Dripping Springs Century News time of press.

Dripping Springs Century-News

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Dripping Springs, Texas 78620

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