Guidance for Masks: Employees
Governor Tate Reeves' Executive Order requiring masks in schools expires on the last day of school for individual school districts.
The Centers for Disease Control has published guidance for individuals who have been fully vaccinated which includes resuming activities without wearing a mask. You may view the CDC's complete guidance for fully vaccinated people here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html
Beginning Monday, June 14, masks will be optional for SOCSD employees who have been fully vaccinated. Employees who are not fully vaccinated should continue to wear a mask indoors when six feet of physical distance cannot be observed.
In general, people are considered fully vaccinated:
- 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
- 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
Individuals who do not meet these requirements, regardless of age, are NOT fully vaccinated and should continue to take all precautions until fully vaccinated.
The Starkville Oktibbeha School District and its school employees fully support individuals who choose to continue to wear a mask for personal and/or health reasons.
The District will monitor any increase in rates of transmission and adjust our mask procedures accordingly.
Guidance for Masks: Students
Masks will also be optional for students beginning Monday, June 14, including those who are attending and/or participating in our summer learning experiences, including camps, accelerated learning, and Discovery Street.
Our school district and school employees fully support individuals who choose to continue to wear a mask for personal and/or health reasons.
The District will monitor any increase rates of transmission and adjust our mask procedures accordingly.
Guidance for Vaccinations
The Starkville Oktibbeha School District urges all employees and all students above the age of 12 with parent permission to be fully vaccinated.
Vaccinations are our best defense against the spread of COVID-19.
You can schedule your vaccine at covidvaccine.umc.edu. Vaccines appointments are also available throughout our community at OCH Regional Medical Center, Walmart, WalGreens and Kroger stores. You may also check with your local health care provider or pharmacy to schedule your vaccine.
Guidance for Quarantine/Close Contact
The District is also updating our Covid-19 guidance regarding quarantine periods for students who are identified as close contacts to a Covid-positive case.
Beginning June 1, students will be able to return to school from quarantine seven days after close contact exposure, if the student does not exhibit any symptoms during the 7-day period, and the student receives a negative PCR test collected on day 5 or later after exposure. Students who do NOT test must quarantine for 10 days and be symptom free during the entire 10-day period before returning to school.
Students can discontinue quarantine only if the following criteria are also met:
- No symptoms of COVID-19 at any point during the quarantine period; and,
- Continue to monitor for symptoms for a full 14 days; and,
- Continue to wear masks and practice social distancing at all times for a full 14 days.
If symptoms develop, immediately self-isolate and seek testing for COVID-19,
Remember, a negative test collected prior to day 5 cannot be used to shortenthe quarantine period.
Individuals who are fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine if exposed to a positive Covid-19 case unless they become symptomatic. Proof of vaccination may be required.
The district will continue to revisit procedures regarding COVID-19 quarantine requirements for students and employees in our efforts to reduce transmission and maintain a safe school environment.