Brenda Payne, district assistant superintendent of administrative services, updates the board at a Dec. 7 meeting. Screenshot courtesy Richardson ISD
Richardson ISD is awaiting further guidance from Dallas County after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced additional options to reduce the length of a 14-day quarantine.
Based on local availability of viral testing, the CDC said people without symptoms can end quarantine on:
- day 10 without testing;
- day 7 after receiving a negative test result
However, until RISD evaluates these options, the district’s current quarantine process remains unchanged.
At a Dec. 7 board meeting, Brenda Payne, RISD assistant superintendent of administrative services, said local public health authorities ultimately make the final decisions about how long quarantine should last based on local conditions and needs.
Payne said the Texas Education Agency is following “many” of the recommended options.
“However, Dallas County has not come out with their recommendations on how districts in Dallas County should implement these new quarantine guidelines,” Payne said. “We are waiting for them to provide us that guidance.”
RISD is also awaiting further guidance from Dallas County and the CDC on whether or not rapid tests can be given to those without symptoms. The district began offering rapid COVID-19 tests to students and staff Dec. 1.
“If and when we get this information, our goal is to develop a plan and communicate it effectively,” Payne said of both rapid tests and the new CDC guidance.
