Benicia Unified School District

Superintendent Update on Reopening of Schools 8/16/2021

Category(s): Latest News | nCoV

Posted On: August 16, 2021

Dear Families,

We are so excited to welcome our students and staff back on campus this year.  It will be great to hear the ever present buzz and feel the energy on our campuses that comes when learning is happening and communities are being built.

We also know that we have to continue to navigate COVID and the new Delta variant.  The following is a summary of the many mitigating strategies and safety measures in place and a detailed description of the steps we follow if there is Covid-19 exposure.   All of this will ensure that our students and staff are safe and our doors can stay open. Please see our Benicia Unified COVID 19 Safety Plan for more information. 

How you can help

  • Vaccinations are available for students who are 12 and up.
  • All students and staff must wear a mask over their nose and mouth when indoors, it is optional when outdoors.  That said, we encourage outdoor mask wearing if students congregate.
  • We will be eating lunch & snacks outdoors as much as possible.  We are obtaining pop-up shelters to protect from sun and inclement weather.  Please support this effort by having your child wear layers as the weather gets cooler.
  • Classroom doors and windows will be open to allow for fresh air circulation.
  • Facilities will be cleaned each day. Please remind your child that they need to wash their hands or use sanitizer (available at school)  before eating and when entering classrooms. 
  • Students who are sick must stay home. If a student becomes sick at school, they will be sent home and we are asking that they get picked up immediately.

Proof of Vaccination

  • In order to aid us in the process of contact tracing, testing and possible quarantine protocols, we ask that you please provide proof of vaccination (vaccination survey) for your child.   Being vaccinated isn’t required; however, it can reduce testing and potential modified quarantine if they are exposed)
  • Vaccination records will be stored in the confidential program, called SchoolCare.

Definitions

  • Asymptomatic: A person showing no signs of COVID (see COVID Symptoms below)
  • Close Contact: People who are within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes in a 24 hour period, masked or unmasked.
  • Fully Vaccinated: Two weeks after the second dose of the COVID vaccine.
  • Date of Exposure: Two days before the infected person had symptoms OR from the day of the test if the infected person is asymptomatic

What are the COVID symptoms   

  • Fever or chills   
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

What will happen if there is COVID exposure

My child is fully vaccinated

A student in my child’s class tests positive. My child is fully vaccinated & asymptomatic

(Proof of vaccination provided)

A student in my child’s class tests positive. My child is fully vaccinated &  has symptoms

(Proof of vaccination provided)

A student in my child’s class tests positive. My child is fully vaccinated & asymptomatic

(Proof of vaccination NOT provided) 

  • Students continue to attend school as long as they remain symptom free
  • Students stay home and get tested for COVID

Don’t want to get tested? 

  • Students must stay home for 10 days or until they are asymptomatic without taking symptom-reducing medication
  • Attend school daily as long as they are asymptomatic
  • Continue to wear mask as required
  • Test twice a week for covid (PCR or Antigen)
  • May not attend extracurricular activities at school or in the community including athletics or band
My child is unvaccinated  A student in my child’s class tests positive and the class is on modified quarantine and/or my child has been identified as a close contact. A student in my child’s class tests positive. My child is unvaccinated & has symptoms My child is unvaccinated, was unmasked and has had close contact with a someone who has tested positive
  • Attend school daily as long as they are asymptomatic
  • Continue to wear mask as required
  • Test twice a week for covid (PCR or Antigen)
  • May not attend extracurricular activities at school or in the community including athletics or band

Don’t want to get tested? 

  • Students must quarantine at home for 10 days and are not allowed to attend school or extracurricular activities.
  • Students must quarantine at home for 10 days and are not allowed to attend school or extracurricular activities.
  • Students must quarantine for 10 days from the date of exposure
  • Students who are asymptomatic during quarantine and tests negative after day 5 of exposure, may return to school after 7 full days of quarantine
  • Students who develop symptoms while quarantining should get tested

Don’t want to get tested? 

  • Students must stay home for 10 days quarantine or until they are asymptomatic without taking symptom-reducing medication

How you can get your child vaccinated for COVID

Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday Fairfield Mall: 10:00 a.m.-7:00  p.m

Solano Town Center, 1350 Travis Blvd. Fairfield (2nd floor) 

Walk in

Solano County Health Department List for Vaccination Sites

How you can get your child COVID tested

Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

Fairfield Mall: 10:00 a.m.-7:00  p.m

Solano Town Center, 1350 Travis Blvd. Fairfield (2nd floor) 

Walk in

CVS “Minute Clinic”

Free testing to community members through Solano County Health Dept. Go to their website linked here (CVS Minute Clinic) type in your zip code and the website will offer the closest minute clinic near you.

Solano County Health Resources:

Verify Baseline COVID-19 Program or LHI.Care

California has partnered with Verily, like their partnership with OptumServe, to provide free and confidential testing (click on the blue link to complete the online screening process).

  1. You will first have to complete their online screening process using a Google Account.
  2. If you are determined to be eligible, you will receive information on how and where to get tested.

Kaiser Permanente members

Kaiser is providing daily COVID testing clinics.

Log in to kp.org and and click on the COVID testing for appointment instructions

Anthem members

Anthem will cover your COVID-19 test, contact Anthem’s member service line located on your member ID card and Anthem will help you get an appointment with a testing provider. 

Blue Shield members

https://www.blueshieldca.com

St. Stephens Church: 

2301 Union Ave, Fairfield, CA 94533. 

The hours are 9am-4p.m. Testing is free, open to all, no insurance is required. 

Resources for more information

On We Go!
Charles F. Young, Ed. D.
Superintendent