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FY22 Hart County Charter System COVID-19 Protocol
Updated 1/4/2022
Cleaning Procedures
Enhanced cleaning procedures, including the use of electrostatic sprayers, will remain in place in schools and on buses. In addition, classrooms will continue to be equipped with hand sanitizer stations.
Masks
Staff, students, and visitors are encouraged, but not required, to wear masks while on Hart County Charter System (HCCS) properties.
Vaccinations
COVID-19 vaccinations are not required for employees or students. However, all staff members are encouraged to get vaccinated. Vaccinations remain available and accessible at various locations within the community.
Contact Tracing
HCCS will continue reporting positive cases to the Department of Public Health (DPH). Contact tracing will continue to be the shared responsibility of DPH and HCCS.
If a student is exposed to COVID-19, parents will be notified via SchoolStatus. Exposed students will be required to wear masks at school and on buses for 10 days. Masking will allow continued participation in in-person learning, extracurricular activities, and school-sponsored events.
If a student chooses not to mask, he/she will quarantine at home for the 10-day period. While at home, students will not be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities or school-sponsored events.
Diagnosed Individuals
Students/staff diagnosed with COVID-19 will follow DPH guidelines. Current guidelines are as follows: quarantine for 6 calendar days (onset date of symptoms plus 5 days) and mask for 5 days. School attendance is expected for the 5 masked days assuming symptoms have improved, and the individual has been fever-free for 24 hours without medication.
Students choosing not to mask for 5 days will quarantine at home. While at home, students will not be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities or school-sponsored events.
Quarantines/Isolations
Students residing in homes containing COVID-19 positive individuals will quarantine for 6 calendar days (onset date of symptoms plus 5 days). If no symptoms emerge within those 6 days, students may return to school on day 7 and remain masked for 5 days (day 7-day 11).
Students choosing not to mask for 5 days, will quarantine at home. While at home, students will not be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities or school-sponsored events.
COVID-19 Symptoms/Testing
Students experiencing COVID-19 symptoms will not attend school. When any household member undergoes testing for COVID-19, all students within the home will quarantine until test results are known. Parents will notify school officials of these situations.
Millage Rate Notice
The Hart County Board of Education does hereby announce that the millage rate will be established at a meeting to be held at the Superintendent's Office, 284 Campbell Drive, Hartwell, Georgia on September 16, 2021 at 6:00 p.m., and pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A. 48-5-32, does hereby publish the following presentation of the current year's tax digest and levy along with the history of the tax digest and levy for the past five years.
Click here to view the Current 2021 Tax Digest and 5-Year History of Levy
American Rescue Plan Act Survey
The American Rescue Plan Act provides funding for local educational agencies to respond to COVID-19. Interested stakeholders have the opportunity to give input regarding the budgeting of these funds. Feedback will be captured in the survey linked below. The survey will be open through Thursday, September 9.
Survey link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1eQ6AqXAYf-CCcNmd7GfeE_6DwexZDvkuZbFb-9rcoFY/edit
On August 19, the Georgia Department of Public Health issued new guidance for school districts regarding COVID-19. These new procedures will begin on Monday, August 23.
If a student is exposed to COVID-19, the parents will be notified via SchoolStatus. Exposed students will be required to wear masks at school and on buses for 14 days. The district will provide masks to those in need. Masking will allow continued participation in in-person learning, extracurricular activities, and school-sponsored events.
If you choose not to wear a mask you will have to quarantine at home for the 14-day period. While at home, students will not be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities or school-sponsored events.
As new guidance becomes available, procedures will be reviewed. Our goal is to continue in-person learning. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility as we continue to navigate the 21-22 school year!
A sample of the text message and letter that parents will receive if their child is in contact with a positive case is included below.
Letter from the Department of Public Health
Cleaning Procedures
Enhanced cleaning procedures, including the use of electrostatic sprayers, will remain in place in schools and on buses. In addition, classrooms will continue to be equipped with hand sanitizer stations.
Masks
Staff, students, and visitors are encouraged, but not required, to wear masks while on Hart County Charter System (HCCS) properties.
Vaccinations
COVID-19 vaccinations are not required for employees or students. However, all staff members are encouraged to get vaccinated. Vaccinations remain available and accessible at various locations.
The Hart County Health Department has walk-in appointments available Monday through Friday for all vaccines. Address: 64 Reynolds Street ~ Hartwell, Georgia 30643 Phone: 706-376-5117 County Nurse Manager: David Donalson BSN, RN
Office Manager: Emily McConnell
Diagnosed Individuals
Students/staff diagnosed with COVID-19 will follow DPH guidelines. Current guidelines are as follows: Quarantine for 10 days with day 0 being the onset date of symptoms.
Quarantines/Isolations
Students residing in homes containing COVID-19 positive individuals will quarantine for a minimum of the quarantine time of the positive individual. They can return the same time as the positive individual.
COVID-19 Symptoms/Testing
Students experiencing COVID-19 symptoms will not attend school. When any household member undergoes testing for COVID-19, all students within the home will quarantine until test results are known. Parents will notify school officials of these situations.
Northeast Georgia Ag Expo
Join us Saturday, Sept. 11 for the Northeast Georgia Ag Expo, sponsored by Hart County Farm Bureau and the Hart County Charter System. Registration is open until Sept. 3 for the Antique Tractor Show and forms can be returned to Community Relations Director Grayson Williams at the Hart County Board of Education office, located at 284 Campbell Drive, or by email at grayson.williams@hart.k12.ga.us. See the document below for more information and Antique Tractor Show registration details.
SchoolStatus
Schools in the Hart County Charter System have a new, simpler way to connect parents/guardians with teachers this year — SchoolStatus. See the below documents regarding information on how SchoolStatus works.
Visitor Policy
We are excited to welcome parents and visitors on Monday, August 2nd and Tuesday, August 3rd for the first two days of school. Parents may walk students to their class and then exit the building. On Wednesday, August 4, we will resume last year's rules regarding parents and visitors where they will be limited to the front office.
Intradistrict Transfer Information
Information regarding the process of transfering a student within the school district can be found in the following documents: Intradistrict Transfer Info
BoE Meeting Notifications
If you would like to be notified about upcoming Hart County Board of Education meetings, please click on the link and fill out the form: BoE meeting notification request
Substitute Teachers
The Hart County Charter System has partnered with ESS to manage our substitute program. A leader in K-12 staffing, ESS is now responsible for the hiring, training, and placement of all daily and long-term substitute teachers.
If you’re interested in working as a substitute for our district, please visit www.ESS.jobs to apply or call 877.983.2244 for more information.
