R-II Schools React To Schmitt’s Letter

From Staff Reports

In response to Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt threatening legal action against school districts and public health departments if they do not drop COVID-19 mask mandates and quarantine rules, the Ste. Genevieve R-II School District sent a letter to parents, stating that it would back off from its quaratine policy.

The letter to parents included the following:

“As of today, our schools will no longer send communications to families notifying students and employees of the need to quarantine. At this time, this change is being made to ensure that our district complies with Attorney General Schmitt’s directive.

“As always, if a student is sick or symptomatic at school, we will contact a parent and ask that the student be taken home until he/she is well enough to return to school.

“Our local health department will continue to call positive cases and encourage them to stay home for 10 days from their onset of symptoms.

“If a student lives in a home with a positive case, the health department will strongly encourage the parent to monitor that student for symptoms for a period of time, but will not direct the parent to keep the student at home. The health department will, however, strongly recommend that the student should be kept home if the student becomes symptomatic.

“This situation is frustrating, and has led to confusion and a multitude of questions about how to proceed during this ongoing pandemic, in terms of preventative measures. We know that many of you may have questions and concerns, because we do, as well. We will be reviewing our Reopening Plan in order to address areas that might need to be revised following this court judgment and directive from the Attorney General.

We ask that our families continue to communicate with the Ste. Genevieve County Health Department and their healthcare providers regarding exposure and symptoms. Please take their recommendations seriously, as this guidance is made in the best interest of public health.”