COVID-19 Protocols

At the direction of the Oregon Department of Education and Washington County Public Health Department, BSD is no longer requiring a five-day isolation period for those infected with COVID-19. Oregon public health officials believe widespread population immunity, due to vaccinations and repeated infections, means most COVID-19 infections likely are now asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, and the five-day isolation period is doing little to reduce transmission. 

Students who are infected with COVID-19 may return to school after being fever-free for 24 hours and when symptoms are improving. Masking continues to be optional.

Too Sick for School guidance

Students ages 5-11 years are now eligible for boosters. For more information on where to get a vaccine or your booster in Oregon, click here. 

On-site Diagnostic Testing for Students and Staff

Update May 11: COVID-19 diagnostic testing resources will remain available through the 2023-2024 academic year as long as supplies are available. The optional weekly screening testing program will end at the end of this school year.

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BSD offers free on-site COVID-19 diagnostic testing for students and staff who develop both primary and non-primary symptoms consistent with COVID-19 in their school buildings. Primary symptoms include cough, fever > 100.4 or chills, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing and new loss of taste/smell. Non-primary symptoms often include muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, new nasal congestion and runny nose.

Students who develop two primary symptoms, or other excludable symptoms, at home should be tested before returning to school. Students may access COVID-19 testing at their school site. The Abbot BinaxNOW COVID-19 rapid test is the test used in schools. Parent/guardian written consent is required for a student to participate in diagnostic testing.  

Positive results are reported to the Washington County Public Health Department, and the student or staff member is required to isolate for 5 days. 

At-home Exposure Testing for Students and Staff

As supply allows, BSD may provide iHealth test kits for students and staff to use at home for cohorts who meet the Washington County Public Health Department outbreak definition or for those who have had exposure to an individual who tests positive for COVID-19. Tests may be provided upon request or upon school notification of an outbreak exposure. iHealth test kit expirations have been given a 9-12 mo extension. New dates are here for your reference. 

Weekly Screening Testing for Students

Free weekly testing is available for students without symptoms of COVID-19. Parents may electronically enroll their student in this OHSU program and view test results through the portal. Test kits will be shipped directly to participating student homes. Spit test samples will be collected at schools on designated days of the week. Schools will provide enrollment details.

School Collection Days:

Are visitors allowed on district property, including schools?

Yes, visitors are allowed with some restrictions.

Under School Board Policy KK, visitors are defined as individuals whose participation is not ongoing or frequent. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) provides further clarification in OAR 333-019-1030 that a visitor may include anyone who is providing goods or services to a school or school-based program, whether paid or unpaid, without regard to the frequency. In BSD, visitors include, but are not limited to, CTE industry guests/partners, career day participants, military recruiters and visiting authors/artists/readers/presenters.

Per OAR 333-019-1030, all visitors must provide proof of vaccination or submit a medical or religious exception. Those visitors with approved exceptions may work with students, but the District is requiring them to be masked, despite the district's general mask-optional policy, IF Washington County’s Community Level is listed as High, per the CDC website. If the visitors are outdoors or in an ancillary building without students, no masking is required. 

Staff is not required to enforce masking requirements; however, it’s possible that an administrator could become aware of a violation and then need to address the non-compliance.

A spectator is someone who is visiting a school on a one-time or occasional basis but is not providing goods or services. For example, a person may choose to attend registration, school art show, Battle of the Books competition, carnival,  kindergarten orientation, music class recital, school tour or end-of-year clapout. A spectator does not have to provide proof of vaccination; masking is optional.

A parent/guardian who is visiting a school for a conference or IEP meetings and not providing goods or services does not have to provide proof of vaccination; masking is optional.

How does a visitor provide proof of vaccination? How does a visitor apply for a medical or religious vaccination exception?

Per OAR 333-019-1030, visitors must receive the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccine OR the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine AND be at least 14 days past their final vaccine dose.

Visitors must present proof of vaccination — either a physical vaccination card or a digital copy — to the office staff. If it's a physical card, the office staff member will make a photocopy of the card and then email it to bsd-visitor@beaverton.k12.or.us; in the subject line, the staff member should type the name of the school. If it's a digital copy on a cell phone, the visitor should show it to the office staff member and then immediately email the copy to bsd-visitor@beaverton.k12.or.us and type the school name in the subject line. Per OAR 333-019-1030, the District must maintain the proof of vaccination for a period of two years.

Visitors must go through this process each time they arrive at school.

Visitors who are unable to be vaccinated due to a documented medical condition (including pregnancy) or due to a sincerely held religious belief must submit the required Oregon Health Authority (OHA) exception form. To download a form, scroll to the bottom of this section. The completed form should be emailed to Johanna_Shrout@beaverton.k12.or.us. It will be reviewed by district staff. This process can take up to five business days. No on-site, in-the-moment approvals will be granted.

Is it possible that a school-sponsored event could have volunteers who need to provide proof of their vaccination status, visitors who need to provide proof of their vaccination status and visitors who don't need to provide proof of their vaccination status all at the same event?

Yes, it's possible. For example, a school may sponsor a carnival. The volunteers who work the event would need to be registered in the district's volunteer management system and either be vaccinated or have an approved medical or religious exception. The balloon artist who was hired for the event is a visitor providing goods or services and would need to provide proof of vaccination or have an approved medical or religious exception. The parents who attend with their students would be considered spectators and would not need to provide proof of vaccination. However, if one of those spectators is later asked to supervise the bouncy house, now that person is a volunteer and is subject to the rules for volunteers.

How is the above scenario different if the carnival is sponsored by a PTO, a cub scout pack or another organization?

Any group holding an event on school property makes a reservation through School Dude. As part of that process, the sponsoring organization will need to attest that it’s taking responsibility for following the vaccination requirements in OAR 333-019-1030. 

What qualifies as a medical or religious vaccination exception?

Per OAR 333-019-1030, a medical exception must be corroborated by a document signed by a medical provider, who is not the individual seeking the exception, certifying that the individual has a physical or mental impairment that limits the individual's ability to receive a COVID-19 vaccination based on a specified medical diagnosis and that specifies whether the impairment is temporary in nature or permanent.

A religious exception must be corroborated by a document on a form prescribed by the Oregon Health Authority, signed by the individual stating that the individual is requesting an exception from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement on the basis of a sincerely held religious belief and include a statement describing the way in which the vaccination requirement conflicts with the religious observance, practice or belief of the individual.

Are visitors with an approved medical or religious exception allowed to work with students?

Unvaccinated visitors with approved exceptions may work with students, but the District is requiring them to be masked, despite the district's general mask-optional policy, IF Washington County’s Community Level is listed as High, per the CDC website. If the visitors are outdoors or in an ancillary building without students, no masking is required. 

Staff is not required to enforce masking requirements; however, it’s possible that an administrator could become aware of a violation and then need to address the non-compliance.

Unvaccinated visitors without approved exceptions will not be allowed.

Do visitors need to wear masks?

Masking is optional, unless the person is an unvaccinated visitor with an approved medical or religious exception AND Washington County’s Community Level is listed as High, per the CDC website,  in which case, the person would need to be masked.

If the visitors are outdoors or in an ancillary building without students, no masking is required. 

Staff is not required to enforce masking requirements; however, it’s possible that an administrator could become aware of a violation and then need to address the non-compliance.

What about parent-teacher conferences, IEP meetings or 504 meetings?

A parent/guardian who is visiting a school for a conference or IEP meetings and not providing goods or services does not have to provide proof of vaccination; masking is optional.

All parents/guardians have the option of IEP meetings and 504 meetings in person or virtually. To accommodate interpreter and other staff participation, some meetings may be held in a hybrid format with some participants in person and others through a virtual platform.

Can school PTOs, PTCs or similar groups hold meetings inside of schools?

PTOs and PTCs can hold in-person meetings inside of schools. 

Are visitors allowed to have lunch in the cafeteria with students?

No visitors are allowed at lunchtime (unless volunteering). 

What about athletic competitions or performing arts events?

If the person is a spectator — someone who is visiting a school on a one-time or occasional basis but is not providing goods or services — they do not have to provide proof of vaccination. If the person is running a concession stand, that person is a volunteer. Please see guidance under the Volunteer section.

 

Are volunteers allowed on district property, including schools?

Volunteers, including student volunteers and peer mentors from other BSD schools, are allowed. All volunteers must be registered in our Volunteer Management System and pass a mandatory background check. A volunteer is defined as someone who is providing goods or services on an ongoing basis.

Per OAR 333-019-1030, all volunteers must provide proof of vaccination or submit a medical or religious exception. Those volunteers with approved exceptions may work with students, but the District is requiring them to be masked, despite the district's general mask-optional policy, IF Washington County’s Community Level is listed as High, per the CDC website. If the volunteers are outdoors or in an ancillary building without students, no masking is required. 

Staff is not required to enforce masking requirements; however, it’s possible that an administrator could become aware of a violation and then need to address the non-compliance.

How does a volunteer provide proof of vaccination? How does a volunteer apply for a medical or religious vaccination exception?

Per OAR 333-019-1030, all volunteers — whether inside or outside, whether during the school day or after-school hours — must receive the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccine OR the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine AND be at least 14 days past their final vaccine dose.

Volunteers must upload their vaccination cards or their immunization records. Volunteers who are unable to be vaccinated due to a documented medical condition (including pregnancy) or due to a sincerely held religious belief must submit the required Oregon Health Authority (OHA) exception form.

To upload vaccination cards or to access exception forms, volunteers must log onto their myimpactpage.com accounts. Go to the "My Profile" tab on the upper right, click on "Additional Information" and then select "Beaverton School District." Scroll to the bottom of the screen to find the COVID-19 Vaccination section. From here, volunteers can upload their vaccination cards. If volunteers need exception forms, click on the "i" icon and download the form. After it's completed, forms can be uploaded in this same area.

Once volunteers upload their information, it will be reviewed by district staff. This process can take up to a week. Per OAR 333-019-1030, the District must maintain the proof of vaccination for a period of two years.

As always, volunteers are required to sign in to the myimpactpage.com time clock when they arrive at the front office. 

What qualifies as a medical or religious vaccination exception?

Per OAR 333-019-1030, a medical exception must be corroborated by a document signed by a medical provider, who is not the individual seeking the exception, certifying that the individual has a physical or mental impairment that limits the individual’s ability to receive a COVID-19 vaccination based on a specified medical diagnosis and that specifies whether the impairment is temporary in nature or permanent.

A religious exception must be corroborated by a document on a form prescribed by the Oregon Health Authority, signed by the individual stating that the individual is requesting an exception from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement on the basis of a sincerely held religious belief and include a statement describing the way in which the vaccination requirement conflicts with the religious observance, practice or belief of the individual.

Are volunteers with an approved medical or religious exception allowed to work with students?

Unvaccinated volunteers with approved exceptions may work with students, but the District is requiring them to be masked, despite the district's general mask-optional policy, IF Washington County’s Community Level is listed as High, per the CDC website. If the volunteers are outdoors or in an ancillary building without students, no masking is required. 

Staff is not required to enforce masking requirements; however, it’s possible that an administrator could become aware of a violation and then need to address the non-compliance.

Does the vaccination rule apply to students who volunteer?

Student-volunteers (ages 16 and older) need to follow the same procedure (as described above) as adult volunteers regarding proof of vaccination and medical or religious exceptions.

Do volunteers need to wear masks?

Masking is optional, unless you are an unvaccinated volunteer with an approved medical or religious exception AND Washington County’s Community Level is listed as High, per the CDC website, in which case, you must be masked.

If the volunteers are outdoors or in an ancillary building without students, no masking is required. 

Staff is not required to enforce masking requirements; however, it’s possible that an administrator could become aware of a violation and then need to address the non-compliance.

Can school PTOs, PTCs or similar groups hold meetings inside of schools?

PTOs and PTCs can hold in-person meetings inside of schools.