Liberty Hill ISD COVID-19 Guidelines
2023-2024 School Year
Liberty Hill ISD will continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 in our community and follow the guidance of local health authorities and the Texas Education Agency to mitigate the spread and keep our students, staff, and their families safe. Understanding that conditions can shift rapidly, Liberty Hill ISD will remain flexible to adjust to prevailing conditions and continue to enforce prevention measures and strategies to the extent possible and allowable under Texas law.
To report a positive student and staff member, please use this link: LHISD COVID Positive Reporting Link for Students and Staff
COVID Prevention & Mitigation Strategies
School Arrival and Dismissal
Normal school arrival and dismissal. Please see your campus for specific information on their procedures.
Masks
Mask-wearing is optional.
Physical Distancing
Physical distancing is recommended when you are around others that are sick or displaying signs of illness.
Hand Washing
We will practice thorough hand washing and remind students to wash their hands as often as possible for 20 seconds using soap.
Hand sanitizer will be available when hand washing with soap is not feasible.
Restrooms
Normal restroom procedures.
Extra cleaning will be done as needed.
Water Fountains and Bottle Filler Stations
Bottle filler stations are available at each campus in several locations and are cleaned regularly.
The use of personal water bottles will be encouraged.
Water fountains are currently on at each campus.
Athletics, Fine Arts & Other Extracurricular Activities
All athletics, fine arts and extra curricular activities will continue as normal.
Cafeteria
Normal cafeteria service. Students will go through the service line to pick up their food and drink themselves.
Students should check out by scanning their student ID when possible.
Students should wash their hands or use hand sanitizer when entering the cafeteria.
Students should not share food, drinks, or personal devices.
Large Group Gatherings (Faculty Meetings, Pep Rallies, Field Days, etc.)
Indoor and Outdoor activities will continue as normal.
Field Trips
Field trips will continue as normal.
Library
Normal library procedures.
Visitors and Volunteers
Visitors and Volunteers are allowed on campus.
Visitors will follow our normal check-in process through Raptor, and Volunteers must complete a background check before volunteering.
Visitors and Volunteers will be limited at principal/campus discretion.
By coming onto campus, you are acknowledging that you have self-screened and you are free of illness and COVID symptoms.
Parents eating lunch with their children.
Parents can eat lunch with their children, and each campus will communicate their process to parents.
Clinic Isolation Rooms
No isolation rooms will be needed at this time.
Nurses may ask ill and/or symptomatic students to wear a mask while in the clinic (which will be provided by LHISD Health Services).
Bus Transportation
Buses will resume operating at full capacity with seating charts recommended.
Students should not share food, drinks, or personal devices.
Buses will be disinfected at the end of the day.
A/C air filters will be cleaned and changed regularly.
Isolation & Quarantine Timeframes
Classroom and Grade Level
We are currently not planning to close classes or grade levels due to COVID
Positive Cases
LHISD is required to report a positive students and staff case to the county Health Department.
To report a positive student or staff member, please complete this link: LHISD COVID Positive Reporting
COVID-19 has been added to the School Communicable Disease Chart list.
Students
Positive students will be required to isolate for a minimum of 5 full days starting on the day after symptoms have begun or after a positive test result in asymptomatic.
Example Symptomatic: Symptoms begin on Tuesday. Day one of isolation starts on Wednesday.
Example Asymptomatic: Test on Friday. Day one of isolation begins on Saturday, the day after the positive test was taken.
Positive students may return at the end of the 5-day isolation period, AND
At least 24 hours have passed since the resolution of fever without medication, and other symptoms have improved.
It is recommended to wear a mask for an additional 5 days after the isolation period has ended.
Staff
Positive staff will be required to isolate for a minimum of 5 full days starting on the day after the positive test result.
Example Symptomatic: Symptoms begin on Tuesday. Day one of isolation starts on Wednesday.
Ex ample Asymptomatic: Test on Friday. Day one of isolation begins on Saturday, the day after the positive test was taken.
Positive staff may return at the end of the 5-day isolation period, AND
At least 24 hours have passed since the resolution of fever without medication, and other symptoms have improved.
It is recommended to wear a mask for an additional 5 days after the isolation period has ended.
Close Contact/Contact Tracing/Quarantining
Not Applicable
Case Reviews
Not Applicable
Quick Reference Guide
Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 should:
Students:
Report using the link at LHISD COVID-19 Positive Reporting
Isolate for a minimum of 5 full days starting on the day after symptoms have begun or after a positive test result in asymptomatic.
Example Symptomatic: Symptoms begin on Tuesday. Day one of isolation begins on Wednesday.
Example Asymptomatic: Test on Friday. Day one of isolation begins on Saturday, the day after the positive test was taken.
Positive students may return at the end of the 5-day isolation period, AND
At least 24 hours have passed since the resolution of fever without medication, and other symptoms have improved.
It is recommended to wear a mask for an additional 5 days after the isolation period has ended.
Staff:
Report to their campus principal
Isolate for a minimum of 5 full days starting on the day after the positive test result.
Ex Symptomatic: Symptoms begin on Tuesday. Day one of isolation beings on Wednesday.
Ex Asymptomatic: Test on Friday. Day one of isolation begins on Saturday, the day after the positive test was taken.
Positive staff may return at the end of the 5-day isolation period, AND
At least 24 hours have passed since the resolution of fever without medication, and other symptoms have improved.
It is recommended to wear a mask for an additional 5 days after the isolation period has ended.
Liberty Hill ISD is required to report positive cases to the county Health Department.
Students who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should:
At Home:
If you are sick with fever, we ask your students to stay home until they are well and symptom-free from any illness.
General Recommendations:
Consider seeking medical guidance from your healthcare provider.
Consider testing as recommended by the CDC.
Consider wearing a mask/face covering if respiratory symptoms are present.
Students and staff who have been identified as a close contact or have had known close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 should:
Staff and students who are in close contact should return to school or work unless they are displaying symptoms of fever.
Consider wearing a mask as soon as you find out you were exposed.
Monitor for symptoms consistent with COVID-19 for 10 days after the date of the last contact, as recommended by the CDC.
Consider testing on day 6 after exposure even if no symptoms develop.
COVID-19 Positive Case Notifications:
Liberty Hill ISD will report positive cases to the county Health Department.
COVID-19 Vaccines:
COVID-19 vaccines are not required for students or employees.
Vaccination is currently the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Per the CDC, promoting vaccination can help schools safely return to in-person learning as well as extracurricular activities and sports.
According to the CDC, COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and recommended for all eligible individuals.
Vaccination info for Williamson County can be found by clicking on the link
LHISD Employee COVID Information:
Staff members should notify campus principal and complete this link: LHISD COVID Positive Reporting
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if someone in my home is COVID-19 positive?
Recommended you self screen and monitor for symptoms.
Isolate away from the positive person(s) as best as possible.
Wear a mask when interacting with others.
If you begin showing symptoms for COVID-19
Stay home and notify the school
What should I do if someone in my child's class or extra-curricular activity is COVID-19 positive?
If you are not showing symptoms for COVID-19:
You are ok to attend school and work.
Consider getting tested on day 6 after you are exposed to a COVID positive person
If you begin showing symptoms for COVID-19:
Stay home
Contact the school
Do I have to submit a daily COVID-19 screener?
Not at this time.
Students and staff are asked to do a self-screen for COVID symptoms prior to arriving at school each day.
Parents/Guardians: Per the LHISD Student & Parent Handbook, by sending your child to school, you are attesting that your child has a very low risk of carrying or spreading any disease. We appreciate you partnering with LHISD to ensure a healthy environment for all our students and staff.
Staff: By coming to work the employee is attesting that he/she is free of illness or any symptom/s of a communicable disease.
Will I be notified if my child or a staff member are in close contact of a COVID-19 positive individual?
Liberty Hill ISD will report positive cases to the county Health Department.
Once the case is reported, it will be the responsibility of the local health department to choose whether or not to contact trace and to identify those individuals who are considered close contact.
Is there a virtual learning option available?
LHISD is not offering a virtual learning option.
What should I do if my doctor says I should keep my child home for quarantine and provides a note?
Follow your doctor’s order
Provide the school with a copy of the doctor’s note
The student absence will be coded as “Q=Quarantine Excused from Doctor’s Note”
If the student is not feeling well, the student should rest and get well
If the student is feeling good, the student should contact their teachers to complete as much work as possible to ensure they do not fall behind on school work
If the student becomes COVID positive, the parent should contact the school and the absence will be changed to “K=COVID Excused”
What do I do if I am required to quarantine by the school?
Student:
A virtual learning environment will not be available
The student will be marked as an "K=COVID Excused Absence" if a positive COVID is reported.
The student will be responsible for missing work but may check on the teacher's Google Classroom or Seesaw for assignments to complete to stay up to date on learning.
Teachers will not be available for direct instruction but will respond to emails at least once per day to answer questions or give clarifications.
What do I do if I choose to quarantine?
LHISD will not require quarantining.
Absence is excused if the student is quarantined based on a physician's note, and the note is provided to the school.
Absence is unexcused if a physician's note is not provided requiring the quarantine.
A virtual learning environment will not be available.