Covid-19 Dashboard

RSU 21 Covid-19 Information

FAQ

COVID 19 INSTRUCTIONAL & HEALTH PROCEDURES FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT RSU 21
OCTOBER 1, 2021

This list of Frequently asked Questions (FAQs) was created to assist parents and guardians understand the procedures the district has implemented to reduce risk of disease transmission in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This list is separated into two sections: INSTRUCTIONAL & HEALTH.

FAQ RELATED TO INSTRUCTION

1. Question: Are Central Office staff required to wear masks while in the office? If so, what is the expectation if not all individuals are following protocol?

Answer: Staff members are required to wear masks while in the office. The expectation is that all individuals follow the protocol of properly masking to help minimize the spread of COVID. If someone is not properly masked, please remind the individual of the expectation. It is our collective responsibility to promote safety.

2. Question: How are you going to secure desperately needed substitutes to keep our schools functioning?

Answer: RSU 21 will continue its efforts to increase the substitute database. Advertising for substitutes through varied posting platforms and securing substitutes for long-term substitute positions are successful practices. Staff and community outreach efforts are continuously needed to support the district in securing and increasing substitutes in the district.

3. Question: During a year when so many extra hands are required, is the district prepared to increase the salary of our educational technicians to make the positions more attractive to outside applicants?

Answer: The Education Technician Association and the RSU 21 School District, have entered into a collaborative bargain to produce an Agreement that will meet the needs of both management and staff in accomplishing a shared aim - providing a quality education for all children in the District without exception. In order to serve the students of the RSU 21 and the education technicians, this Agreement will be mutually developed and will reflect the value, dignity, and contribution of the district’s educational technicians. Salary discussions will be a collaborative effort of the negotiating teams.

4. Question: There is a group of parents surveying KHS students about the possibility of offering a non-school related Homecoming dance at a private venue. What, if anything, can be done to protect our students and staff if this becomes a super spreader event?

Answer: RSU 21 did not host a school-based homecoming dance this year as it was not the safest choice for students and district employees due to the pandemic. In making this decision, district leaders discussed their concerns with consulting physician, Dr. Donald Burgess. To protect our students, RSU 21 will continue to be diligent with pooled testing in all schools. Adhering to this protocol will help us track positive cases.

5. Question: What is the district’s plan for supporting nurses? Why isn’t the district giving nurses a board liaison as they requested? Our nurses are completely overwhelmed with contact tracing and pool testing and following up on absences. They need support and are not getting it.

Answer: District leaders are supportive of the work and commitment of RSU 21 nurses. To assist them in carrying out their added COVID-19 related duties, the following measures have been put in place:

Posted for a full-time float nurse who will assist in contact tracing and/or other responsibilities as needed.
Secured two nurses that conduct pooled testing on our testing days: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Scheduled 15 minute “check-ins” to collaborate, strategize, and/or clarify questions multiple times each week.
Scheduled “listening meetings” to hear concerns and suggestions for improvement.

6. Question: In order to keep our schools open, we NEED families to help minimize the spread. This is a huge concern, even after Dr. Cooper has urged families to withhold extracurricular activities etc.

Answer: RSU 21 will continuously express the importance of each person's role in minimizing the spread of COVID. Following CDC and MDOE guidelines will help to keep each member of the community safe. We can increase our collective safety through Pooled Testing, Vaccination, Proper Masking, Social Distancing, Staying Home when Sick and Getting Tested, and Handwashing frequently.

RSU 21 will work with local public health officials to determine the additional prevention strategies needed in RSU 21 by monitoring levels of community transmission and local vaccine coverage, and use of screening testing to detect strategies against COVID-19. Decisions made will be based on the school population, families and students served, as well as the communities.

7. Question: How do I know if I need to quarantine?

Answer: You need to quarantine if you meet the state criteria for being a close contact of a person with COVID-19 and are unvaccinated. People who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 do not need to quarantine even if they are a close contact. If you are a student or employee close contact at school, someone from RSU 21 (school nurse or principal’s office) will contact you and provide details about any quarantine. If you are a close contact in the community, the person with COVID-19 should reach out to you to let you know about your exposure and need to quarantine. You may also receive a call or text from Maine CDC’s contact tracing team to notify you of your exposure and need to quarantine. Even if Maine CDC does not notify you, if a COVID-positive person lets you know that you need to quarantine, you should do so.

8. Question: Do I need to quarantine if I am fully vaccinated?

Answer: An individual who has completed a COVID-19 vaccination series and is exposed to a COVID-19 case does not need to quarantine so long as the exposure is more than 14 days after the individual’s completion of the COVID19 vaccine series. US CDC recommends that fully vaccinated people who have a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 be tested 3-5 days after exposure. They should wear a face covering in indoor public settings for 14 days after the exposure or until they receive a negative test result.

9. Question: Why hasn't RSU 21 submitted the staff vaccination rate to the Maine CDC?

Answer: RSU 21’s staff vaccination rate was available for submission to the Maine CDC in a timely manner. However, technical issues prevented the input of the data. RSU 21’s vaccination rate will be submitted and reflected in the October report. Current vaccination rates may be found on the district website.

10. Question: One consistent issue, district-wide, is the lift on teachers to juggle Track F (the quarantine students). Is it possible to use COVID money to have a "quarantine teacher" at each school that would be designated to help assist the students in quarantine?

Answer: RSU 21 will continue to explore ways to support students and teachers with Track F. Teachers will receive a survey to garner valuable feedback.

11. Question: Is there any consideration for having athletes wear masks? If the variant is a breakthrough in the vaccine, then why would the quarantine time for those who were exposed to COVID be different for the vaccinated vs. the unvaccinated? Isn't that just causing it to spread more?

Answer: For indoor spaces, athletes are required to wear masks (gym, locker room). The district is waiting for additional guidelines from the MPA as it relates to winter sports. Students who participated in volleyball are required to wear masks indoors in fall 2021.

12. Question: Why does a student identified as a close contact in an after-school program, where it takes place in a school, treated the same as a close contact identified within other areas of the school?

Answer: Per the Maine Department of Public Education, community programs that utilize the school building are not considered school programs. They do not have the same exceptions to quarantine as the school exposure.

13. Question: Would it be possible to create a flowchart that clearly illustrates steps to follow when a student is identified as a ‘close contact’?

Answer: Click on this link or see this Maine Department of Education graph below.

14. Question: What is the district plan for lightening the load for teachers? For a second year, they are completely overwhelmed with planning for multiple modes of instructional delivery but now with less planning time, more meetings and (for elementary teachers), brand new curriculum programs.

Answer: To support teachers in planning, the district has/will:

additional collaborative planning time for elementary teachers.
content specific professional development opportunities have been added to the calendar for teacher development/growth
Conduct listening sessions with staff to identify their concerns and secure their recommendations.

COVID 19 INSTRUCTIONAL & HEALTH PROCEDURES
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT RSU 21
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

FAQ RELATED TO INSTRUCTION

1. Question: Why can’t the virtual option be put in place for high school students who are ill or quarantined?

Answer: By following the plan as outlined in the Quarantine Learning Plan, students have the opportunity to receive personal attention from the teacher as needed or requested. Students’ individual needs are met through differentiated instruction. This style of instruction helps the teacher tailor and customize the lessons to the students’ individual learning needs.

Synchronous learning creates privacy concerns as students can easily identify those who are quarantined. During the 2020-2021 school year, this option created an isolated environment for many of the students and more and more of them opted for at home learning.

RSU 21 has created a plan (Track F and E) to support the academic and social/mental health needs, as well as any Special Services needs, for students who must quarantine from school. This plan limits the impact on in person instruction. We expect that pooled testing will limit the number of individuals required to quarantine from school.

The school year has begun with student energy and excitement in the building. We plan to maintain this enthusiasm in Kennebunk High School.

2. Question: Why can’t a distance learning alternative be offered for families who do not feel it is safe to send their students to school?

Answer: In-person instruction is the best way to help hasten an academic recovery for those who fell behind and to address emotional and social consequences after two disrupted school years. There is no replacement for in-person instruction.

RSU 21 Reasons to Support five days, in-person instruction:

● In-person learning supports students with forming stronger connections.

● In-person learning creates stronger academic experiences for students.

● In-person learning helps improve mental health

● In-person learning suits different learning styles

● A blended model of learning involving the livestreaming of lessons to students at home while others attend in-person is not an educational best practice and does a disservice to both the students learning remotely and those attending in-person. This is particularly true at the PreK-5 grade levels.

Due to all of the above are true, districts throughout the State, including RSU 21, have made the

commitment to bring back all students to 5 days a week of in-person learning. When making this commitment, a consideration of resources must be taken into account. In order for full in-person learning to happen for the greatest number of students possible, staffing resources must be allocated to meet that goal. Remote learning was possible last year only because our district adopted a Hybrid Model for in-person learners. Now that we have moved to 5 days a week of in-person learning, staffing resources must be prioritized for in-person learning to ensure the return to school is as safe, as supportive and as educationally responsive as possible.

3. Question: What plan is in place should full time attendance become untenable?

Answer: If full time attendance become untenable, RSU 21 will revert to the established Hybrid Plan (Track B) if we cannot meet the Requirements established by the Center for Disease Control and adopted by the Maine Department of Education and RSU 21.

4. Question: What is the remote teaching plan for students with IEPs and 504 plans?

Answer: For shorter periods of time, such as a quarantine, district staff will follow the IEP through remote services. If the entire district were remote, the Individual Remote Learning Plan will be followed for students with an IEP. For students on 504 plans, accommodations would be carried out as needed in a remote situation. The plans can vary from student to student.

5. Question: What is the difference between Remote and 504?

Answer: The difference between remote and 504 is that remote refers to distance learning or learning outside of the school. The 504 Plan is a plan developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives accommodations that will ensure their academic success and access to the learning environment.

6. Question: What is an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)?

Answer: IEP stands for Individualized Education Plan. An IEP lays out the special education instruction, supports, and services a student needs to thrive in school. Students on an IEP have been identified as requiring individualized direct instruction based on their specific disability/needs. The services as listed in the IEP will be delivered remotely when the student is quarantined.

7. Question: We were told at MSK that there were no laptops during quarantine . How does the IEP get fulfilled?

Answer: Laptops are made available to any student who is required to quarantine. IEP services are continued through the quarantine period.

8. Question: How are school nurses, teachers, and affected staff being compensated for increased workload and time as it relates to COVID 19 response and adjustments?

Answer: RSU 21 appreciates the hard work our nurses put forth in support of keeping our students, staff and community safe. To date, we have partnered with Concentric and received 2 additional persons to support with Pooled Testing. Additionally, the district has advertised for a Roaming nurse to support all schools as of September 14th.

FAQ RELATED TO COVID-19 HEALTH PROCEDURES

1. Question: What is the overriding priority of our school district relative to the management of COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on education of our students?

Answer: Our goal which was shared during the RSU School Board meeting on September 6th is to (1) Protect the health and safety of our students, families, and employees in the face of a new and more aggressive COVID variant and (2) maintain in-person learning, five days per week while maximizing student learning opportunities.

2. Question: Why did RSU 21 have such a large number of cases and close contacts and what is being done to prevent this from happening again?

Answer: The nature of the cases and the proximity of the individuals in the classrooms caused the large numbers of close contacts over the Labor Day weekend. Pooled testing will allow us to minimize the number of close contacts and keep students in school. As of the week of September 13, 2021, the press reported that 10% of Maine Schools have started Pooled Testing. We are proud to say that because of the work of our nurses and administrators, RSU 21 is one of those schools. RSU 21 has taken the steps to conduct Pooled testing in a timely manner.

3. Question: What is being done to make email communications clearer and easier to understand?

Answer: Following the Labor Day surge of COVID cases - Central Office comprehensively reviewed and revised its communications. These revisions include changes to: ● subject lines on emails to highlight COVID Case Notification as contrasted with COVID updates

● Parent letter

● Information about our COVID Plans

● Improvements to formatting

● Advance notification of all school board members, RSU 21 employees, consulting physician and town managers.

● Number of cases, close contacts and quarantines (when the number is five or more)

● Development of an RSU 21 COVID case procedure.

RSU 21 will provide COVID related information on the website to keep the community abreast of MDOE updates, vaccination reports, SOP, and new developments.

4. Question: Could the COVID-19 Updates for 2021-2022 be updated to include current updates, including number of cases, number of close contacts per school and other relevant, important information?

Answer: RSU 21 will continue to update the community of current updates, including number of cases and close contacts per school and other relevant important information through the weekly Community Newsletter, emails, website, phone calls and/or school messenger.

5. Question: Is the administration reaching out to other districts to find out what they are doing to keep students, teachers, and staff safe and in school?

Answer: Superintendents and curriculum leaders share information on a weekly and/or regular basis. Additionally, RSU 21 staff members consistently communicate with our consulting physician, Dr. Burgess, and CDC staff to verify the district’s adherence to the SOP.

6. Question: Are there resources available for setting up tents to be used for outdoor classrooms and to allow students to eat outside?

Answer: Elementary: Each elementary school has at least one tent outside for a learning/eating space. Teachers are encouraged to bring their classes outside, especially for snack times. Most/All schools have identified several outside spaces, not all of those identified spaces have tents. The tents provide some shelter in inclement weather. Most of these spaces are being used for snack eating and learning activities rather than lunch. At the younger grades, there are other considerations at lunchtime such as supervision, cleaning procedures, and proximity to the lunch room. At KCS, our lunch tables are placed seven feet apart to minimize close contact when masks are off for eating. We are grateful to be able to do so, and it will limit quarantine numbers, but not all schools can manage that amount of spacing. If students were eating outside in a less structured setting, it would be hard to guarantee that spacing, which could lead to more close contacts being identified. Changing our full lunch program to outside eating would take a complete mindshift, requiring lots of logistical planning and may not be sustainable during a Maine winter. Tents are not recommended to be up past October due to hazards with snow building up on them.Several of the schools do have identified outdoor learning spaces as well that are not covered by tents.

Middle School: MSK has three outdoor classroom spaces that can be used to conduct classes outside of the building. Additionally, MSK has one tent that can be used as an outdoor classroom space except during lunch when it is used to provide an outdoor space for students to eat lunch. Students at MSK can choose to eat in the cafeteria or outside. There is limited covered seating under the tent with additional seating outside that is not covered. All students wishing to eat outside are allowed to do so, weather permitting.

High School: There is one outdoor tent currently near gym B and another being set up near the cafeteria for outdoor learning and for lunch time. Students may choose between multiple spaces for lunches and teachers may reserve outside spaces for classes. Additionally, there is an outdoor space in the courtyard with log seating and desk space for outdoor learning.

7. Question: Have implementation of mandatory vaccinations for staff and students and mandatory testing been considered? If so, why hasn’t this been done? Are these mandates under consideration at this time?

Answer: Businesses with at least 100 employees will soon be required to mandate that employees get vaccinated against the coronavirus or submit to weekly testing. School districts in Maine are waiting for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and MDOE to issue guidelines regarding mandatory vaccination.

8. Question: What is the definition of “close contact” being used by the district?

Answer: Close contact is defined as, in general, being within 6 feet of an infected person (with or Without a face mask) for at least 15 minutes (cumulatively in a day), or having unprotected directPhysical contact with a person with confirmed COVID-19 during the infectious period.

9. Question: What happens if a student is not in the classroom on the day of the exposure? Would this student learn remotely with their class/teacher even though they're not a close contact? Is there an option for this student to attend school in person?

Answer. A student who is not exposed will not need to quarantine from school. These decisions will be made on a case by case basis.

10.Question: How does pool testing prevent spread of COVID 19, and can this policy be revisited?

Answer: Pool testing is a key tool for schools, organizations or workplaces that want to stay open safely, by monitoring their people periodically. Pooling increases the capacity and speed of testing efforts and reduces costs.

11. Question: Could the district require all students to show a negative Covid test result prior to returning to school after each vacation and after traveling out of state?

Answer: Districts can implement requirements that exceed the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Guidelines. RSU 21 has adopted these guidelines. At present there are testing and quarantine requirements by the State for testing when there has been international travel but there are no requirements at this time for interstate travel.

12. Question: Is there a written protocol within RSU 21 that the vaccinated contacts are all tested on day 3-5?

Answer: There are testing recommendations that are shared with all close contacts. These are not requirements. We have communicated the importance of testing with parents/guardians of close contacts and must rely on our community to take the right steps to protect other students, families and our RSU 21 employees.

13. Question: What is the definition of an “outbreak” in a school and could pool testing prevent the closure of a school following an outbreak?

Answer: The definition of an “outbreak” is 3 or more confirmed cases in a school in less than 14 days from three different households. Pooled Testing can help identify an outbreak...it doesn’t prevent an outbreak. Having said that, it could minimize the number of children who have to quarantine from school, which helps us keep our schools open. It also allows us to identify positive cases, which reduces the likelihood of transmission in our schools. Having more children in school allows more children to be tested, and again, being able to identify positive cases earlier minimizes the likelihood of transmission in our schools.

14. Question: Once pooled testing is up and running and close contacts that need to be tested are identified, will testing be available through the schools? What steps are being taken to respond if there is a shortage of testing materials?

Answer: We cannot answer this question at this time. We will order supplies responsibly.

15. Question: (RE: Homecoming Dance) We were able to hold a safe outdoor "prom" last spring, and this shouldn't be any different. We should be able to produce some creative ideas to make the Homecoming Dance happen. Why can't a tent be placed in the empty field by the football field near the bathrooms and snack shack for a "safe" outdoor dance.

Answer: Our primary goal is to keep students in school across the district in all of our buildings. With the recent evidence of in-school transmission, breakthrough cases in vaccinated individuals, and increasing risks due to the delta variant, it seems most prudent to wait on plans for dances until we feel that we can provide this opportunity safely. The safe outdoor “Senior Sunset” last year was only the Senior class, there was no dancing, and the alternate activities required a significant investment.

16. Question: What is the school district’s position regarding plans being made by community members to put on a private homecoming dance?

Answer: RSU21 and KHS are not hosting a Homecoming dance because we don’t believe that it is the safest choice for students or staff. We don’t believe that a dance hosted by the school or any private group or organization is a safe or responsible choice given the current circumstances in our community as it pertains to COVID.

17. Question: What steps are being taken to prevent spread of COVID on school buses? Are windows open? Is mask wearing enforced? How is seating arranged? How are bus drivers trained and supported to enforce district procedures?

Answer: RSU21 has communicated to all its drivers on the importance of keeping windows open for air circulation and it has also been recommended by Maine Department of Education. We also open the roof vent for improved circulation. This will not be required during inclement weather. Last year buses were only required to crack the two front and two rear windows, we are encouraging all windows to be cracked open to maximize air circulation whenever possible and dictated by the driver. This was communicated at the start of the year.

Buses are back to max occupancy, our seating charts allow for three students per seat per bus, buses with less students per route are able to spread out per seating chart plans.

We enforce mask wearing with an escalation process. The bus driver educates students on proper wearing of masks, if this is not effective, it is escalated to the principal for interaction and training and lastly it will be escalated to parents.

18. Question: How is lunch time being managed to ensure maximum safety of students? Are students eating in shifts with their own cohorts? What steps are being taken to allow time for students to socialize with masks on during the school day?

Answer: Elementary: We have increased the number of lunches that we offer during the day. By doing so, it allows us to reduce the number of students we have in the cafeteria at any given time. As a result, we are able to spread students out and create the necessary distance needed for having students unmasked and eating. We appreciate the picnic tables that community members are providing to help maintain spacing in our schools. As students enter and exit the cafeteria, we emphasize the importance of cleaning/sanitizing their hands.

We recognize that it is important to provide opportunities for social interactions throughout the day, because of this teachers are structuring lessons to allow for this, as well as utilizing

community building activities in the classrooms to foster relationships. Each classroom has a snack time outside, which allows for more social engagement. All classrooms also have a minute morning meeting, with the main purpose of building classroom community.

At MSK, lunches take place grade by grade, with about 60% of students eating outside each day. The setup inside enables each student to eat in a space that keeps them safe. Students who request or need a specialized eating area are being accommodated. We appreciate the picnic tables that community members are providing to help maintain spacing in our schools. During the school day, most of our classes are taking some time to get their students outside for walks and breaks. As the colder weather arrives or on days when there may be inclement weather, getting outside is very challenging.

At KHS, students eat during their designated lunches. We keep seating charts for each lunch, each day for contact tracing. We currently have one outdoor option with a second on the way under tents and students can also eat in the main cafeteria. We appreciate the picnic tables that community members are providing to help maintain spacing in our schools. This winter, when temperatures get colder, we will open up the alternative gymnasium as another option where students can eat.

19. Question: What are the cleaning procedures for the schools and how often are they cleaned?

Answer: RSU 21 staff members or students are not asked or required to use any cleaning products. “Kid Safe Wipes” are made available for use by students and staff as they so desire to use. These wipes can be used at any time including transitions, following lunch/recess, or when entering or departing their workspace. Students and staff will also be encouraged to use soap, water, and paper towels as a means of advocating for their own comfort level.

The facilities staff will follow “Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting” as recommended by the CDC. For more information, click HERE.

Facilities staff protocols for cleaning surfaces includes:

● Employees have been trained on proper use of cleaning supplies in accordance with manufacturer directions as labeled to ensure safe and effective use of the product. ● We follow the 6 steps for safe and effective disinfectant use in accordance with the EPS. ● Clean surfaces using soap and water.

● Apply disinfectant to kill germs on surfaces.

● Practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces.

○ Surfaces and objects in public places, including door knobs, table tops, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc.

● We are using recommended EPA-registered household disinfectants

● The primary cleaning products used by facilities staff in response to COVID 19 are: ○ Crew Non-Acid Disinfectant Cleaner EPA REG. NO: 10324-85-70627 MSDS: ○ Clorox 360 Disinfecting Spray EPA REG. NO: 67619-38 MSDS:

○ Virex II 256 One Step Disinfectant Cleaner and Deodorant; Quat Based EPA REG. NO: 70627-24 MSDS:

20. Question: What are the rules for when a school must be closed? And, going to remote learning? Are these local rules or do they come from a state agency (DOE, CDC)?

Answer: RSU 21 has a COVID Comprehensive Response Plan for Instruction with six tracks--Tracks A through Track F. The information is listed below for the community’s review and understanding.

1. Track A: In-Person Learning for all students

2. Track B: Hybrid Learning (In-Person/Remote combination)

3. Track C: Remote Learning (No in-person attendance)

4. Track D: Snow Day Learning

5. Track E: IEP and 504 Approved Learning Plans

6. Track F: Individual Student Quarantine Learning

● PreK-Grade 5 Track F Individualized Quarantine Learning Plan

● Grade 6 - 12 Track F Individualized Quarantine Learning Plan

21. Question: Has Maine CDC given direction on how schools mitigate impact of community events taking place? Examples: Arundel Heritage Day 9/18 and Prelude 12/3

Answer: Neither Maine CDC or Maine DOE has provided directions on how schools mitigate impact of community events taking place.

22. Question: Has MDOE or CDC developed an instructional plan for the benefits and availability of Covid-19 vaccination for parents of children ages 5-11? Have RSU 21 nurses developed a plan for dissemination of this information?

Answer: Neither MDOE or CDE has developed an instructional plan for parents of children who are 5-11.

23. Question: How often do our representatives meet with the Maine CDC? Do we have an opportunity to share information from boots on the ground? An example- RSU 21 parents have been impacted by local doctors and or staff sharing inaccurate information regarding the updated quarantine protocols.

Answer: Central Office leaders and/or administrators meet and consult with representatives of Maine CDC as needed for the purpose of planning and clarification of SOP guidelines.

24. Question: What are the Associations doing to increase vaccination rates of their members, member families, and community? How much money have the associations spent and what programs or communications have they done to help reduce the risk of community transmissions coming into schools and putting Staff and students at increased risk? Can we hear from the leadership of each Association?

Answer: We have regularly scheduled meetings with KAKEA and will pose these questions for their response. We will also invite all association presidents to a SB meeting to respond to COVID related questions.

25. Question: As I understand it, the overwhelming majority of Covid outbreak cases in our schools are based on community transmission not in school transmission. Therefore, what are our community leaders doing to help promote increased vaccination rates, provide testing and vaccination centers, and other programs.Can we hear from each of the Town managers and other Community leaders? Specifically, what’s your budget, how much money they spent, and what are the programs they’re doing to help us keep everyone safe in our schools and in our communities?

Answer: As of the week of September 15th, the Town Managers and I have established regularly scheduled meetings. At an upcoming meeting, I will have an opportunity to discuss this question with them in support of community spread reduction.

26. Question: I am confused about the notices I am seeing about a Kennebunk High School Homecoming Dance in Lyman? Why isn’t this being held at the school? If it is not a school sponsored event, then why are organizers advertising it like it is? This is misleading and confusing to myself as a parent and to students. Can whoever is responsible for this please explain?

Answer: RSU 21 is not sponsoring a Homecoming Dance due to the rise in COVID cases and close contacts in our schools and community.

27. Question: With the outbreaks in our school and Covid surgeon, I wanted to get a COVID test this week. There are no same-day Covid tests available at any provider in our three towns. That is unacceptable. I had to drive to Laconia New Hampshire simply to get a PCR test. What are the schools and more importantly what are our community leaders doing to ensure the availability of testing centers and vaccination centers.

Answer: Last year, RSU 21 hosted vaccination clinics at KHS and MSK. As of the week of September 15th, the Town Managers and I have established regularly scheduled meetings. At an upcoming meeting, I will have an opportunity to discuss this question with them in support of community/school vaccination and testing centers.

28. Question: Are Central Office staff required to wear masks while in the office? If so, what is the expectation if not all individuals are following protocol?

Answer: The expectation for all employees is to wear masks while in the office.

RSU 21 Covid-19 Staff Vaccination Rates

Employee Group	Percent Vaccinated
Kennebunk High School	96%
Middle School of the Kennebunks	93%
Kennebunk Elementary School	89%
Sea Road School	94%
Mildred L. Day School	85%
Kennebunkport Consolidated School	85%
AVERAGE FOR ALL 6 SCHOOLS	92%
Central Office and Other Employees	82%
AVERAGE FOR ALL RSU 21 EMPLOYEES	90%

Search

Pool Testing Consent Information

Please fill out the consent form with permission to perform a COVID-19 pooled test for each of your students per school. This process should take no more than 5 minutes to complete using a computer or a smartphone.

Click on the appropriate link to access the online consent form.

Minors (<18 years of Age) (https://testcenter.concentricbyginkgo.com/minor-consent)

Adults (> 18 years of Age) https://testcenter.concentricbyginkgo.com/invite-by-code

Please note: Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days should wait to complete this form until they are 90 day past the positive test date. Please notify your school nurse.
Enter the access code below for your school:

Kennebunk Elementary School Access Code - VD61ZN

Kennebunkport Consolidated School Access Code - NJKFVG

Mildred L. Day School Access Code - C23BG8

Sea Road School Access Code - 0R2MF0

Middle School of the Kennebunks Access Code - 4BGUJT

Kennebunk High School Access Code - SF4J5Z
Enter your child’s information, and you’re done!