Here is a statement from the Union County Board of Education, following today’s special called meeting.

This morning, the Union County Board of Education met, and took the following action:

According to state law, our local health department has taken over primary responsibility of contact tracing and has reduced the length of the quarantine period of asymptomatic individuals, I move that:

• UCPS will continue to follow its legal obligations of reporting positive cases to the local health department and providing relevant information to the local health department;
• UCPS will require students and staff who are symptomatic or who have tested positive for COVID-19 to stay home in accordance with state law;
• UCPS will recognize quarantines, in accordance with state law, of students and staff who are considered close contacts with a COVID-19 positive case.

Based on this motion, UCPS will continue adhering to the quarantine measures directed by the State and local health departments.  However, if a student or staff member has been identified as a close contact to a positive case, they will not need to quarantine for 14 days if they remain asymptomatic, rather their quarantine period will be shortened to 10 days and could be shortened to 7 days if the individual has received a negative antigen or PCR/molecular test on a test taken no earlier than day 5 of quarantine. During the quarantine period, students will not be allowed to come to school. When a student or staff member returns to school after 10 or 7 days, they will need to wear a face covering through the 14^th day.

UCPS will remain mask optional for all students and staff, except for those individuals returning for quarantine as stated above.

Published Sept. 20, 2021