COVID Web Update March Mcminnville School District COVID Web Update March Mcminnville School District

Testing, Cases and Exposures, and FAQs

(Spanish) Beginning Saturday, March 12, McMinnville School District (MSD) will implement the following updates. These changes are based on new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Oregon Department of Education.

The new guidance is based on COVID-19 Community Levels compiled by the CDC, which includes the number of new cases, new hospitalizations and percent of hospital beds occupied by COVID patients. Find out more here.

Beginning Saturday, March 12

  • Masks 

    Masks will be optional for staff and students. The district will continue to support a respectful environment for all students and staff, regardless of their mask wearing choice. 

    Masks will also be optional on school buses.

    Note: Schools will not be able to enforce families’ choices on masking. Please have a conversation with your student(s) about your family’s plan for masking. Schools will be prepared to help students who feel anxiety about the upcoming changes.

  • Cases and Exposures

    MSD will no longer contact trace positive cases or quarantine exposed students or staff.

    Positive cases (listed as “Isolated”) will be updated daily on the MSD COVID Dashboard, which can be found under the COVID-19 button on the district and school websites.

  • Testing

    The “Test to Stay” program will no longer be implemented.

    Weekly testing for asymptomatic students at the Family Resource Center will continue.

    The district will continue to offer testing for symptomatic students. 

  • Symptoms

    Students or staff who display “primary” COVID symptoms may not attend school. Primary symptoms include:

    • Cough
    • Temperature of 100.4 degrees F or higher
    • Chills
    • Shortness of breath
    • Difficulty breathing
    • New loss of taste or smell

    Students or staff who display “non-primary” COVID symptoms should see a health care provider if symptoms persist longer than one day. Provider will determine whether testing is advised. Non-primary symptoms include:

    • Fatigue
    • Muscle or body aches
    • Headache
    • Sore throat
    • Nasal congestion or runny nose
    • Nausea or vomiting*
    • Diarrhea*

    *Students/staff who are vomiting or have diarrhea should always stay home until symptoms have subsided.

Note: these changes are based on Community Levels of Medium or Low. Stricter protocols may be implemented if Community Levels move into High.

Continuing guidance

Students or staff who are sick should stay home until their symptoms have improved and they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.

Students or staff who test positive for COVID, will need to isolate for 5 days.  They may return on day 6 if their symptoms have improved and they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. It is strongly recommended that they wear a mask at school on days 6-10.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have more questions about how this decision came about or what it means? Click here for FAQs.

Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard with us to keep our schools open!