Silver Consolidated Schools (SCS) received information over the weekend from the NM Public Education Department, Secretary of Education Dr. Kurt Steinhaus in reference to updating the current COVID guidelines for K-12 schools. Guidance included making social distancing, testing and quarantine requirements a local decision. As of Wednesday August 17, 2022, all current guidelines in place at Silver Schools will be amended to reflect the following new Silver Consolidated Schools guidelines listed below until further notice for all staff and students.

• Vaccinations- recommended to complete all respective boosters, remain the most effective tool to prevent serious illness. Persons wishing to be vaccinated should make an appointment with their doctor or local pharmacy to receive the vaccine. 
• Surveillance testing is no longer required.
• Any unvaccinated persons with exposures -recommended to wear a mask for 10 days with the option to test on Day 5. School nurses will have test kits available until supplies run out. Exposed individuals NOT showing symptoms will NOT be required to go home.  
• Isolation from school and work is required for only 5 days for Covid-19 positive individuals, followed by 5 days of required mask-wearing when you return to work or school. Before you return, symptoms need to have improved and be fever free for 24hrs without the use of medication.  
• Symptomatic persons should contact their campus nurse to request a Covid-19 Take-Home-Test, or seek testing at the WNMU Watts Hall Curative testing site (free service), or contact their local health care provider to be tested, and stay home. Symptomatic persons may be directed by district nursing staff to go home until symptoms improve.  (Employees will use their sick leave for illness related absences). 
• Masking in general to slow the spread of COVID-19 remains optional for those wishing to wear one; except in positive cases – mask wearing is required from day 6-10.
• COVID Tests are available to all SCS students and staff via the nursing office, for as long as the kits are available. Please contact your student’s school nurse or SCS Director of Nursing, Jeanette Medran at jmedran@silverschools.org  for more information. 

SCS District custodial and maintenance staff will continue to disinfect high touch contact areas daily.  Silver Consolidated Schools continues to provide, service and maintain high efficiency air filtration systems in all buildings.

Silver Consolidated Schools, in partnership with local healthcare providers, will continue to monitor and make adjustments to our response reflective of current conditions. For any additional information please contact Director of Nursing Jeanette Medran at jmedran@silverschools.org, Superintendent William Hawkins at whawkins@silverschools.org, or call Central Office at (575) 956-2000.