FCPS: Students will be safe in school despite Delta COVID variant

Masks will be required in schools, except when students are eating lunch and playing outdoors. [FCPS]

Fairfax County Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand is confident schools will be safe for in-person learning, despite the surge of the Delta COVID variant. 

The 2021-22 school year starts Monday, Aug. 23. 

At a town hall session Aug. 16, Brabrand said Fairfax County Public Schools’ decision to provide in-person learning five days a week is in line with the recommendations of national and state health officials. In-person instruction is critical to meet students’ social and academic needs, he said.  

COVID transmission in schools has been “very, very low” even though there were high rates of transmission within the community, Brabrand said, and that trend is expected to continue. 

Nevertheless, FCPS is prepared to revert to virtual instruction if needed. 

Vaccines for young children

Beginning sometime this fall, possibly in September, COVID vaccines are expected to be approved for children age 5 and up, said Dr. Benjamin Schwartz, director of epidemiology at the Fairfax County Health Department.

When that happens, FCPS will partner with the Health Department and a third-party provider to offer vaccine clinics at elementary schools.    

Related story: As Delta COVID variant surges, masks required in Fairfax County facilities

FCPS is not currently imposing a vaccination mandate for employees, Brabrand said. However, the Board of Supervisors asked County Executive Bryan Hill to look into whether vaccines should be required for county employees. Depending on Hill’s recommendation, FCPS might consider a similar policy. 

Brabrand notes the two teacher unions active in FCPS favor a vaccination mandate for school staff. 

More than 77 percent of Fairfax County residents age 12 and older have had at least one vaccine dose. Over 70 percent of adults and over 65 percent of youths age 12-17 are fully vaccinated. 

COVID cases in Fairfax County began declining six months ago – there were fewer than 10 new cases a day in the early summer – then began climbing in July, Schwartz said. More than 90 percent of COVID cases are now due to the Delta variant. 

Vaccination is the most effective intervention in preventing COVID, including the Delta variant, Schwartz said. “This is largely a pandemic of the unvaccinated.” 

Masks required 

FCPS is following the recommendations of the CDC and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam in requiring masks indoors at school. 

Students will only be allowed to remove their masks in the cafeteria when eating and during outdoor recess. As soon as they’re finished eating, students will be asked to put their masks back on while interacting with their friends, said Michelle Boyd, assistant superintendent for special services. 

Elementary schools will have assigned seating in the cafeteria, and some schools will have tents outdoors for lunch or instruction. 

If parents want their child to wear a mask outdoors, Boyd says they tell their child first, then let the teacher know. 

Virtual instruction

If a whole classroom has to be quarantined, the teacher would temporarily revert to virtual instruction, Boyd said. That includes special education students and students with disabilities.

The same thing would happen if a whole school has to close.

FCPS approved requests for some 400 students to remain virtual due to documented significant medical needs. 

Related story: Third COVID vaccines available for the immuno-compromised

Schools will inform parents if someone tests positive for COVID, she said. If a child has been in direct contact with someone who tests positive, the Health Department will inform the parents.

FCPS is partnering with a third-party provider to screen people who are asymptomatic, focusing on elementary schools Boyd added. Details are expected to be released in the coming days.

Ventilation upgrades

Air filtration systems have been upgraded at all schools where possible, and FCPS purchased HEPA air filters for all other schools, said Jeff Platenberg, assistant superintendent for facilities and transportation. 

“We have a robust, aggressive program” to improve air quality, Platenberg said. Every facility has been inspected and certified by the Well Building Institute.

School buses will be sanitized twice a day, he said, but due to a severe shortage of bus drivers, there will be longer bus rides. There also might be “doublebacks” where buses bring some students to school then double back to the same to pick up other students. 

To recruit more bus drivers, FCPS is increasing the signing bonus to $2,000.