District 20 sees sharp rise in quarantines since school year began Monday

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Since the start of the school last week, Academy School District 20 has seen a steady increase of quarantines and isolations.

Last year, the number of quarantines, isolations, and COVID cases primarily rose among the district's staff. This year, D20 says the numbers are rising among the students. 

“In some ways it is harder than it was last year,” said Allison Cortez, a spokesperson for Academy School District 20. "Those 12 and under students can't be vaccinated so that spread of COVID is so much more prevalent in our youth populations than our adult populations right now in the schools."

Since last Monday when the school year began, D20 has seen 262 students in quarantine, 32 students in isolation, and 24 positive COVID-19 cases since the start of the school year.

According to the school district's COVID-19 dashboard, which includes total numbers since July 1, a total of 63 students and staff have tested positive for COVID-19 and a total of 366 isolations and quarantines have taken place throughout the district.  However, while the dashboard provides a solid snapshot of the COVID situation within D20 schools, Cortez says the dashboard contains a margin of error.

When it comes to quarantining, D20 says they are taking their lead from El Paso County Public Health. Cortez says she wants parents to know that decisions pertaining to quarantines are not made "willy-nilly."

"Are you over-quarantining? Are you sending too many kids home? Those are questions we've asked ourselves," said Cortez. "We have a COVID response team they work with the teachers and the principals to make sure we can prove that a close contact did have 15 minutes or more contact (time) with that positive case."

Like last year, D20 believes a number of the spread is occurring outside of the schools at extracurricular activities or when friends interact.

“Our number one goal is to keep our students engaged in in-person learning in our schools. We know that works best, that is our number one goal,” said Cortez. “We need to do everything in our power to keep them in school.” 

Academy School District 20 says they are continuing to follow El Paso County Public Health guidance on their COVID mitigation policies.  

The district encourages students to wear a mask, get vaccinated, be socially distanced, wash hands frequently, and not come into school ill. Cortez says the district keeps the HVAC systems functioning at high levels to bring in fresh air, and hold as many classes outside as possible.

For now, masks remain optional within School District 20. However, Cortez says they have contingency plans in place should the situation worsen.

"We have to remain flexible," said Cortez. "We are reevaluating daily. Things could change, or things could remain the same. We are always open to what else we need to be doing."

While the schools implement a number of mitigation policies, the district is asking parents to encourage similar social distancing and COVID policies outside the classroom.

"Keeping our staff and students in class, and out of quarantines, means everyone must do their part," said Cortez.