CLAY COUNTY – Arriving back from the winter break, teachers and students are now in their third school year and fifth school semester impacted by COVID-19.

At last week’s board meeting, Superintendent David Broskie reflected on the district’s safety procedures and how far it has come.

“I was hoping we would come back in a different situation than where we are. I’m very proud of the decision-making of the board applied to Covid policy,” Broskie said. “I think we’ve applied a rational, common-sense approach to attempt to get back to some form of normal in our school system.”

He said the Omicron variant is spreading fast and is a serious concern. Broskie said the district has to set reasonable expectations and be upfront with its stakeholders, so he wouldn’t be surprised if students and staff test positive.

It’s already been close to two years of the pandemic, he said, but the district has to move forward.

“I’m sick of giving the reminders. I quite frankly can’t wait for the day where this isn’t a part of what we do on a daily basis,” he said. “Until that time happens, we need to continue to provide calm, rational decision-making relative to this.”

In addition, the district is continuing to use isolation rooms for Covid exposures, seating charts, recommending face coverings indoors and spraying classrooms and common areas to mitigate the virus.

According to district protocol, a person testing positive can return to school with a negative test, with a doctor’s note or a 10-day quarantine after symptoms are over. Teachers, staff and students are urged not to come to school if they are awaiting test results, have tested positive or have been exposed to someone exhibiting symptoms at home.

“The state of Florida is looking at that and it’s always fluid when it comes to these rules,” Broskie said.