The health and safety of our students and staff is paramount to Framingham Public Schools. We have engaged in many risk-mitigating measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our school community.

Framingham Public Schools will monitor DESE/DPH Guidance (updated 8/15/22) for masking, quarantine, and isolation protocols and update as needed.

While it is impossible to eliminate all risk of contracting COVID-19, we can take several steps to try and protect ourselves and our community! In short, practicing a combination of efforts is the  best way to lower the risk of transmitting COVID-19 among staff, students and families. 

• Get Vaccinated and/or Boosted
• Monitor for Symptoms and Get Tested for COVID-19
• Keep Children Home When Sick
• Wash / Sanitize Hands Frequently
• Increase Ventilation and Air Circulation (Standalone air purification units in classrooms, offices and other collaboration spaces)
• Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols
• Get your Flu Shot
• Monitoring school, local community, and statewide positivity rates and collaborating with the city Department of Public Health

As a reminder, masks are only required in all school health offices. However, anyone who wishes to wear a mask may do so at any time. 

All families are expected to assess each of their children every day for the following symptoms before coming to school or getting on the bus:  

• Fever 100 F or 37.7C or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

If the student has any of the above symptoms of COVID-19, they should stay home from school or extra-curricular programs and the family should notify their school nurse, office manager, and their schools before/after-school coordinator (if applicable) that the child will be absent and the reason for the absence.  The school nurse may follow-up with the family regarding the child’s symptoms, and develop a plan for returning to school. 

Please note:

• If you or your children have vague cold-like symptoms, for example, only a sore throat and/or headache and/or congestion, please get tested.
• If your child’s symptoms continue, worsen or they develop an additional COVID symptom, please retest them. Antigen and home tests are most effective when repeated over the course of a couple days.

Framingham Public Schools will utilize Tommy’s Taxi to support families requiring transportation if their child is dismissed from school due to presenting with possible COVID-19 symptoms.

Health & Wellness, in collaboration with Business Operations and Transportation, will review the utilization of Tommy’s Taxi after the first month, to determine if alternate transportation plans would be appropriate or if Tommy’s Taxi should continue to be utilized for this purpose.

1. Framingham Public Schools will track case counts and monitor the number of positive COVID-19 cases reported to school nurses internally, but will not provide a public dashboard as contract tracing is no longer recommended or required by DESE or DPH (DESE/DPH Guidance updated 8/15/22)
2. Framingham Public Schools will continue to monitor local and statewide case counts, in addition to internal positive case monitoring, and will collaborate with the Framingham Department of Public Health, in order to respond to real-time community case changes, as needed.
3. Framingham Public Schools will collaborate with the Framingham Department of Public Health and DESE, as needed, in the event of outbreaks.
4. There is no COVID Call Center. Any questions or concerns should be directed to your school nurse.
5. Framingham Public Schools will not be sending home classroom notifications related to positive cases.