Despite the recent encouraging data from the district, the 2021-2022 case count among staff and students is already higher than all of last school year’s, likely due in large part to the highly infectious delta variant.
The move follows the Orleans Parish School Board’s recent project to remove names of Confederate figures and white supremacists from school buildings.
The request comes as part of a lawsuit the Dryades YMCA, which runs Singleton Charter School, filed against the school district over the summer.
If districts opt in, the policy would allow close contacts to remain in class without a quarantine. NOLA Public Schools district indicated they will not adopt the policy.
Officials are giving employees more time to report their vaccine status.
Most cases are connected to K-8 schools.
The contract amount was increased from $500,000 approved earlier this year.
The district has hired contractors to complete “environmental clearance” assessments at 20 schools before students are allowed to return.
Many schools required a negative COVID-19 test to return to the classroom.
Some city schools are requiring negative tests before students can come back.
