Tennessee Teachers Can Remain In Classrooms After Exposure To COVID, According to New Policy

Tennessee teachers can now be required to come back to work or remain in the classroom if they have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, according to a new policy.

According to the Tennessean, several school districts across the state have deemed teachers as part of the "critical infrastructure," the designation allows teachers to still come to work if they have either been exposed to the novel coronavirus or are living with someone that has tested positive. To come back to work, teachers must show no symptoms of the virus and are required to wear a mask.

A letter from the Tennessee Department of Health and the Department of Education, notes that "any critical infrastructure designation by a school district is not being adopted pursuant to any State-endorsed framework or authority." The letter also states that while anyone who tests positive for the virus should self-isolate for 10 days, school districts across the state "may adopt policies and choose to exempt certain staff," and designate them as essential employees.

"Districts that opt to implement the CI [critical infrastructure] approach for staff must implement additional measures to mitigate COVID-19 risk," the letter adds.

Additionally, the letter states that if a staff member comes in close contact with someone that has tested positive for COVID-19, they "should be tested on or by day 4 (or as soon as possible) after they were last in close contact to a COVID-19 case."

If the staff member receives a positive test result, they should follow the district's quarantine policies. If they receive a negative test result, they are allowed back to work, but "should retest 3 days later."

During a recent press conference, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said that he supported the decision by school districts adopting their own policies separate from the state.

"The decision is the district's and if they make that decision, then we have given them guidance that we believe they must follow, if they choose to make that decision," Lee said during the press conference.

According to the Tennessee Lookout, Greene, Sullivan, Maury, Hawkins, Bradley and Lincoln counties have voted in favor of deeming teachers and staff as part of the critical infrastructure. In Greene County, school officials said that while they were adopting their own policy, their plan would make an exception for teachers, not requiring them to come to work if someone in their home tests positive.

While speaking to the Lookout, Beth Brown, president of the Tennessee Education Association said that the critical infrastructure plan is "quite alarming."

"We know, one, this virus is not contained," Brown told the Lookout. "We know, two, active case rates are such that it is impossible to avoid. The idea that any district would allow a policy that would require anyone exposed to work is a problem."

Newsweek reached out to the Tennessee Department of Education for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.