LINCOLN- This new directed health measure allows teachers and other school staff to continue working if they've been in contact with a positive COVID-19 case as long as they don't develop symptoms. Teachers and other staff will no longer have to self-quarantine after exposed.They will be required to wear face coverings, social distance and self-monitor twice a day for a fever and other symptoms. This measure does not stop teachers from quarantining if they wish to do so.

Teachers and other school personnel are not technically essential workers, instead they are 'critical infrastructure workers' as defined by the Department of Homeland Security. There has been research suggesting that schools are having to quarantine large numbers of their teachers even though they do not end up getting sick.

Maddie Fennell, executive director for the Nebraska State Education Association said the measure has created chaos and is only putting more people at risk to get COVID-19. NSEA plans to produce its own guidelines for what teachers should do in the case that they contract the virus.

School districts have said they will not follow this measure and will instead continue to quarantine teachers in order to protect students and staff. The issue begins when the schools are unable to find substitutes for the infected staff. The substitutes also have not been trained in hybrid teaching with online and in-person learning. LPS is including additional incentives for substitutes such as bonuses and additional compensation because of the extra work involved.

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