updated 8/13/21
PART I.
The district will maintain the health and safety of all students, staff, and visitors which it has adopted policies, and a description of any such policies, on each of the following safety recommendations established by the CDC:
Universal and correct wearing of masks
Mask mandates have been removed in District Buildings and on District Property. Any staff, student or Visitor will have the choice as to whether or not they wear a mask. Further guidance from KDHE and the Osage County Health Department will be taken into consideration.
Federal Law requires all persons to wear a Mask or Face Covering while riding on School Busses and/or any other school vehicle. This requirement applies to all route busses, transfer busses and athletic/activity buses.
Order under Section 361 of The Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.264) and 42 Code of Federal Regulations 70.2, 71.71.31 (b), 71.32 (b).
At any point in time during the school year we may adopt reasonable safety measures to protect the safety of district personnel, students, and visitors during school-related activities if needed. Reasonable safety measures may include, but may not be limited to, cleaning and sanitization plans, use of physical safeguards and barriers, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Exceptions to any requirements may be granted as required by law, state, county, and/or local health officials, and on a case-by-case basis. The district will continue to monitor national, state, and local government and health agency mandates, guidance, and recommendations as well.
If there are changes in policy those will be communicated to all stakeholders. The district will train and prepare stakeholders for any new policies that may be made during the school year.
Modifying facilities to allow for physical distancing and temperature checks (e.g., use of cohorts/podding)
Physical distancing and temperature requirements will not be mandated at this time. Further guidance from KDHE and the Osage County Health Department will be taken under advisement.
Handwashing and respiratory etiquette
Handwashing and respiratory etiquette will continue to be taught to students with emphasis and practice protocols rehearsed more frequently in the primary grade levels. Signage will continue to be posted throughout our buildings as reminders of handwashing and respiratory etiquette. In addition, hand sanitizing stations and liquids will continue to be made available for use in all classrooms.
Cleaning and maintaining healthy facilities, including improving ventilation
Custodial staff will continue to follow specific cleaning protocols and procedures. The district will continue to consider assignments/reassignments to applicable shifts in order to continually clean high traffic and high contact surfaces. The district will continue to use cleaning solutions that are rated to eliminate the COVID-19 virus. HVAC systems are in the process of being evaluated for update and improvements.
Contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine, in collaboration with the State, local, territorial, or Tribal health departments.
The district nursing staff and administration will conduct all contact tracing and complete documentation as needed throughout the school year. Each building administration and nursing staff will contact individuals who have been in close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19. The district recommends that those individuals follow current quarantine/self-isolation guidelines and recommendations. Local County Health Department Guidelines will be followed in regards to contact tracing, isolation and quarantine.
Diagnostic and screening testing
Students, staff, and community members can access COVID-19 diagnostic or screening tests through a variety of community partners. School nurses and health support staff will continue to monitor for symptoms, trends, clusters, and request that students and staff seek medical services as appropriate. The district will have rapid testing at the nursing stations in each building if students/families wish to be tested at school. Please review the following protocols:
District health protocols for fever/vomiting are still in effect.
If students or staff members have symptoms of COVID-19 according to KDHE, CDC, and county health guidelines, the following protocols will be in effect for attendance at school.
For those 12 years or older who are fully vaccinated, the following COVID -19 guidelines do not apply.
Positive COVID individuals will remain out of school until they fulfill their isolation as instructed by the Osage County Health Department and/or their medical provider.
The information of the identified close contacts will be given to the Osage County Health Department and they will notify them with official quarantine guidelines. Individuals advised to quarantine based on CDC recommendations due to being identified as a close contact to a positive COVID case would have the following options listed below.
- Close contacts that live in the same household as a positive case would be sent home until the positive case is out of isolation (10 days) and then serve a quarantine period as directed by the County Health Department. They will have the option to quarantine for 10 days at home or follow the modified quarantine.
- Close contacts that are unvaccinated that do NOT live in the same household as the positive COVID individual would have the option to quarantine for 10 days at home or follow the modified quarantine.
Modified Quarantine: Individuals identified as a close contact may quarantine at school with a mask required until the quarantine expires following the 10th day from their last exposure. With parent/guardian consent, after the 5th day of quarantine the individual may have a COVID PCR test completed.
Negative results will allow the individual to remove the mask after day 7. A positive COVID test result will result in the parent/guardian being notified, and the individual will be sent home to isolate as instructed by the Osage County Health Department and/or their medical provider. If a test is not completed they will be required to wear the mask for the full 10 days. Quarantined individuals will do a daily temperature check and symptom check with the nurse or designated individual for the full 10 days.
- Close contacts that live in the same household as a positive case would be sent home until the positive case is out of isolation (10 days) and then serve a quarantine period as directed by the County Health Department. They will have the option to quarantine for 10 days at home or follow the modified quarantine.
Efforts to provide vaccinations to school communities
School staff has been provided with vaccination opportunities. Local agencies and pharmacies are making vaccinations available to students. The District will not refuse, withhold from, or deny a person any services, goods, facilities, advantages, privileges, licensing, educational opportunities, health care access, or employment opportunities based on the person's COVID-19 vaccination status.
Appropriate accommodations for children with disabilities with respect to health and safety policies
The district will provide reasonable, necessary, and appropriate accommodations to its policies and practices for students with disabilities as determined by individual student needs and in accordance with an individual’s documented accommodations and/or individualized education plan (IEP). Parents or guardians of students requiring accommodations should contact the applicable building administrator(s) to request information on plans for students with disabilities
Coordination with State and local health officials
Applicable district personnel currently participate, and will continue to participate, with our local county health department and/or agencies on a frequent basis to determine next steps as needed.
Part II.
The district will ensure continuity of services, including but not limited to:
Services to address students' academic needs
The district has implemented a summer learning program to assist students with academic recovery. The district plans to continue full time in-person instruction beginning the fall of 2021. Additional instructional personnel have been added or reassigned where possible to implement further academic recovery efforts in core curriculum areas. Where possible, specialists, para-educators, and educational consultants will be available and utilized during the instructional day, on professional development days, and/or during before and after school programs throughout the year to support students.
Students' and staff social, emotional, mental health
The district has K-12 staff to monitor and address the social and emotional learning needs of our students. We will continue to partner our district social worker, counselors, teachers, administrators, and local mental health services with the goal of helping students and families overcome obstacles with connecting to school. Staff social and emotional wellness and mental health are also top priorities for the district as we move into the new school year. Training, support, and collaboration will be put in place to ensure our staff have resources they need to be successful.
Other needs, which may include student health and food services
All students will be provided free meals throughout the 2021-2022 school year. Additional and reasonable services and resources that support student success will be met with the partnership from all stakeholders
USD 434 District plans for Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services
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