- Willard Public Schools
- Health Protocols
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Last updated June 22, 2023
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Willard Public Schools' Health Protocols
General Guidelines
The following health protocols (which may also be known as the Continuity of Services Plan (SRCSP)) will be in place for Willard Public Schools during the 2022-2023 school year, or until normal guidelines can be reinstated. These measures will be updated or changed as new information becomes available. These guidelines will be followed to the extent possible. Given the unique circumstances of each school facility, the guidelines might look different across school sites. Decisions will be made by the Board of Education in coordination with health officials.
Our Goal
Our goal is to keep students and staff healthy and to provide a safe learning environment to the best of our ability. This will be a synergistic effort among our students, staff, and families.
Initial Health Protocols
- School operations will be as normal as possible (face-to-face)
- Face coverings are optional. If worn, masks/face coverings should comply with the district dress code requirements.
- Hand washing/hand sanitizer will be available and frequently encouraged
Daily Wellness Check
Please stay home if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- A fever greater than 100
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty Breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or Body Aches
- Chills
- A headache
- A new loss of taste or smell
- A sore throat
- Congestion or a runny nose
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Health Protocols
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Symptomatic & Positive COVID-19 Students & Employees
Symptomatic Students
- If a COVID-19 symptom is indicated by the building secretary the parent/guardians/student will be asked to speak with the school nurse
- Student must be fever free (below 100 degrees without the use of fever-reducing medications) for at least 24 hours before returning to school.
- If a student gets ill at school with COVID-19 related symptoms, the classroom spaces will be sanitized as appropriate.
Positive Students
- We will not send district-wide notifications for positive or presumptive positive cases.
- Building secretaries will ask parents/guardians/students who speak to the office about an illness related absence if the student has COVID-19 related symptoms or has been exposed to a positive case.
- When a parent/guardian/student confirms a positive COVID-19 test, the school nurse will be consulted.
- If a student has been COVID-19 positive, the student must be fever free (below 100 degrees without the use of fever-reducing medications) for at least 24 hours and has no or improving COVID-19 symptoms. We recommend you follow the most current CDC guidelines.
- A student who is positive for COVID-19 will have the opportunity to complete assignments in the same manner as all other absences.
Symptomatic Employees
- Staff members must be fever free (below 100 degrees without the use of fever-reducing medications) for at least 24 hours before returning to school.
- If an employee becomes sick with COVID-19 at work that person will be sent home, and a member of the Custodial Department will clean and disinfect the workspace.
Positive Employees
- COVID-19 will be treated as any other illness, therefore employees will be required to utilize sick leave—remote work will not be an option.
- If an employee has been COVID-19 positive, the employee must be fever free (below 100 degrees without the use of fever-reducing medications) for at least 24 hours and has no or improving COVID-19 symptoms. We recommend you follow the most current CDC guidelines.
Close Contacts & Communications
- The district will no longer be sending district-wide exposure notifications or conducting contact tracing. The district dashboard showing positive COVID-19 cases will also no longer be available.
Athletics & Activities
- Any student who feels ill will be evaluated by an athletic trainer and/or the school nurse.
- Hand sanitizer will be available in athletic facilities.
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Arrival/Dismissal
- Students should NOT be dropped off earlier than necessary before their scheduled start time unless they are attending Tiger Tales.
- Use of the car line for student pick-up or bus is encouraged.
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Breakfast and Lunch
- Hand washing/hand sanitizer will be available before and after lunch.
- Food service workers will follow strict sanitation protocols.
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Classrooms
- Personal water bottles will be encouraged. The district has installed water bottle filling stations.
- Appropriate accommodations will be made for children with disabilities with respect to the health and safety policies as mandated by individual education plans or 504s.
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Cleaning/Hygiene
- Regular disinfecting will occur.
- Hand sanitizer will be available in every classroom and at most exterior doors.
- Students and staff will use hand sanitizer or hand washing frequently.
- The district will use additional equipment and cleaning procedures across the district.
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Plan Approval and Public Feedback Dates
The plan was reviewed and revised as needed monthly for the 2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023 school years with minor changes, and will continue for the 2023-2024 school year.
Safety Plans Were Publicly Addressed At The Following Meetings:
- March 24, 2020 - Approve COVID Resolution Response
- May 21, 2020 - Discussion, FY20 Summer Discovery COVID measures
- June 9, 2020 - Discussion, FY20 Summer Discovery COVID measures
- August 4, 2020 - Discussion, FY21 Re-entry Plan
- August 20, 2020 - Discussion, Contact Tracing-Greene County process
- September 17, 2020 - Discussion, Additional benefits to COVID-19 impacted employees
- December 17, 2020 - Approved COVID-19 Staff Leave Resolution
- August 3, 2021 Study Session - Approved Return to Learn and SRCSP
- December 9, 2021 - Open "emergency session" to restructure and evaluate the district's health protocols and procedures based on the Missouri Attorney General's communication.
- December 14, 2021 - Members of the District's Cabinet, federal programs directors, and social workers all reviewed and contributed to the described health protocols.
- December 16, 2021 - Board of Education meeting - approved updated health protocols.
- January 13, 2022 - Stakeholder survey.
- January 20, 2022 - Board of Education meeting - approved updates after stakeholder survey.
- May 23, 2022 - Reviewed health protocols with members of the District's Cabinet and Director of Health Services.
- May 29, 2022 - Stakeholder Survey.
- July 28, 2022 - Board of Education meeting - approved updated health protocols.
- August 11, 2022 - Reviewed health protocols with members of the District's Cabinet and Director of Health Services.
- August 25, 2022 - Board of Education meeting - approved updated health protocols.
- December 5, 2022 - Stakeholder Survey.
- June 9, 2023 - Stakeholder Survey.
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Social & Emotional Health Resources
Willard Schools provides a wide variety of programs and resources to support the social, emotional and mental health of students. By collaborating with Burrell Behavioral Health, Willard Schools can refer students for on-site counseling and other mental health services. Counselors at each school provide other supports and are accessible to families via the online learning platform or through direct personal contact.
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Translation Services
The Willard Public Schools' website has been created to utilize the built-in translation feature at the top of each webpage. If you need additional translation services, please call your school building.
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Transportation
- Buses will be appropriately disinfected after each use.
- Buses will have hand sanitizer dispensers.
- Bus drivers have been properly trained in health & safety measures.
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Visitors/Volunteers
- Visitors and volunteers are permitted in our buildings. Please check in at the office upon arrival.