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Please direct all health protocol related questions and concerns to healthservices@willardschools.net.
Last updated: December. 9, 2021
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Willard 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)
- Social distancing will be encouraged
- All students have access to masks should they choose to wear them
- Hand washing/hand sanitizer will be available and frequently encouraged
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Willard Schools' Health Protocols
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Action Plan if Confirmed Case
- We will not send district-wide notifications for positive or presumptive positive cases unless a child or staff member needs to be notified of the potential exposure to that positive case. It will be the guardians' choice to exclude their student(s) who have been exposed. The district has a legal obligation not to violate HIPPA guidelines and rules, and will follow those rules and the guidance of our health department in all notifications.
- Guardians of students who tested positive must contact the building nurse prior to students returning to school.
- The district will address and clean all the affected areas using approved cleaning supplies.
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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.
- Students will use hand sanitizer or hand washing upon arrival to classrooms.
- Use of the car line for student pick-up or bus is encouraged.
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Breakfast and Lunch
- Breakfast and lunch were provided free of charge for students during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years due to an extension of grant funding.
- Lunch will be hot meals and eaten in cafeterias with social distancing where feasible.
- Hand washing/hand sanitizer will be available before and after lunch.
- Food service workers will follow strict sanitation protocols.
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Classrooms
- Students will be encouraged to maintain an appropriate distance from each other in the school and taught good hygiene practices.
- Personal water bottles will be encouraged. The district has installed water bottle filling stations.
- Students and staff will be observed for illness prior to starting class or the school day. Those experiencing symptoms will be referred to the nurse.
- 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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Health Protocol Updates - January 12, 2022
- Per CDC guidelines, students who test positive should be excluded from school for five days (from date of test) and are allowed to return on day six of exclusion if their symptoms are improved and there is no fever for 24 hrs. If parents feel it is appropriate, it is encouraged for students to wear masks for five days once they return to school.
- The term quarantine is not being utilized any longer. The term excluded means students are not allowed to come to school.
- Exclusion is now optional for exposed students.
- The district does recommend that students who are exposed at home be excluded from school. However, this is also at the discretion of the parents.
- Should exposed students choose to self-exclude, attendance will not count against them, which is no change to the previous practice. Parents will need to notify the school nurse if they are keeping their student(s) home.
- Staff and students of staff presenting with symptoms will still be able to test at school.
- Due to the national shortage of tests, it is recommended that families reach out to their health care provider to test.
- Connect with your building’s nurse if you have specific questions.
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Health Services
- School nurses will keep students and staff informed of health protocols and best practices.
- If you have medication for your child, please schedule a time with the school nurse to drop it off.
- Parents and students are expected to self-screen at home prior to students entering the building.
- Students or staff demonstrating symptoms will be referred for physician evaluation. Prior to returning to school, consult a school nurse or provide documentation from a physician.
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Plan Approval and Public Feedback Dates
The plan was reviewed and revised as needed monthly for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years with minor changes, and will continue for the 2022-2023 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.
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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
- Based on new CDC guidance, beginning Monday, February 28, 2022, Willard students and staff will no longer be required to wear a mask while on a school bus. Our local county health departments are in agreement with this decision.
- 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
- All visitors/volunteers need to be pre-approved and follow district guidelines.