Health and Safety Protocols Update
January 4, 2022
We are looking forward to welcoming students back to our schools tomorrow. As we communicated during the break, due to updated CDC guidance, rising cases in our region, increasing pediatric hospitalizations, and limited availability for testing, we will be requiring masks in all Kirkwood Schools starting with the return from winter break.
We know that increasing cases and new developments in the region have created questions about how we will be handling health and safety protocols in our schools moving forward. See below for updates and reminders on how we are working to ensure our students and staff are as safe as possible while we maximize in-person learning:
Masks Required
Wearing masks while indoors will ensure we can keep the largest number of students in the classroom while maintaining a safe environment for students and staff. All staff and students will be expected to wear masks throughout the day while indoors regardless of vaccination status. Masks are also required on all buses and other forms of public transportation. Social distancing or barriers may be utilized when masks cannot be worn (during snacks, meals, mask breaks). Masks will continue to be optional outdoors, but are encouraged in crowded settings.
Vaccines
Learn about where you can get your COVID-19 vaccine and booster here
KSD is committed to being considerate of students’ and staff members’ privacy related to their individual decisions about getting the vaccine. The Missouri School Immunization Requirements for students do not include the COVID vaccination. As such, KSD will only ask for vaccination status of students or staff if necessary to follow quarantine/isolation protocols.
Visitors in Schools
Planning for Positive Cases
Exposed to COVID-19? Depending on the specifics of the exposure, vaccination status and the assessment of health professionals, students or staff that pose a risk of transmission in school or at school activities may be required to remain at home.
Per Kirkwood School District Board of Education Policy EBB: Students or employees with communicable diseases that pose a risk of transmission in school or at school activities will be managed as required by law and in accordance with guidelines provided by the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and local county or city health departments. Such management may include, but is not limited to, exclusion from school or reassignment as needed for the health and safety of students and staff.
- If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID, they will be required to follow current district protocols* for isolation and exclusion from school.
- If a student or staff member is exhibiting symptoms of COVID, they may be sent home and required to remain at home until they are symptom-free for at least 24 hours.
- If a student or staff member has multiple COVID symptoms, they may be excluded from school for up to 5 days unless an alternative diagnosis can be provided or a negative PCR test can be produced. If either of these criteria are met, this individual may return to school after being symptom-free for 24 hours.
*Based on the most recent CDC guidance, students and staff may return to school five days after a symptom onset or a positive COVID diagnosis if asymptomatic or if symptoms are resolving (no fever for 24-hours without fever reducing medication, no runny nose and no productive cough). Students will need to wear a well-fitting mask at all times, including while participating in extracurricular activities and in between bites and sips while eating or drinking. Student athletes will be required to follow MSHSAA guidelines for sports participation.
Communication
The COVID Dashboard will continue to provide information about positive cases in the District. The dashboard will be available by Jan. 5 and will include cases reported on or after that date. View the dashboard here or by visiting kirkwoodschools.org/coviddashboard
For community data during the break, click here or visit https://data.stlouisco.com/apps/covid-19-cases-by-zip-code-in-stl-county
At the elementary level, families will be notified of a positive case in their student’s classroom. At the secondary level, due to student’s changing classes throughout the day, data on positive cases will be available on the District dashboard and will be listed by building.
Monitoring Data
Kirkwood Early Childhood Center
Kirkwood Early Childhood Center staff and students will continue to follow protocols that have been in place since July 1, 2021. No changes will be made to our protocols at KECC.
Interested in virtual options?
The District has partnered with Launch, a virtual academy that offers students quality online learning options. Launch's online courses are taught by highly qualified Missouri certified teachers. In addition, many courses at KHS are offered online through PeLA, the new Pioneer eLearning Academy.
Kirkwood School District
Email: news@kirkwoodschools.org
Website: kirkwoodschools.org
Location: 11289 Manchester Road, Kirkwood, MO, USA
Phone: 314-213-6100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KirkwoodSchoolDistrict/
Twitter: @kwoodschools