Safe Return to School Plan
Clinton Schools 2021-2022
Welcome Back to School, Cardinals!
Cardinal parents/guardians,
As the district plans for the beginning of the 21-22 school year on August 25th, we have collaborated with our students, staff, parents, and our community healthcare providers. Their input has helped us develop a plan that provides a safe learning environment for our students and staff.
During the development of this plan, our focus was on keeping our students safe while also doing all we can to ensure our schools stay open for in-person instruction. To accomplish this, Clinton Schools will start the 2021-22 school year by requiring all students and staff in grades PK-12 to wear a face covering indoors and on the bus, regardless of vaccination status. This will begin on Monday, August 16th. Even though we are starting the school year with face coverings for all, we will continue to closely monitor COVID-19 data on a daily basis. We will re-evaluate this plan on September 27th, and adjust our mitigation strategies as soon as it is safe to do so.
Regardless of the curveballs we may be thrown this school year, our commitment to your children remains the same. We believe that with your partnership, support, flexibility and patience, together we can make this year another successful one for our Cardinals.
Below you will find the main points of our our Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services plan. The full plan can be found here on our website.
Sincerely,
Destry Brown
Superintendent
Clinton School District
Why Are We Requiring Face Coverings?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated guidance this summer for fully-vaccinated individuals. This was based on new evidence regarding the COVID-19 Delta variant. CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status. This guidance is also supported by our local healthcare agencies.
One of the main reasons we are requiring face coverings is due to new quarantine guidance. If all students and staff wear masks properly, we can significantly reduce learning interruptions due to quarantine.
This new guidance, supported by the CDC, greatly reduces the need for quarantine, even if an individual comes into direct contact with another student or staff member who tests positive for COVID-19. This updated guidance, is outlined in the graphic below.
We know how important it is for our students to learn at school and if we can reduce the need for students to be in quarantine and learn virtually, we want to do this.
Updated CDC Quarantine Guidance
The following scenarios outline close contact with an individual who tests positive for COVID-19, that maintains 3 feet of social distance, and the fully-vaccinated individual is not having symptoms. **Please note that the above guidance could change due to CDC recommendations and/or directions from the local healthcare agency.
Fully vaccinated and properly wearing a face covering
Close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual who is properly wearing a face covering: No quarantine
Close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual who is NOT properly wearing a face covering: No quarantine
Not fully vaccinated, but properly wearing a face covering
Close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual who is properly wearing a face covering: No quarantine
Close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual who is NOT properly wearing a face covering: Quarantine required
Not fully vaccinated, and not wearing a face covering
Close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual who is properly wearing a face covering: Quarantine required
Close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual who is NOT properly wearing a face covering: Quarantine required
HEALTH AND HYGIENE
- Daily self-screenings for staff and students at home before school.
- Students will be given ample opportunities to wash hands/use hand sanitizer throughout the day (arrival at school, class changes, recess, before/after meals, etc)
- Hand sanitizer stations are available in classrooms and throughout the buildings.
- Schools will reinforce best handwashing practices and other health safety precautions, such as the reasons for wearing masks and for social distancing (see page 5). Please teach these at home, as well.
- Sharing of equipment and supplies will be limited, and eliminated if possible. If sharing of equipment is necessary, the equipment is to be sanitized after each use and every evening.
FACE COVERINGS
Face coverings are required of all students and staff.
Face coverings are required on the school bus.
Parents are asked to provide face coverings for their children. The school will have a limited supply, and can provide face coverings if parents are unable to.
Face coverings should be clean, fit properly and adhere to the school dress code.
CLEANING AND SANITIZING
To maximize sanitizing and disinfecting efforts, training of all custodial staff will take place prior to the first day of school.
Regular training for custodial staff for updated procedures and best practices for cleaning and disinfecting will occur.
Increased sanitation of high-touch surfaces.
The District has replaced some of the older heating and air conditioning units to improve the ventilation and air quality as well as adding high quality filters to all units in the District.
SOCIAL DISTANCING
Please remind your children about social distancing practices.
Classroom desks may be spread out using as much room as possible with assigned seating
Social distancing will be in place where appropriate, but we understand that it is not always possible in all situations, such as class changes.
TRANSPORTATION
We encourage parents to transport or walk their children, or for students to ride their bikes to school. These forms of transportation provide the least risk for students from exposure to the virus.
Bus drivers and monitors will self-screen daily for symptoms and will wear a face covering while on the bus.
Face coverings will be required of all students who ride the bus.
The number of students may be reduced on the buses to help with social distancing..
Seats will be assigned to students.
If we need to limit the number of students on each bus, the District will need to run multiple loops. Bus schedules will be provided closer to the start of school.
Buses will be thoroughly sanitized daily.
Windows will be open when weather allows.
Parents must sign their child up for bus transportation using the form found here. Please use this form if your child will ride the bus at any time during the school year.
Students will be able to sign up for one bus in the morning and a different bus in the afternoon. In order to allow for accurate contact tracing, we can no longer accommodate requests for students to ride different buses on different days.
FACILITIES
Students may bring a water bottle to fill at the water bottle filling stations. Parents will need to clean and sanitize water bottles daily.
Hallway lockers at CHS and CMS may be available for use, students may also use backpacks or other bags.
Outside groups will be allowed to use our buildings on a limited basis.
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL
Please only use the designated drop-off and pick-up locations.
Doors will open at each building at the following times
CECC - 7:30 (Head Start), 7:55 (AM and Full Day Classes) and 11:55 (PM Classes)
Henry Elementary-7:30
CIS - 7:30
CMS-7:15
CHS-7:15
Students are asked to remain in vehicles or stay at a distance from the entrance and each other while waiting for the doors to open.
Students will report to the designated location in their building after entering the school. In most buildings, that will be the gymnasium or the commons area.
If eating breakfast at school, students will eat in the cafeteria.
FOOD SERVICES
Breakfast and lunch will be served.
Students may choose to bring their own lunch.
Students will self-serve as appropriate.
VISITORS
Parents, volunteers or visitors will be allowed in the building on a very limited basis provided they are wearing a mask.
IEP/504 parent meetings will occur in-person. These meetings can be held virtually if requested by parents.
COURSE OPTIONS
Students will have traditional course schedules and classes available to them (fine arts, electives and technical school classes will continue to be offered).
Some courses may require added safety measures.
Some elective courses may hold class outside in order to social distance.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The District will implement safety procedures during extracurricular activities.
The participation in these activities will raise your child’s risk of exposure. It is impossible to social distance during most sports activities and wearing face coverings may not be practical.
Fans and family members may attend activities and are encouraged to social distance. Numbers of fans may be limited depending on the venue of the sport or activity. If the event is held inside, fans and family members will be required to wear face coverings.
LATCHKEY PROGRAM
The District will continue to offer the Latchkey program (after school care) at Clinton Early Childhood Center and Henry Elementary. Clinton Intermediate School may be used if needed, depending on the number of students.
Latchkey safety guidelines will match what is required at the building in which your child attends the Latchkey Program.
Clinton School District
Email: alawson@clintoncardinals.org
Website: www.clintoncardinals.org
Location: 701 South 8th Street, Clinton, MO, United States
Phone: 660-885-2237
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Clinton-Schools-257810614245734/?fref=ts
Twitter: @ClintonMoCards