The Board of Education, at a special meeting on Monday, Oct. 18, unanimously voted to make barrier face masks optional for high school students (grades 9-12) effective Wednesday, Oct. 20.

Barrier face masks are still required for staff and students at elementary and middle schools.

Due to federal regulations, barrier face masks are still required for high school students and staff on school buses and district vehicles.

The Board made the decision to make masks optional at the high school level in light of declining community spread of COVID-19, declining spread among students, and the high rate of vaccinations among high school-aged students and adults. In an effort to respond to potential increases in COVID-19 cases, the Board voted to add metrics for when barrier face masks would be reinstated for high school students and staff.

High School Metrics for Barrier Face Masks
Masks will remain optional if the weekly percentage of recommended quarantines and isolations do not exceed four percent (4%) of a high school’s student enrollment. 

If the percentage of recommended quarantines and isolations is greater than four percent (4%), barrier face masks will be required as they are in other USD 232 buildings for at least two weeks and the percentage of recommended quarantines and isolations is less than two percent (2%) for two consecutive weeks.

Test to Stay & Learn
In an effort to provide an option to help keep all students and staff in school, the district will provide voluntary COVID-19 testing through a plan known as Test to Stay and Learn.

The Test to Stay and Learn plan provides free, daily testing for all students (PreK-12) and staff who are identified as close contacts by the county health department. A close contact is someone who, through proximity and duration, was close to a person who tested positive for COVID-19.

Daily testing will take place during the recommended quarantine period with the goal of keeping students in school.

Voluntary participation in this testing strategy effectively reduces or eliminates the need for close contacts to miss in-person school after exposure to a positive case.

> Learn more about Test to Stay & Learn

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Update: The Board of Education voted on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, to not exclude individuals identified as close contacts for outdoor COVID-19 exposures, if the only exposure is outdoors.

The Board of Education voted at its meeting on Monday, August 2, to require masks indoors for all students and staff for the start of the new school year.

Board members adopted the mask requirement in response to concerns about the spread of COVID-19 and maintaining in-person learning.

Masks indoors will be required for students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12, as well as visitors. Masks indoors will be required for all staff when students are present.  

Exceptions to wearing barrier masks would be made in accordance with the same protocols adopted by the Board of Education during the previous school year.  The barrier mask exceptions include persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a face covering. (link to mask exemption form)

Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, or communicating with a person who is deaf or hard of hearing, would be exempt where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.

Barrier masks are not required while eating or drinking.

Students participating in indoor school sponsored sports and activities may remove their face coverings when actively participating in the sport/activity.

Note: The Board of Commissioners of Johnson County on August 5, issued a Public Health Order requiring all early childhood and K-8 students, staff and visitors to wear masks inside school buildings. The USD 232 Board of Education is requiring masks to also include all secondary schools, staff and visitors.

The Board of Education also voted to finalize the communicable disease mitigation protocols as follows:

Masks – Barrier face mask requirements on school buses should match classroom mask requirements unless there are mask regulations governing school buses that are more restrictive.

Barrier face masks may be required of any staff member while working in close proximity to students with certain medical needs.

Exclusions – Individuals who are considered contagious or are presumed to be contagious with a communicable disease will be excluded from school.

The latest information from Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) does not recommend the quarantine of an individual who is a close contact of a person infected with COVID-19 if there is universal mask wearing.

Individuals who are exposed to COVID-19 and are recommended for quarantine by JCDHE will be excluded from school. Individuals who are fully vaccinated or have a documented case of COVID-19 in the last six (6) months, are not considered exposed and will not be excluded from school unless they are symptomatic. (link to JCDHE School Guidance) 

Testing – The school district, through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, will offer voluntary COVID-19 testing for symptomatic individuals, screening of non-symptomatic individuals, and for individuals who are exposed to COVID-19.

Hand Hygiene – Individuals are encouraged to wash hands or use hand sanitizer frequently. Hands should be washed or sanitized before and after using shared supplies.

Health Screenings – Individuals are encouraged to self-monitor for symptoms of illness. Individuals who are ill should stay home.

Vaccinations – USD 232 will continue to collect vaccination information from families in accordance with district policy and state law. If families provide verification of voluntary COVID-19 vaccination, the information will be recorded. Individuals will not be excluded based solely on COVID-19 vaccination status. As with all communicable diseases, vaccination information may be used when making exclusion decisions. The district will, at times, partner with outside agencies to provide space for voluntary vaccination clinics.

Rentals – Groups that rent USD 232 facilities will be expected to follow relevant state, county and local mitigation protocols. Capacity guidelines may be limited depending on the activity.

Remote Learning – The Board of Education under state regulations can only authorize forty hours of remote learning in a school year. The Kansas State Board of Education can authorize up to 240 hours in some circumstances. The Board of Education may approve remote learning for an individual student on a student-by-student basis for extenuating circumstances.

Voluntary Testing Program – The State of Kansas is offering a voluntary testing program for school districts with the purpose of helping keep staff and students in the classroom throughout the school year. The program is designed to guard against COVID-19 outbreaks and manage positive cases to help keep everyone in-person all year long. The district would have one staff member who would coordinate the onsite program in conjunction with KDHE and MAWD, all funded by the state. Parental consent is required for student participation.

Voluntary Symptomatic Testing – MAWD, in coordination with the state’s testing program, will offer individualized PCR testing of nasal or saliva specimens for persons who are presenting symptoms of COVID-19. The free onsite test would be voluntary and provide convenience for staff and students without having to schedule an offsite test to determine if they have the virus. PCR testing is more sensitive than Antigen testing and can identify cases in the early stages of infection prior to transmission occurring.

Voluntary Screening Testing – The screening program would test up to 15-percent of the student/staff population by PCR weekly. MAWD will work with the state and the district to establish an individualized, voluntary testing program to help keep students and staff in the classroom. Specimen collection for registered students would be scheduled around their classes to minimize disruption and would take less than two minutes per student to complete. This program will comply with the state’s reporting and compliance regulations.

Testing after Exposure – Providing access to voluntary testing is important for students and staff who are exposed to a person with COVID-19. Because COVID-19 has overlapping symptoms with many other respiratory viruses, differentiation between COVID-19 and other viruses will be more difficult if voluntary testing is not available. Access to testing after SARS-COV-2 exposure is helpful so that students and staff can stay in or return to in-person school as quickly as possible. MAWD will help implement county guidelines for post exposure testing.

The voluntary program includes test materials, trained test personnel, specimen transport and processing, safe disposal of medical waste, and fully compliant results reporting. Turnaround time for test results is 24-48 hours, with most results available in less than 24 hours.

Symptomatic Influenza – The testing program may be able to accommodate free voluntary onsite flu tests for symptomatic individuals. MAWD has access to the necessary materials that would test for flu and COVID-19. This would be an added convenience for staff and students.

Administrative Guidelines for Mitigation that were discussed at the August 2 Board of Education meeting will be reviewed and revised based on the change in masking requirements.

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PART I.

Describe how the district will maintain the health and safety of students, educators, and other staff and the extent to which it has adopted policies, and a description of any such policies, on each of the following safety recommendations established by the CDC:

(A) Universal and correct wearing of masks.

The wearing of barrier face masks is encouraged while inside USD 232 buildings.  When outdoors, barrier face masks are optional.  Barrier face masks are strongly encouraged for anyone who is not fully vaccinated whenever appropriate distancing cannot be maintained.  Barrier face masks may be required in some indoor settings.

(B) Modifying facilities to allow for physical distancing (g.,use of cohorts/podding).

Appropriate distancing is encouraged when possible.  If, due to the activity or venue, appropriate distancing on a regular basis cannot be maintained, barrier face masks may be required.  This will be especially true if it is known that the participants are not vaccinated.

(C) Handwashing and respiratory etiquette.

Individuals are encouraged to wash hands or use hand sanitizer frequently.  Hands should be washed or sanitized before and after using shared supplies.  Covering coughs and sneezes is always recommended.

(D) Cleaning and maintaining healthy facilities, including improving ventilation.

In spaces that are regularly occupied, enhanced cleaning and maintenance protocols will continue to be used. Increased outdoor air will continue to be used as a mitigation strategy.  The activities taking place in each space in a building will help determine the amount of fresh outside air utilized.

(E) Contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine, in collaboration with the State, local, territorial, or Tribal health departments.

Contact tracing will be done by, and in cooperation with, the the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment.

(F) Diagnostic and screening testing.

Testing of symptomatic students may be available at school.  Diagnostic and screening testing is available throughout the community.

(G) Efforts to provide vaccinations to school communities.

USD 232 is partnering with University of Kansas Health System and the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment to provide facilities for vaccination clinics.

(H) Appropriate accommodations for children with disabilities with respect to health and safety policies.

Specific student health needs are addressed through a student health plan and/or their Individual Education Plan.

(I) Coordination with State and local health officials.

USD 232 officials meet regularly with the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment.

Part II.

Describe how the district will ensure continuity of services, including but not limited to:

(A) services to address students' academic needs

USD 232 has expanded summer offerings for 2021 and will continue to evaluate student needs throughout the 2021-22 school year.

(B) students' and staff social, emotional, mental health

USD 232 has incorporated social emotional learning and interventions as part of its Multi-Tiered System of Supports for students.  Staff members have access to an employee assistance program, Life Matters. Social-emotional and mental health needs of student and staff will continue to be evaluated throughout the 2021-22 school year.

(C) other needs, which may include student health and food services.

USD 232 has continued the expanded summer meals service for 2021.  All students will be eligible for free meals during the 2021-22 school year.  The district is also increasing the availability of nurses to accommodate student health needs.

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USD 232 Families and Staff: 

The Board of Education on Monday evening, June 7, 2021, took action to rescind the district’s Coming Back Together Plan and policies regarding COVID-19 mitigation and adopted new Summer Mitigation Protocols. 

The mask requirement that had been in place for the 2020-21 school year is now lifted. The wearing of barrier face masks is encouraged while inside USD 232 buildings.  When outdoors, barrier face masks are optional.  Barrier face masks are strongly encouraged for anyone who is not fully vaccinated whenever appropriate distancing cannot be maintained.  Barrier face masks may be required in some indoor settings; specific mask requirements will be communicated to participants, if needed. 

The new protocols are for summer programs and activities and made possible by a decrease in community case rates of COVID-19, as well as an increase in the number of individuals receiving vaccines.  

Looking to the new school year that begins in August, the Board of Education will discuss mitigation protocols at its regularly scheduled meeting in July. While it is unlikely that universal mask wearing will be required, there are many other mitigation protocols that need to be considered. Thank you for your patience and continued support as we work towards the beginning of another great school year. 

Summer COVID-19 Mitigation Protocols 

Social Distancing – Appropriate distancing is encouraged when possible.  If, due to the activity or venue, appropriate distancing on a regular basis cannot be maintained, barrier face masks may be required.  This will be especially true if it is known that the participants are not vaccinated. 

Masks - The wearing of barrier face masks is encouraged while inside USD 232 buildings.  When outdoors, barrier face masks are optional.  Barrier face masks are strongly encouraged for anyone who is not fully vaccinated whenever appropriate distancing cannot be maintained.  Barrier face masks may be required in some indoor settings. 

Hand Hygiene – Individuals are encouraged to wash hands or use hand sanitizer frequently.  Hands should be washed or sanitized before and after using shared supplies. 

Health Screenings – Individuals are encouraged to self-monitor for symptoms of any illness.  Individuals who are ill should stay home. 

Exclusions – The most recent guidance from Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) will be used for exclusion of individuals or groups recommended for quarantine and isolation. 

Notifications - Parents and employees will continue to be notified if they or their children have been exposed (low, moderate or high-risk exposure). 

Cleaning and Sanitation – In spaces that are regularly occupied, enhanced cleaning and maintenance protocols will continue to be used. 

Ventilation – Increased outdoor air will continue to be used as a mitigation strategy.  The activities taking place in each space in a building will help determine the amount of fresh, outside air utilized. 

Rentals – Groups that rent USD 232 facilities will be expected to follow relevant state, county and local mitigation protocols.  Capacity guidelines may be limited depending on the activity. 

Because there is the possibility of a COVID-19 outbreak within our school community, we must all be prepared to adapt to any number of actions to increase preventative measures in response to changing circumstances throughout the summer. 

USD 232 Administration 

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