Jefferson R-VII School District COVID-19 Guidelines and Protocols
2021-2022 School Year
**The guidelines and protocols outlined in this document are subject to revision as needed to reflect local, state, and federal guidance.
Board Approved – 05/26/2021
The Jefferson R-VII School District will follow a 48-hour fever-free / medicine-free policy for the 2021-2022 school year.
Jefferson R-VII School District Return to School Document
This document is based on our local leadership decisions, which have been derived from guidelines established by local government and health authorities, based upon current factors and information.
This is a “working document” and is subject to change as new information is obtained and regulations evolve at the local, state and regional levels.
It is important to note that while the District will make every effort to provide a safe and healthy environment for our students and staff, there are inherent risks with participation in group activities. Therefore, the District cannot guarantee that your child will not be exposed to a virus or those who may have been affected. School safety for staff and students will continue to be priority of the District.
Commentary Regarding COVID-19 Guidelines and Protocols
● The COVID-19 guidelines developed and presented below follow all applicable local, state, and federal guidelines and incorporate many best practices advocated by school associations and groups.
● The Jefferson R-VII School District is committed to providing a quality education to all students, while ensuring their safety and well-being.
● Parents/guardians with questions or concerns are asked to contact their building administrator.
General Information for Students and Staff
● Students and staff will be encouraged to wash / sanitize hands during the day.
● Students and staff will participate in temperature checks on an as-needed basis as determined by District Administration.
● Hand sanitizer will be provided at multiple locations throughout buildings.
● When students are physically present on campus, face coverings will be recommended but not required by students and staff throughout the day as long as the district meets specific guidelines provided within this document.
● Drinking fountains will be disabled, except for those with bottle-filling capabilities. ○ Bottled water will be made available to students (if they do not have their own water bottle) and may be refilled throughout the day.
○ Students may bring personal water bottles from home, but bottles must be plastic or metal, and in a clean, sanitary condition.
● Social distancing will be observed to the extent possible by all staff and students.
● Student activities and athletics will be conducted as usual to the extent they are permissible under local, state, and federal guidance.
Jefferson R-VII Guidelines and Protocols:
Jefferson R-VII will recommend (but not require) masks for staff and students for the 2021-2022 school year as long as the infection rate for staff and students in a school building is less than 2.0%.
- Masks will be required on school buses. (This is a federal mandate – Click here for mandate.)
- Jefferson R-VII will encourage vaccination for anyone eligible to receive it.
- Jefferson R-VII will continue to social distance to the greatest extent possible, using 3 feet as the general standard as outlined by the CDC guidance.
- Jefferson R-VII will encourage students and staff who are high risk to wear masks, social distance, and get vaccinated when possible.
- DESE will no longer offer AMI-X days (Virtual Learning days due to COVID-19) for the 2021-2022 school year.
- Jefferson R-VII will no longer offer (8) COVID days to staff effective June 30, 2021.
- Jefferson R-VII will use seating charts in classrooms to assist in contact tracing.
- Jefferson R-VII will use a Risk Level Chart to determine if and when masks will need to be reinstituted.
- Jefferson R-VII will offer full time virtual learning through the MOCAP program only.
- Jefferson R-VII will follow quarantine directions from the Jefferson County Health Department to ensure the safety and health of students and staff.
Exclusion from School
Individuals who are in close contact with a positive case of COVID-19 will be asked to stay home from school and sit out of school-related activities for 10 days unless they meet one of the criteria below. Close contact is described as being within 6 feet of a positive case of COVID-19 for at least fifteen minutes during the infectious period (the two days prior to the onset of symptoms or two days prior to a positive test if asymptomatic).
- The close contact is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and is not displaying symptoms. A copy of the contact’s vaccination card will be requested.
- Both the close contact and the positive case were wearing face coverings throughout contact during the infectious period
- The close contact has recovered from COVID-19 in the past three months and shows no symptoms of COVID-19
Symptoms of COVID-19
- People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. The following are examples of symptoms: o Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
This list does not include all possible symptoms and will be updated as more is learned about COVID-19.
Daily Screening Guidance for Students
We have a culture of working or going to school when one is sick. We must work towards changing that culture and encourage everyone to stay home when they are feeling ill.
The Department of Health and Senior Services and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education advise districts not to implement screening procedures that would force bottlenecks at building entry points, “creating unnecessary situations where students cannot maintain adequate physical distance from one another.”
Therefore, all families are required to self-assess their daily health situation prior to getting on the bus, attending school, or attending/participating in other extracurricular event(s) in order to determine if they are ill or are at risk of exposing others to COVID-19.
If students answer yes to any of the following questions, they should NOT come to school that day. Absences should be reported by calling your child’s building attendance number listed below.
Individuals are advised to contact a healthcare provider if they exhibit symptoms or answered YES to any screening question(s).
District Staff will also be watching for signs and symptoms of illness as students enter the building and classrooms.
The Jefferson R-VII School District will follow a 48-hour fever-free / medicine-free policy for the 2021-2022 school year.
For more information please click here to view the full PDF document.