There are no statewide health mandates related to school operations at this time, with the exception of school transportation. The Butler R-V School District will continue to follow local health guidelines and recommended guidelines from governing agencies, such as the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Each building in Butler School district will have the latitude to make decisions that may impact the daily operations of school with regards to things like seating charts, field trips, assemblies, lunch procedures, etc. Butler Schools will focus on both proactive and reactive strategies, as suggested in the Missouri School Guidance document created by the Department of Health and Senior Services and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Proactive Strategies
- Screening – students and staff will continue to screened as necessary
- Physical Distancing – physical distancing of 6 feet will continue to be encouraged at all grade levels during the school day as much as possible
- Masks/Face Coverings – masks/face coverings will continue to be encouraged, but optional for students and staff when physical distancing cannot be achieved
- Hand Washing – frequent hand washing will continue to be encouraged for all students and staff
- Per federal mandate, masks are required on all district transportation
- Community use of facilities must be pre approved
- Visitors will be limited as necessary
Reactive Strategies
- When an Individual Presents Symptoms at School – continue to follow guidelines in place using the school nurse algorithm, including isolation of symptomatic individuals until no longer in the building
- Positive Cases – continue to follow protocol provided by the Bates County Health Center
- Contact Tracing/Investigation – continue to follow protocol provided by the Bates County Health Center
Staff Members Health & Safety Precautions
- Prior to reporting to work daily, employees should self-assess their health and not report to work if they have a temperature more than 100 degrees, feel sick , or have symptoms of COVID-19.
- The district will continue to support vaccination efforts by working with the BCHD and local agencies to provide vaccines for staff that wish to be vaccinated
Protocol for Students or Staff Who Test Positive
- The BCHD will provide official notification to the district of any positive COVID-19 case, and provide guidance on the level of concern, potential for classroom or school closure, and length of closure. The BCHD will be responsible for and conduct contact tracing of individuals who may be at-risk of exposure to the virus, and will be in contact with those individuals regarding recommended next steps.
Student and Staff Illness
- Students and staff who are ill or experiencing COVID-related symptoms should not report to school and should notify the school AND contact their local health provider for additional instructions
- If students or staff become ill once they arrive at school, they will be isolated from others and sent home as soon as possible. Parents should plan to pick up students quickly (preferably within one hour) to avoid prolonged exposure.
- Symptoms of COVID-19 may include: cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, runny nose or congestion, or other flu-like symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Special Needs Students
- Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis for students with special needs (it may not be feasible to meet the individual needs of students outlined in this document)
- Defer to Ms. Stacey Lawson, Director of Special Services
Custodial
- Use of approved disinfectant will be utilized for disinfection of frequently touched surfaces throughout the day
- At least one custodian will be on site during the day while students and staff are present; evening custodians will complete cleaning procedures in all rooms on a daily basis and will sanitize high traffic areas
Closures
- The district will continually monitor COVID-19 cases and work with the BCHD when reviewing the level of localized spread
- IF it is determined by the Butler R-V School District and the BCHD that a specific site or classroom needs to be closed for a specified period of time, students and families will be informed of the closure and students will have access to virtual learning for the time the site is closed
Virtual Education Guidelines & Information
- District policies and MSHSAA guidelines will be followed for all student activities
