Tishomingo County School District COVID-19 and Virtual Learning Policies 2021-2022 - *This document is subject to change as the situation with ...

Tishomingo County School District
 COVID-19 and Virtual Learning Policies
              2021-2022

*This document is subject to change as the situation with COVID-19
                             changes

The Tishomingo County School District (TCSD) has plans to return to a full, normal
school schedule in 2021-2022. Daily protocols will reflect an emphasis on sanitation,
flexibility, and safety as we welcome our students and staff back into our school
buildings.

It is the district’s belief and is proven through extensive educational research – student
learning occurs best in a face-to-face, traditional learning model. It is with that in mind
that the TCSD will not offer full-time virtual learning for students in 2021-2022.
Also, the MHSAA (Mississippi High School Athletics Association) has ruled that distance
learning/virtual students cannot participate in athletics/activities.

The district will return to a normal calendar for the 2021-2022 school year. Please visit
the district website to view this year’s calendar. (www.tcsk12.com)

INSTRUCTIONAL DAY SCHEDULE:
   • Monday - Friday – Regular school days (face-to-face for all students) with regular
     schedule times

TRADITIONAL MODEL – FACE-TO-FACE
  • Students will change classes as normal and attend lunch as normal unless eating
     in classrooms is preferred.
  • Masks/Face shields are highly encouraged by the MSDH indoors. At this time,
     masks are optional for students and staff. Face masks from home will be
     allowed but must meet current dress code policy (specifically as it relates to
     slogans) and must not be inappropriate.
  • Social Distancing – While at school, social distancing of 3 feet (masked) or 6 feet
     (not masked) will be encouraged. There are numerous times throughout the day
     that social distancing will not be possible.
  • Technology will be an important tool for learning during the school day. The
     district will continue to use Google Classroom and Canvas with its iPad initiative.

BUS TRANSPORTATION:
  • All buses will be sanitized in the mornings and afternoons when students leave
     the bus.
  • Hand sanitizer will be provided for use as each student enters the bus.
  • There will be numerous times through the bus ride that social distancing of 3 feet
     (masked) to 6 feet (not masked) will not be possible, even with best efforts.

VISITORS:
   • Visitors are welcome on campus. However, if a visitor has any symptoms of
      illness, he/she should not enter the building.

CLASSROOMS:
  • There will be times throughout class time that social distancing of 3 feet
    (masked) to 6 feet (not masked) will not be feasible.
  • Rooms will be cleaned daily and during the day as needed.
  • Hand sanitizer will be available in each classroom.
  • The district will clean/sanitize rooms daily.

HYGIENE:
  • Students will be encouraged to wash hands during the day and will be taught the
     proper hand-washing hygiene.
  • Other methods of illness prevention will be taught to staff and students.
  • Restrooms will be cleaned throughout the day.

As in all public places, COVID-19 will be present at school at some point in time. The
TCSD has a response plan for the different scenarios surrounding COVID-19. The
TCSD has met with local medical staff/practitioners as well as consulted CDC, MSDH,
and MDE guidelines for COVID-19 response.

STUDENT POSITIVE CASE:
  • When a student tests positive, the school will notify those who were in close,
    direct contact (within 3 feet (masked)- 6 feet (unmasked) for longer than 15
    minutes) that a positive test has occurred.
  • The close contact will be quarantined IF he/she was NOT wearing a mask and
    within 6 feet of the positive person for 15 cumulative minutes or longer.
  • If the close contact was wearing a mask AND not within 3 feet for 15
    cumulative minutes of the positive individual, the close contact does NOT
    have to quarantine. This is a TCSD school board policy (beginning September
    14, 2021).
  • When multiple cases are present in a classroom or in several groups within the
    school, the district will make the decision to close schools as needed for deep
    cleaning and/or for extended time.
  • Students MUST STAY HOME if someone in the household has COVID-19 or is
    sick!

EMPLOYEE POSITIVE CASE:
  • When an employee tests positive, the school will notify those who were in close,
    direct contact (within 3 feet (masked)/6 feet (not masked) for longer than 15
    minutes) that a positive test has occurred. The employee should be tested/
  • Employees MUST STAY HOME if someone in the household has COVID-19 or is
    sick (unless vaccinated or has had COVID within 90 days)!

STUDENTS/EMPLOYEES THAT ARRIVE TO SCHOOL WITH SYMPTOMS/FEVER:
  • When a student or employee arrives on campus with a fever of 100.4 or higher or
    has symptoms consistent with COVID-19, he/she will be immediately taken to the

nurse’s office. The student/employee will be isolated from the general
       population, and additional medical analysis will occur.
   •   Contact tracing will begin and parents of students will be notified.
   •   The student or employee will be required to leave school and begin
       quarantine/seek medical attention.
   •   Students/Employees with a positive test will follow the CDC/MSDH protocol and
       be able to return to school when the following criteria are met:
          o Quarantine 10 days from a positive test, and
          o Fever-free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication, and
          o Improved respiratory symptoms
   •   Symptoms of COVID-19 are as follows:
          o   Fever of 100.4 or over
          o   A cough not attributed to another health condition
          o   A sore throat that cannot be attributed to another health condition
          o   Nasal congestion/runny nose that cannot be attributed to another health
              condition
          o   Body aches
          o   Loss of taste/smell
          o   Diarrhea
          o   Nausea/Vomiting
          o   Sweats/Chills

STUDENTS/STAFF IN QUARANTINE
  • Students/Staff required to quarantine must follow the current CDC/MSDH
    guidelines.
  • Students/Staff in quarantine can return to school under the following conditions:
       o Quarantine can end after 10 days if no symptoms have occurred during
           the entire 10-day period
       o Quarantine can end on day 7 if the person is asymptomatic and has a
           negative molecular or antigen (PCR or Rapid) test collected on day 5 or
           after. Quarantine must be at least 7 days after exposure regardless of a
           negative test.
       o Asymptomatic individuals with a positive rapid COVID test that have a
           NEGATIVE molecular based (PCR) COVID test within 48 hours of the
           rapid positive do not require further exclusion and may return to the school
           setting. This does NOT include antigen tests or antibody tests.
       o Unvaccinated, non-mask wearing, exposed individuals will be required to
           enter quarantine.
       o IF the exposed student was wearing a mask, the exposed student
           does not have to quarantine IF not within 3 feet for longer than 15
           minutes (cumulative)(see the definition of CLOSE CONTACT
           above). This is a TCSD policy (beginning September 14, 2021).
       o Fully vaccinated individuals (2 weeks after the last shot) do not have to
           quarantine if exposed or get tested unless they develop symptoms.
       o Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 (must have
           documentation) within the last 3 months and have recovered do not have
           to quarantine if exposed unless showing symptoms.

VACCINES/QUARANTINE EXEMPTIONS
  • COVID-19 vaccinations are voluntary and not required of staff or students.
  • Students/Staff who have be vaccinated with either a 2-dose vaccine or a 1-dose
     vaccine and have passed the 2-week period after the vaccination do not have to
     quarantine if exposed to a positive case (if symptoms are not present).
  • If a person has had a positive COVID-19 test result with the past 3 months and
     recovered, he/she does not have to quarantine if exposed to a positive case.

DISTANCE/VIRTUAL LEARNING/WEATHER DAYS
   • Due to Mississippi State Board policy requiring synchronous (real-time) virtual
     instruction for 330 minutes daily, the TCSD will not offer a distance/virtual
     learning program at this time.
   • This policy may change in the near future and will be updated if changes affect
     this policy decision.
   • If a student is absent or in quarantine, the parent may ask for work as in times
     past for students to continue learning. Online instruction that is not in real-time is
     an option as well as paper packets if needed. The parent should contact the
     school and/or teacher to ask for work.
   • Virtual learning may be used for weather days/extended closures as needed per
     Mississippi SBE policy.