• As we begin the 2022-23 school year, we want to provide updated information about the health protocols we will utilize in our district. Throughout the past 2 years, our goal has remained the same: We are maximizing in-person learning while keeping our students and staff as safe as possible. We appreciate understanding of the need to remain flexible. Please note, consistent with policy and relevant Missouri state law, the superintendent and the Board of Education have the authority to issue health-related mandates. This includes requiring masks when deemed appropriate.

    To start the 2022-23 school year for PK-12:

    • Masks will be optional for all students, staff and visitors to Kirkwood schools. We will not utilize building-level thresholds to determine if students, staff and visitors must wear masks. We welcome any individual who wishes to wear a mask to do so.

    • We will no longer publish a dashboard specific to COVID cases of students and staff. Individuals who want to follow COVID trends in the community can utilize the St. Louis County Department of Health website, which includes local data by zip code.

    • We will no longer provide classroom notification for individual cases. We will closely monitor the health and wellness of our students and staff and will communicate proactively about any trends or concerns. Specifically, the district will monitor daily attendance rates at each of our schools. If a daily attendance rate drops below 90% for a single day in a specific school, parents of students in that building will be notified prior to the next day of school that they may want to consider sending their student to school with a mask (in this case masks will be recommended, but not required).

    • Individuals who are sick or having any symptoms of illness are strongly advised to stay home and consider consulting with their healthcare provider on their healthcare needs. Any absences should be reported to the school office.

    • Consistent with Board of Education policy EBB: Communicable Diseases, any individual who is sick with a communicable illness should isolate at home until they are no longer contagious. For cases of COVID-19, we will follow CDC guidance, which states individuals can end isolation after five full days if they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and other symptoms have significantly improved. Students or staff who were diagnosed as positive for COVID will be required to wear a well-fitting mask for 5 additional days (day 6 through day 10).

    • We will continue to encourage hand washing and/or the use of hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer will remain available in every classroom and in common and high traffic areas throughout our schools.

    • We will work directly with staff and families to assist with individual health and medical needs.

    • We continue to encourage all staff and eligible students to talk to their healthcare provider about getting vaccinated. Children under six months are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. You can find information about where to access the vaccine here. Please note, the COVID vaccine is not required by the Kirkwood School District or Missouri School Immunization Requirements.

    • As supplies are available, we will continue to provide rapid testing in our schools with the approval of a parent or guardian.