Masks Recommended - Feb. 22, 2022

  • Masks will be recommended, but not required, in all KSD schools effective February 22, 2022. If the building COVID-19 positivity rate reaches 1.5% at an individual school, students and staff will be required to wear masks at that school for at least two weeks. We will include daily updates on the number of cases for each school on our dashboard and notify families and staff if a change to masking status is needed.

    March 2, 2022 Update: The CDC removed its requirement that individuals wear masks on buses or vans operated by public or private school systems. As a result, masks will no longer be required on KSD school buses. This practice will mirror the mask-recommended, but not required setting we have in effect in our schools.

    Mask Recommended Learning Environment

    Kirkwood School District will utilize a mask-recommended environment for Kirkwood staff and students in grades PK-12. This new mask-recommended environment will provide choice for individuals if certain criteria are met at each school, including percentage of positive active cases (7-Day Cumulative by Building).

    How it Will Work:

    COVID-19 data will continue to be monitored for each school. Masks will remain recommended in PK-12 schools as long as a building’s weekly percentage of individuals who test positive does not exceed 1.5% of a school’s total school population (students and staff).

    If the percentage of active positive cases (7-Day Cumulative by Building) is greater than 1.5% of a school’s total population (students and staff), masks will be required at school for at least two weeks. In addition, to resume mask-recommended status, a school’s weekly percentage of active positive cases (7-Day Cumulative by Building) must be less than 1.5% after the two-week period. If after the two-week period the school’s weekly percentage of active positive cases is still above 1.5% then masking will continue until the percentage drops below 1.5%.

    Masks may be required in certain situations.

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    Mitigation strategies that will continue include:

    • Physical distancing when possible indoors

    • Frequent hand washing and sanitizing of hands, along with use of sanitizer dispensers in classrooms, hallways, and common areas

    • Cleaning and sanitizing of all surfaces using recommended disinfectant products

    • Continued use of MERV-13 filters in all HVAC units and air refresh cycles exceeding minimum standards as recommended by CDC

    • Use of rapid antigen testing for diagnostic purposes

    • Availability of PCR testing for all students and staff

    • Providing special education services as determined by IEP teams

    • Sending screening information home to parents and following protocols to determine if a symptomatic student should remain at or be sent home

    • Continuing to seek out opportunities for vaccination clinic events for students and staff

    • Providing online options through MOCAP to students who opt to remain virtual