Maryville R-II School District

SAFE RETURN TO SCHOOL
Maryville R-II’s foundational goal is to provide a high quality education. Our priority during
this challenging time is providing in-person school as normally as possible and for as long as
possible while keeping students and staff as safe as possible. Please be aware that the
frameworks in this plan are general and may not address all situations or answer all questions.
In addition, the district reserves the right to make changes as it deems necessary. The District
plan will be continually assessed, evaluated, and appropriately changed in an effort to provide
high quality education in the safest (but least restrictive) environment possible. The District’s
protocols on a safe return to school and continuity of services will be fluid as appropriate for the current environmental factors and guidance from experts and governing bodies such as the Nodaway County Health Department, MO Department of Health and Senior Services,
Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, the Center for Disease Control, and/or the
American Association of Pediatrics.

Knowledge and understanding of this plan and all related others is the responsibility of students, staff, and stakeholders. To reach as many patrons as possible, the district will communicate through a variety of means: email, textcaster, website www.maryville.k12.mo.us, social media @spoofhoundsupt, local media, outdoor electronic signs, etc. It is very important that staff and stakeholders read, listen, etc. to all communications and contact administration with questions. Below are important phone numbers for your convenience:

Central Office 660-562-3255
Middle School 660-562-3244
Bus Barn 660-562-3663
Eugene Field 660-562-3233
High School 660-562-3511
Early Childhood Center 660-562-3915
Northwest Tech 660-562-3022

MITIGATION AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES
A. FACE COVERINGS
The current protocol inside facilities is individual choice for all: staff, students, visitors, etc. If
face coverings become mandated, they will be considered a school supply for students and not
provided by the District except in emergency situations. However, staff members will be
provided with a face covering from the District, but may opt to use their own as long as it fully
covers the nose and mouth. Staff may not utilize face shields as a mandated covering.

B. PHYSICAL DISTANCING
Social distancing is one of the best preventative measures for reducing the spread of COVID-19. While six feet is recommended, even distances of at least three feet have been shown to be effective. Therefore, the District will promote social distancing to the extent possible without substantially altering operating procedures. When social distancing is not possible, the District will implement alternative precautions. Please see the list below for possibilities.

• Assign students to cohorts or small groups and observe social distancing between those
  cohorts & groups. This could apply to classrooms, cafeterias, recesses, practices, buses,
  and other similar settings.
• Assign students to seats in each class with an effort to sit kids near the same students
  throughout the day.
• Rearrange classroom furniture to maximize space.
• Replace work tables with individual desks.
• Utilize outdoor instruction when appropriate.
• Stagger recesses to decrease the number of students on the playground.
• Add additional locations for lunches.
• Restructure entry and dismissal procedures to limit the number of students in areas.
• Encourage one-way traffic and utilize social distancing signage in common areas.
• Encourage virtual meetings.
• Encourage families to transport children instead of using buses.
• Restrict school day visitors to appointments only.
• Limit or eliminate

• • locker access/usage
  • shared supplies & equipment
  • large gatherings and group interactions such as field trips, concerts, athletic
  • events, club meetings, assemblies, etc.
  • facility rental & usage for non-school events.

C. HANDWASHING & RESPIRATORY ETIQUETTE
Students and Staff are encouraged to practice increased personal hygiene regardless of location.
Frequent hand washing and sanitizing will be promoted. Hand sanitizer will be available in
classrooms. Signage promoting healthy practices will be displayed.

D. CLEANING AND MAINTAINING FACILITIES
Custodial staff will increase cleaning and disinfecting protocols, particularly in high traffic areas.
These protocols will remain consistent with CDC guidelines. Please see the list below for
possible protocols.

• Classroom doors will be kept opened to reduce high touch surfaces when possible during
  passing time.
• Drinking fountains may be turned off. Students will be asked to bring their own water
  bottles. (Additional filling stations have been installed throughout the buildings.)
• Staff will frequently sanitize high use points of contact including but not limited to pencil
  sharpeners, drawer handles, keyboards, telephones, door knobs, light switches, handrails,
  etc.

E. CONTACT TRACING
The Nodaway County Health Department will provide guidance on students and staff identified
as close contacts with individuals testing positive for COVID-19. The District will observe and
honor the quarantine/isolation timeframes determined by the Nodaway County Health Department. Staff will be allowed to work as Essential Employees as approved by the Nodaway County Commission when following parameters established by the Nodaway County Health Department:

• Be symptom free
• Wear a mask at all times
• Participate in twice a day temperature checks by the school nurse.

F. DIAGNOSTIC AND SCREENING TESTING
All students and staff must be screened at home prior to leaving for the school day. Screening
shall consist of a scan for Covid-19 symptoms and a temperature check. Covid-19 has a wide
range of symptoms which may generally appear 2-14 days following exposure to the virus. The
following list of symptoms is not all inclusive: temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, cough,
shortness of breath, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, loss of smell/taste, nausea, vomiting.
Students and staff with symptoms or temperatures over 100.4 degrees should stay home for
monitoring and/or medical treatment. Students must be fever free for 24 hours or have medical
clearance prior to returning to school. Individuals who test positive for Covid-19 may not attend
school during their quarantine/isolation time as determined by the county health department
(usually a ten day minimum) and be symptom free for resuming attendance. Awards and
incentives for perfect or good attendance have been eliminated.

Daily Symptom Checklist for Home Screening:
Families must screen students each day prior to school using the following list:

1. Do you have a fever of 100.4 degrees or above? (without Tylenol or other fever reducing medication)
2.  Have you had a fever of 100.4 degrees or above in the last 48 hours? (without Tylenol or other fever reducing medication)
3. Do you have a cough, congestion, runny nose, or sore throat?
4. Do you have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea?
5. Do you have a new headache?
6. In the past two weeks, have you been in close contact (less than 6 feet for 15 minutes) with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, the student or staff member should remain home
for further monitoring and/or medical attention. In the event an individual does show up at
school with symptoms, that individual will be asked to put on a mask and isolate in a designated
area to wait for further instruction from the school nurse. Nurses’ offices will be restricted entry
only with students screened at a service window for medication distribution and minor issues.
Offices will have isolation areas inside. The Nodaway County Health Department will serve as a
resource/site for Covid testing. In addition, families are encouraged to contact their own health
care providers for guidance and referrals related to testing.

G. EFFORTS TO PROVIDE VACCINATIONS
The District will work closely with the Nodaway County Health Department in publicizing
vaccination clinics for students and staff. The District will highly recommend vaccinations for
re-entry, but it will not require them.

H. APPROPRIATE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES
To accommodate children with disabilities in the event of an in-person school closure, the
District will either use a learning management system such as Schoology or a hard copy learning
packet supported by virtual teaching and meetings, emails, and/or phone conferencing. The
District will ensure that students have access to technology, including the provision of internet
and devices as needed. Teachers will maintain communication with families via online support,
phone calls, emails and text messages. Accommodations will be made as necessary or as
mandated by the student’s Individualized Education Plan.

CONTINUITY OF SERVICES
The District has already returned to in-person instruction. However, in the future if due to mass
absenteeism (staff or student) in-person school must close, the District continue providing high quality, accessible instruction for all students and continue to provide for the social, emotional, and mental health needs of staff & students. Instruction will continue to be rigorous, grade level appropriate, and aligned to the Missouri Learning Standards. During a closure, the District will transition to remote instruction with staff reporting to the buildings to lead instruction and conference remotely with students. Schoology will be the electronic learning management system district-wide. Communication, instruction, assignments, and conferencing will run through it to provide a continuity of services. Specific steps to provide “continuity of services” district-wide include the following:

• METHODS OF COMMUNICATION - At all levels, District staff will communicate
  directly with students & families in a multitude of ways including website, email, phone,
  app such Seesaw & Remind, and most importantly through the electronic learning
  management system Schoology. Schoology can be used for direct messaging, chatting,
  and video conferencing. Students receive direct instruction on utilizing all these
  components of Schoology to be prepared & competent. In addition, student handbooks
  will contain general information, central office may send district wide updates/notices via
  email, and information may be communicated via the District’s social media accounts
  and website.
• MATERIALS, INSTRUCTION, & ASSIGNMENTS - Instruction will introduce and
  teach new concepts, as well as review and reinforce previously taught skills.
  Instructional materials will include textbooks, library and classroom books, packets,
  worksheets, manipulatives, learning games, and other teacher created materials. Students
  will complete lessons and activities and submit online via Schoology. These activities
  will include independent practice through completion of problems, projects, app or
  web-based software, assigned reading, simulations, etc to teach and reinforce new and
  previously learned information & skills. Teachers will provide instruction and assistance
  via both synchronous and asynchronous electronic methods. Teachers may also utilize
  learning packets for primary or supplemental instruction, particularly with younger
  students.
• ATTENDANCE - The District will monitor student attendance through completion of
  work and log of electronic/web-based activity. Staff will communicate with students and
  families to encourage attendance and participation.
• EQUITABLE ACCESS - The District will supply students with a device and internet to
  access learning remotely. Primarily, Chromebooks will be assigned on a 1:1 basis to all
  students. If students do not have internet access, the District will provide it. This may be
  accomplished through a hotspot, subscription, and/or extension of the District’s network
  on school property. At the start of the school year, students will receive direct instruction
  in the proper usage and care of devices, apps, and electronic devices so they are prepared
  and competent for online instruction.
• SPECIAL SERVICES - All special education students will continue to be provided
  instruction relative to their IEP goals. Case managers will work with families to ensure
  the IEP is being met.
• COUNSELING - Guidance counselors in all buildings will continue their pre-determined
meetings, groups, and sessions with students. In addition, they will reach out to families -both initially and periodically - offer support and resources appropriate to individual needs. School social workers will also reach out to students and families to offer assistance, support, and resources as needed.

ADDRESSING LOST INSTRUCTIONAL TIME
The District will utilize at least 20% of allocated ESSER III funds to address the academic,
social, emotional and mental health needs of our students. Some potential evidence-based
strategies to be used include the following:

• Employ staff to meet the academic and social needs of students suffering delays related to Covid. Staff may include but is not limited to the following:
  • a full time school social worker to address the social, emotional and
    mental health needs of students due to loss of face-to-face time.
  • a full-time paraprofessional to provide individualized support for students
    enrolled in credit recovery courses.
  • a teacher or paraprofessional to provide intensive support for ELL students
  • after school tutors for individual or small group intervention & instruction

Support instructional staff by providing stipends for summer professional development so
that they may increase their knowledge and strategies to accelerate learning for students
affected by school closure.

• Provide additional professional development opportunities for staff so that they may
  increase their knowledge and strategies to accelerate both social development and
  academic learning for students affected by school closure and absences related to Covid.
  PD Trainings may include but are not limited to the following:
  • The Leader In Me
  • 6 Trait Writing
  • i-Ready

• Purchase web-based learning programs for students to utilize both during and after school
  to individualize instruction, accelerate learning, and recover credits. Web-based learning
  programs may include but are not limited to the following:
  • Edgenuity
  • i-Ready
  • Reading Horizons
  • Renaissance Learning - myON Reading.

• Purchase supplies and equipment to reduce the risk of virus transmission and improve
  indoor air quality. This may include but is not limited to the following:
  • sanitizer
  • HVAC units
  • air purification devices
  • lockers

• Purchasing educational technology to aid in substantive educational interaction between
  students, staff, and families. Technology may include but is not limited to the following:
  devices
  • hot spots
  • subscriptions
  • outdoor electronic signage
  • District app and website modifications

DETERMINING MOST IMPACTED STUDENTS

• The District will identify the “most impacted students” in each building within 15 days of the first day of the 2021-2022 school year (September 14, 2021). The District will utilize the following methods to determine “most impacted students” for the purposes of this plan:
  • Any student who had less than 95% in-person attendance during the 2020-2021 school year due to COVID.
  • Any student who is determined “at-risk” according to beginning of year benchmark assessments.
  • Any student who attended virtual instruction greater than one semester during the 2020-2021 school year.

PERIODIC REVISION

• The District will review and revise this SRCSP no less than every six months. The review team will include the following stakeholders:
  • 1 Board of Education Member
  • 2 Students
  • 3 Parents (1 from each level Prek/Elementary School, Middle School, High School)
  • District Superintendent
  • District Assistant Superintendent
  • Building Principals
  • 3 Staff Members (1 from each level - Prek/Elementary School, Middle School, High
    School)
  • 2 Departmental Representatives (1 Special Education and 1 Athletics/Activities)
  • 1 Student Services Coordinator (to represent students who are homeless, English learners, in foster care, migratory, incarcerated, or otherwise underserved)

UNDERSTANDABLE LANGUAGE
This SRCSP is available to all patrons and may be obtained from the central office or via a link
on the District’s webpage. For a plan translated into other languages, patrons should contact the central office at 660-562-3255.