COVID-19

If a student or employee has recently had close contact with a person with COVID-19 symptoms or diagnosed with COVID-19, or has recently traveled from somewhere that is considered to be a “hot spot” by the CDC, the District may exclude the student or employee from school.

If a student is excluded from school due to COVID-19 symptoms or has had a positive COVID-19 test, his or her siblings or other students living in the same household will be questioned and if they exhibit symptoms, they will also be excluded from school. If they do not exhibit symptoms, they may still be excluded from school and asked to self-quarantine.

As soon as the Jackson R-2 School District becomes aware of a student or employee that may have COVID-19 or that has been excluded from school or recommended to self-quarantine, the custodial staff will be informed so that all desks, lockers and workspaces of the person are thoroughly disinfected. If the school is not open when notification occurs, the custodial staff will wait 24 hours or as long as possible prior to disinfecting and instead will block off the area so that others do not have contact.The school district will work with the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center to complete contact tracing.

The District may feel it necessary to temporarily close as a means to prevent spread of the disease or to combat high student or staff absences related to COVID-19. The Superintendent will make school closure decisions along with the Jackson R-2 School District Leadership team, and/or with the guidance of groups such as the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, current CDC recommendations and local health information relative to the Jackson school community.

Closures will be communicated through the District alert system, social media and other communication channels. If a temporary closure takes place, in-person/on campus traditional students could transition to virtual learning, depending on the length of closure. Students would be notified if virtual learning will take place.

• Excessive student absenteeism

• Excessive teacher/staff absenteeism

• Confirmed case(s) of COVID-19 that impact multiple locations within the District

• To protect public health and safety as deemed necessary.

Instruction would transition to virtual learning during temporary shut down situations for In-Person/On-Campus students. Information would be communicated on implementation for the virtual school day from the District and building levels.

The School Superintendent has the authority to close and/or open school for absenteeism due to School Closure Trigger Points, as noted above. The Board of Education establishes the academic calendar for the school district Policy IC).

The Superintendent may cancel all activities on district property by outside groups, even if some schools in the district remain open. When a school is closed, activities scheduled at that school, including use by community groups, may be canceled. Activities held at another location that involve students and staff from a closed school may cancel at the discretion of the building principal, in consultation with local health authorities and the school district’s guidelines.