Health & Safety
Approved by the Board of Education June 2023.
COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan
In order to keep our students and staff healthy and avoid disruptions to learning, we plan to put the following health and safety measures in place. Our plans have been developed with guidance from the St. Louis County Department of Public Health and other health professionals, and align with WGSD policy EBB (Communicable Diseases). The public can provide ongoing input to our plan by emailing connect@wgmail.org.
Guiding Principles
- The physical and mental health and safety of students and staff (and community and region) remain our number one priority.
- Our students will receive high-quality academic programming.
- Ensure equity and access to learning for all students.
- In our planning and implementation, we must regularly assess our current reality and remain flexible and agile based on what is learned and evolving public health conditions.
Face Coverings
Face coverings will be optional for students and staff based on their individual health needs. We expect our community to be respectful of the choices of others. WGSD will provide high quality masks to those in need.
Communicable Disease Policy
Per Webster Groves District Board of Education Policy EBB: Students or employees with communicable diseases that pose a risk of transmission in school or at school activities (such as, but not limited to, chicken pox, influenza and conjunctivitis) will be managed as required by law and in accordance with guidelines provided by the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and local county or city health departments. Such management may include, but is not limited to, exclusion from school or reassignment as needed for the health and safety of students and staff.
How we can continue to help keep our schools healthy and safe:
- Stay home if you are sick until at least 24 hours after fever (100.4 or higher) is gone. Temperature should be measured without the use of fever-reducing medications.
- Promote handwashing and respiratory etiquette
- Stay up to date on recommended vaccinations
- If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they will not be permitted to come to school or work based on board policy and Missouri law. Students should remain in communication with their school nurse and receive authorization prior to returning to school. Staff should remain in communication with HR and receive authorization prior to returning to work. Current protocols are that any positive individual isolate at home for 5 days, and then, if symptoms are improving, they may return to school but are required to wear a mask for days 6-10.
- If a student or staff member is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, they may be sent home and required to remain at home until they are symptom-free for at least 24 hours.
Vaccinations and Testing
We continue to encourage all staff and families of eligible students to talk to their healthcare provider about getting vaccinated.
Order free at-home COVID-19 tests at the following link: https://www.covid.gov/tests
Monitoring
Individuals who want to follow COVID-19 trends in the community can utilize the St. Louis Department of Public Health website which includes local data by zip code.
Accommodating Students and Staff
We have done our best to accommodate the educational, physical, and social-emotional needs of our children and staff from the start, and will continue to do so moving forward. If there’s support we can provide you or your child, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s school and they will do what they can to partner with you in meeting your child’s and family’s needs.
Virtual Learning
WGSD will continue to provide online options through MOCAP to students who would like to learn in the virtual environment. Please contact Dr. Kristin Denbow at denbow.kristin@wgmail.org.