NPS has taken steps to prepare for the health, wellness, and safety for students and staff participating in summer school.  This guide is a living document and will be updated with new information as it becomes available.  Please see the information below for a set of general guidelines and expectations.  Decisions will be made in coordination with local and state guidelines.

• Students will be separated on the bus where feasible, but social distancing cannot be guaranteed.
• Buses will have a hand sanitizer.
• Bus drivers have been properly trained in COVID safety measures.
• Parents are encouraged to pick up/drop off their students if possible to decrease the number of students on the school bus.
• Buses will be cleaned and disinfected daily.
• Masks will depend on situational level or state/federal mandate.

• Students should not be dropped off earlier than necessary before their scheduled start time unless they are attending XLT.  
• Parent drop off will be car-lane only to reduce the number of people entering the building.
• Students will use hand sanitizer or hand washing upon arrival into classrooms.
• Use of the car line for student pick-up or bus is encouraged.  In-person parent pick-up will be allowed outside the building.
• For K-6th, walkers will be dismissed from the building/walked to crosswalk by a staff member (in buildings where walkers are permitted).

• Lunch will be in cafeterias with social distancing where feasible.
• Hand washing/hand sanitizer will be available before and after lunch.
• Social distancing/seating could be more restricted based on situational level.
• Food service workers will follow strict sanitization protocols.
• Visitors will not be allowed in lunchrooms

• Students will be encouraged to maintain appropriate distance from each other in the school and taught good hygiene practices.
• Personal water bottles will be encouraged. The district has installed water bottle filling stations.
• There will be built in time during the day for frequent hand washing and sanitizing.
• Students and staff will be observed for illness prior to starting class or the school day. Those experiencing symptoms will be referred to the nurse.
• Various COVID prevention measures may be used depending on the situational level.

• Please note that when the term "visitor(s)" is used, that includes parents/guardians or anyone who is not an employee or student at the school.
• These visitor procedures are set to provide the highest level of safety for our students and staff.  
• These procedures will be followed during school hours.  Visitors are allowed in buildings during school hours. Extra-curricular activity procedures will be determined by the situational level of the building.
• Masks are required by all visitors during the school day and will be provided for all visitors.
• Visitors should check in at the front office behind the secure glass window.
• No lunch visitors.
• Screening procedures will be used for those entering buildings, which can include temperature screenings.
• Hand washing/hand sanitizer will be available.
• In addition to these safety measures, school board policy KK will continue to be implemented.

Please note from policy KK the following: The superintendent or designee has the discretion to prohibit a parent/guardian or other relative from, for example, eating lunch with a student, attending class parties or field trips or pulling a student out of class if such a visit could interfere with the education program or be disruptive; if one of the parents/guardians objects; if there is a current dispute regarding custody or visitation of the student; or if district employees are uncertain as to whether a person may legally have contact with a student.

• All volunteers need to be pre-approved through district procedures.
• Approved volunteers will follow district staff procedures for masking.

• Regular disinfecting will occur with COVID and EPA approved products.
• Hand sanitizer dispensers are installed in every classroom and at most exterior doors.
• Students and staff will use hand sanitizer or hand washing frequently.
• The district will use additional equipment and cleaning procedures across the district.  These include the UVC light machine, fogging machines (uses HOCl from Pure and Clean) and air purifiers.
• UVC light machines will be used regularly in all buildings.

• When to Quarantine: School nurse will be able to educate parents, students and staff on CDC recommendations of when to quarantine if exposed to COVID-19
• Health office procedures
• School nurses will keep students and staff informed of COVID safety best practices.
• If you have medication for your child, please schedule a time with the school nurse to drop it off.
• Parents and students are expected to self-screen at home prior to students entering the building.
• Students or staff demonstrating symptoms will be referred for physician evaluation. Prior to returning to school, consult a school nurse or provide documentation from a physician.
• Pending supply availability, free COVID testing may be offered to students/staff with symptoms; parental consent required.
• Procedures on how many days students or staff must be excluded if positive or showing COVID-19 symptoms will follow best practices (ex: CDC, DESE, MSBA, etc) and/or the guidance of our local health department. 

• Masks will be optional but recommended unless voted on by the board.  
• The board of education will vote before masking is implemented.
• Masks are allowed for all students and staff.
• A mask will be required and provided for any student or staff presenting to the health office with COVID-type symptoms as determined by the school nurse.

• The district recommends following CDC guidelines on international travel and quarantine regulations.
• Fully vaccinated guidelines
• International Travel Guidelines

• Parents of COVID-19 positive students must contact the building nurse to discuss the exclusion process. Parents should also contact the building nurse prior to students returning to school.  CDC guidelines (defined as isolating).
• We will not do district-wide notifications for positive or presumptive positive cases.  The responsibility of notifications of exposure and the authority to quarantine those exposed to COVID-19 falls to the health department.  The district will follow the health department’s plan for the quarantining of those exposed.
• If the health department quarantines a student or staff member exposed to COVID-19, the district may offer a Test to Stay option if the student or staff member was exposed in a school setting.
• If the health department does not quarantine a student exposed to COVID-19, it will be the guardian’s choice to exclude their student from school.
• If a student stays home due to COVID-19 exposure, the district will follow DESE attendance regulations.
• The district reserves the right to request documentation for verification of exposure.
• The district has a legal obligation not to violate HIPAA guidelines and rules, and will follow those rules in all notifications.
• The district will address the infected space using proven practices (UVC Light Machine, air purification and HOCL Foggers) for designated time.

COVID-19 Testing

Hy-Vee is offering COVID-19 testing outside of select Hy-Vee pharmacy locations using a drive-thru testing process. All patients must register ahead of time in order to receive a test voucher and select a testing site and appointment time.

Click Here

Click here to register for a COVID-19 test.

Note: Every individual, including children, MUST be registered for their own account, in their own name. Otherwise, your test may not be processed.

What Type of Testing is Available?

Although we utilize the PCR and Rapid Diagnostic, Abbott ID Now testing methods at GoHealth Urgent Care, there are other COVID-19 testing options available to individuals across the country. We know it's hard to decide which option is the best for you or a family member, so we've put together a simple chart laying out the details of each test type.

Click here for more information.

Ways we are making COVID-19 testing accessible

Since we launched our first pilot drive-up test site in the parking lot of a CVS Pharmacy® store in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts in mid-March we have completed nearly nine million tests and counting as of December.

Click here for more information.

• Nixa High School attendance policy:  At this time the high school will follow the normal attendance protocols/policies in place prior to 20-21 (as listed in the high school handbook), with the exception of official quarantines, which will be exempted from the total number of absences considered for finals exemptions.  However if the administration and/or Board of Education determine that the attendance policy/incentives will be rescinded during the school year due to serious public health concerns (worsening pandemic event, etc.) all students will be subject to taking final exams.
• Nixa Junior High attendance policy:  The junior high will follow the pre 20-21 district attendance protocol (as listed in the junior high handbook), with the exception of official quarantines being exempted from the number of absences.
• Elementary and Intermediate schools attendance policy:  Schools will follow the pre 20-21 district attendance protocol, with the exception of official quarantines being exempted from the number of absences.

If you would like to request an accommodation for your child that would adjust the masking requirements for students, please download BOTH forms below and return them to the Special Services Department at 301 S. Main St. or drop them to your child's building 

Mask Accommodation Form Request for Students (parent/guardian fills out) PDF

Mask Accoommdation Form For Professional Treating Student PDF

Since face shields have not been shown to be effective without a face covering (mask), then a face shield would be an accommodation that would be needed to be approved through the accommodation request form.  For students in special services, you can ask your child's process coordinator as well.

Initial Plan Approval: August 10, 2020

Plan reviewed and revised as needed monthly for the 2020-21 school year on minor changes.

Safety Plans Were Publically Addressed At The Following Meetings:

• Nov. 12, 2020: Adoption of Christian County Hazard Mitigation Plan
• Jan. 14, 2021: COVID leave plan for staff
• May 20, 2021:  Adoption of summer school plans which revised and updated plans approved at August 10, 2020 meeting
• July 22, 2021:  Adoption of 2021-22 school plan
• August 9, 2021:  Review of 2021-22 school plan
• January 3, 2022: Review of 2021-22 school plan

Parent surveys were conducted in the following months:

• May 2020
• July 2020
• March 2021
• August 2021
  • Survey results PDF
• December 2021

Staff surveys were conducted in the following months:

• July 2020
• March 2021