In-Person Learning
Mansfield ISD plans to offer in-person classes, five days a week at all MISD campuses. In-person classes will include additional health and safety precautions in alignment with local health protocols.
Under the current order, all students will begin school on Wednesday, Aug. 12 remotely. Families who register for in-person learning will begin attending in-person classes at their campus on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
We strongly believe that face-to-face learning and connection is most beneficial for the vast majority of our students. While keeping this in mind, the safety and well-being of our students, families and staff will continue to remain Mansfield ISD’s top priority.
In-Person Learning Overview
All students and staff will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms regularly, and individuals who present with symptoms will be separated and sent home.
District Reopening Protocols Diagram
Masks & Social Distancing
Social distancing will be adhered to as much as instructionally possible. Regarding the wearing of masks, districts and schools will be required to comply with the governor’s executive order. Personal protective equipment (PPE) and face masks will be purchased and provided for use as needed.
Cleaning & Disinfecting
Hand sanitizer will be placed in every classroom and in highly-trafficked areas. Each teacher's classroom will also be stocked with products to clean and sanitize desks, chairs, doors, handles, etc. during the day. There will be enhanced cleaning and disinfecting, including daily cleaning for all areas of the school, multiple daily cleanings for highly touched surfaces and regularly scheduled deep cleaning when students are not present. There will be plexiglass shields for all reception, attendance and counseling counters at all campuses as well as at reception counters throughout the other facilities of the district.
Classrooms / Non-Classroom Spaces
Depending on classroom capacity, some classes may take place in non-traditional classroom spaces to allow for social distancing as required. Safety precautions will be taken for school bus services as well. Students will not be able to congregate in large groups and will be required to adhere to any socially distancing requirements when outside of the classroom. Breakfast and lunch will be served while limiting the number of students in the cafeteria at one time and following other health protocols. Student access to facilities will be organized to ensure safe and healthy environments.
For more in-depth protocols and procedures for in-person instruction, see the categories below.
- General Health & Safety Protocols [UPDATED Aug. 26]
- Face Masks / PPE [UPDATED Aug. 26]
- Screening Protocols [UPDATED Aug. 26]
- School Arrival, Movement & Dismissal
- Classrooms / Non-Classrooms / Gathering Spaces [UPDATED Aug. 26]
- District-Issued Devices [UPDATED Dec. 1]
- Sample Student Schedules [ADDED July 29]
- Student Recess & Activities [UPDATED Aug. 26]
- Student Meals [UPDATED Dec. 2]
- School Bus Services [UPDATED Aug. 26]
- Suspected and/or Confirmed COVID-19 Case Protocols [UPDATED Dec. 16]
- Other
General Health & Safety Protocols [UPDATED Aug. 26]
Training
Campus staff will be trained in COVID-19 safety protocols, and students will engage in lessons focused on hand washing and social distancing practices at the beginning of the school year. MISD will provide instruction to students the first day a student attends school on campus regarding appropriate hygiene practices and other mitigation practices.
Safety Screenings
- Staff will be self-screening daily at home before coming to work, and individuals who have symptoms throughout the day will be assessed, separated and sent home if necessary.
- Parents are the first step in reducing the spread of illness at school. Parents are asked to check in with their child each morning for signs of illness. If your child has any of the following symptoms, keep them home:
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Temperature 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher when taken by mouth
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Sore throat
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New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing (for students with chronic allergic/asthmatic cough, a change in their cough from baseline)
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Diarrhea
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Vomiting
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Abdominal pain
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Abnormal taste and/or smell
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New onset of severe headache (especially with a fever)
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Close contact (within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes) with a person with confirmed COVID-19 case
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- Contact your campus nurse if your child has any of the above symptoms and keep your child home. Teachers will monitor the students and refer to the nurse if symptoms are present.
- Mansfield ISD is permitted to prevent any individuals who fail the health screening criteria from being admitted to the campus until they meet criteria for re-entry to the campus.
Cleaning and Safety Precautions
Mansfield ISD custodial employees have been trained on COVID-19 safety protocols.
- MISD will use medical-grade, EPA-approved disinfectants for deep cleaning campuses on a regular and ongoing basis.
- Cleaning and disinfecting will occur nightly in every classroom, restroom, commons area and on high-touch surfaces. Restrooms, cafeterias and playgrounds (when allowed for use) will undergo extensive cleaning each day.
- MISD will arrange for additional cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces that are touched in common areas throughout the day, including objects such as door handles, common tables/desks, shared supplies such as art supplies and high touch devices such as shared laptops or tablets in classrooms between different class periods.
- Every classroom and office area will have disinfectant in a spray bottle with appropriate cleaning cloths/paper provided for employees and students to use on high-touch areas throughout the school day. The state recommends each school district provide students the opportunity to clean their own spaces before and after they are used in ways that are safe and developmentally appropriate.
Cleaning & Disinfecting Area Frequency Priority Entrances Twice a day High Elevators Twice a day Normal Stairs Twice a day Normal Offices Twice a day Normal Classrooms Once a day High Cafeterias Once a day High Restrooms Twice a day High Clinics Twice a day High Playground Equipment Twice a day High Common Areas Once a day Normal Showers Once a day Normal Locker Rooms Once a day Normal Weight Rooms Once a day Normal High-Point Points (Light switches, door handles, stair hand rails, filling stations, sanitary napkin receptacles, toilet paper dispensers, soap dispensers, paper towel dispensers, door handles, push bars, ADA bars, toilet and urinal handles, restroom faucets, elevator buttons, any other surface with high frequency human contact.)
Twice a day High
- Every classroom and office area will have disinfectant in a spray bottle with appropriate cleaning cloths/paper provided for employees and students to use on high-touch areas throughout the school day. The state recommends each school district provide students the opportunity to clean their own spaces before and after they are used in ways that are safe and developmentally appropriate.
- Cleaning and disinfecting will occur nightly in every classroom, restroom, commons area and on high-touch surfaces. Restrooms, cafeterias and playgrounds (when allowed for use) will undergo extensive cleaning each day.
- MISD will provide hand sanitizer in every classroom, common areas in the schools, on every bus and at district facilities.
- Students, teachers and staff will be encouraged to sanitize and/or wash hands frequently following proper practices.
- MISD will require students to use hand sanitizer before reentering the classroom after a restroom break.
- Tissues will be provided in classrooms and common areas to encourage students and staff to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, and if not available, to cover with their inner arms.
- MISD will implement a system to identify the number of occupants utilizing each restroom to mitigate the chance of exceeding maximum occupants per social distancing.
- Students, teachers and staff will be encouraged to sanitize and/or wash hands frequently following proper practices.
- Plexiglass shields (sneeze guards) will be added at reception areas, attendance desks, counseling and library counters.
- Dividers will be provided for elementary classrooms (pre-kindergarten through fourth grade).
- Dividers will be provided for elementary classrooms (pre-kindergarten through fourth grade).
- Markers outlining social distancing of 6 feet and other safety signage will be added and visible throughout school facilities.
- At the teacher's discretion, with door remaining locked, the classroom door may remain open to improve air flow unless the classroom door is an exterior door.
Visitors / Volunteers
- Visitors to campuses will be limited to essential needs. Lunch visitors will not be permitted, including delivery of student meals.
- Entrances will be locked immediately after arrival times and remain locked throughout the day to help ensure effective management and safe screening of visitors. Visitors will continue to utilize the outdoor buzzer system located at the entry of every school building. Hand sanitizer will be available upon entering the building.
- Volunteers will be limited to essential needs and approved by school personnel prior to arriving at the school. Any volunteers scheduled for work at a campus will complete a pre-screening health survey prior to entering the school.
Face Masks / PPE [UPDATED Aug. 26]
Personal protective equipment (PPE) and face masks will be purchased and provided for use as needed. Masks include non-medical grade disposable face masks, cloth face coverings (over the nose and mouth) or full-face shields to protect eyes, nose and mouth.
Governor's Executive Orders
- Districts and schools are required to comply with the governor’s executive order regarding the wearing of masks for students in grades 4-12. Younger grades are highly encouraged to wear one as well.
- While under the current order of the governor, when impractical to wear masks while participating in some non-UIL athletic or other extracurricular activities, students, teachers, staff and visitors must be required to wear masks while entering, exiting, in common areas and in practice facilities/areas when not actively engaging in those activities.
- While under the current order of the governor, when impractical to wear masks while participating in some non-UIL athletic or other extracurricular activities, students, teachers, staff and visitors must be required to wear masks while entering, exiting, in common areas and in practice facilities/areas when not actively engaging in those activities.
- When not under the governor’s executive order regarding the wearing of masks, unless impractical for the activity at the time, face masks will be worn by all MISD employees at all times unless alone in a room, in an office, on a bus, etc.
- If and when MISD is not under the governor’s executive order regarding the wearing of masks, protective measures, including the use of face coverings, will be determined by the level of confirmed COVID-19 cases. COVID-19 activity level categories are being created, and the district will develop a process to alert students, parents and staff of the activity levels and when and where face coverings must be worn.
MISD Students
- Fourth grade students and higher will be required to comply with the governor’s executive order of wearing face coverings/masks while on campus or in MISD facilities.
- MISD highly recommends masks be worn by children ages 3 – 9 while on campus or in MISD facilities.
- MISD highly recommends masks be worn by children ages 3 – 9 while on campus or in MISD facilities.
- Students should come to school wearing their own masks/face coverings daily. MISD will have some student masks available in the event the mask is lost, damaged or forgotten. Due to scientific studies, bandanas and masks with vents will not be an approved form of face covering.
- All students in grades 4-12 will wear a face covering/mask while riding a school bus.
- Students will not be required to wear masks while eating or drinking.
- Student will not be required to wear masks if outside, as long as at least six feet of distance from others can be maintained. Masks must be worn as students are transitioning outside and before maintaining the required distance.
- Students who are actively exercising may remove masks, as long as they maintain at least 6 feet of distance from other students, teachers and staff. However, schools must require students, teachers and staff to wear masks as they arrange themselves in positions that will allow them to maintain safe distancing.
- “Mask breaks” may be implemented as needed (outdoors), at the discretion of the campus/teacher.
- Any students with a medical condition or disability that prevents him/her from wearing a mask may be exempted with appropriate documentation from a physician.
MISD Staff
- Staff will wear masks unless the content of a lesson dictates the need for a face shield. One face shield will be provided to each staff member of a campus.
- MISD will have some masks/face coverings available in the event a mask is lost, damaged or forgotten. Staff will see campus nurse for any needed masks.
- MISD will have some masks/face coverings available in the event a mask is lost, damaged or forgotten. Staff will see campus nurse for any needed masks.
- Masks do not have to be worn when in the classroom or office alone, while eating or drinking as long as six feet of social distancing from others is maintained or when outside and at least six feet from others at all times.
- Additional PPE will be worn by staff who are in constant close proximity to other students and staff or are at increased risk of exposure. (nurses, clinic aides, some SPED staff, nutrition staff, custodians.)
- Any staff member with a medical condition or disability that prevents him/her from wearing a mask may be exempted with appropriate documentation from a physician or HR.
MISD Visitors
- Visitors will be required to comply with the Governor’s Executive Order and MISD protocols.
Screening Protocols [UPDATED Aug. 26]
All students and staff will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms regularly, and individuals who present with symptoms will be separated and sent home.
Student Screening
- Students will be screened by parents at home before school and monitored during the school day for symptoms of illness and will be referred to the clinic if symptoms are suspected or present.
- Once at school, teachers and staff will monitor students and refer to the nurse if symptoms are present. (Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, loss of taste or smell, cough, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, headache, chills, sore throat, shaking or exaggerated shivering, significant muscle pain or aches and/or diarrhea are all among the range of symptoms people who have COVID-19 experience. For the latest symptom list, visit the CDC Symptoms of Coronavirus web page.)
Staff Screening
- Teachers and staff will self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms before coming to campus each day.
- Teachers and staff must report to the school system if they themselves have COVID-19 symptoms, are lab confirmed with COVID-19, and/or if they have had close contact with an individual who is lab-confirmed with COVID-19.
- Employees who do not work on a campus will adhere to the same procedures.
Visitor Screening
- Visitors to campuses will be limited to essential needs on the campus.
- Lunch visitors will not be permitted.
- Lunch visitors will not be permitted.
- When possible, campuses will utilize virtual meeting options to limit campus visitors. All visitors who enter the building will be required to follow the health and safety protocols of the district, including wearing a face covering when posted.
- All visitors must be screened to determine if they have COVID-19 symptoms (as listed above) or are lab-confirmed with COVID-19; and if so, they must remain off campus until they meet the criteria for re-entry as noted below. When practical, screening questions could be supplemented with temperature checks of adults.
- Individuals who proceed beyond the reception area will follow all guidelines for visitors including physical distancing.
School Arrival, Movement & Dismissal
School Arrival
- Early bird arrivals are strongly discouraged. Any students dropped off before the building is open may not be allowed inside the building. Any exceptions would need to be specifically arranged with campus administration.
- Separate entrances will be utilized for car riders, bus riders and walkers.
- Increased morning (AM) duty may be needed to maintain a line of sight in hallways and distancing of hallway cohorts.
- Parents will not be allowed to walk students to classrooms.
- Bus procedures will be based on specific campus needs and additional details for each campus will be available before Sept. 8.
School Movement/Transitioning Between Classes
- Campus administration should implement one-way traffic, “stay to the right” or another means of proximity control in times of transitions. This includes the entrance and exit doors.
- Walking pathways throughout the building as well as entrance and exit doors will be designated with clear signage (i.e. “stay to the right”).
- Where feasible, secondary school administrations may facilitate student transition outside of the building with monitoring.
School Dismissal
- Sibling connections will be done outside the building.
- Campuses will designate staggered dismissal groups. Staggering the groups of walkers, car riders, bus riders and daycare students will help manage student movement in the building and decrease the risk of potential crowding outside at dismissal time.
- Separate entrances will be utilized for car riders, bus riders and walkers.
- Bus procedures will be based on specific campus needs and additional details for each campus will be available before Sept. 8.
Classrooms / Non-Classrooms / Gathering Spaces [UPDATED Aug. 26]
Where feasible, without disrupting the educational experience, students are encouraged to practice social distancing. Social distancing, also called “physical distancing,” means keeping a safe space between yourself and other people who are not from your household. To practice social or physical distancing, stay at least 6 feet (about two arms’ length) from other people.
In situations where maintaining physical distance may be difficult or not feasible, it is especially important to have other mitigating strategies: face coverings (including mouth, nose and eyes), increased airflow, increased outside air, frequent hand washing or disinfecting, sneezing and coughing into your elbow or sleeve, disinfecting work space, etc.. In areas where it is difficult for individuals to remain at least 6 feet apart (e.g., reception desks), schools can consider additional strategies such as installing physical barriers, such as sneeze guards and partitions. Schools can also consider using outdoor space, weather-permitting, to enable social distancing.
Classroom Safety
- All desks must be spread out as far as possible within the classroom. As much as instructionally possible, student desks will be placed a minimum of 6 feet apart. If 6 feet is not achievable, the desks/tables must be spread out as far as possible within the classroom.
- MISD will educate students about the important of social distancing and provide visual and verbal reminders.
- Additional mitigating factors including face coverings required for students in grades 4 and higher, increased hand hygiene and washing, limiting group sizes, and limiting the use of shared supplies will also be practiced throughout MISD.
- MISD will educate students about the important of social distancing and provide visual and verbal reminders.
- In classrooms where students are regularly within 6 feet of one another, MISD will plan for more frequent hand washing and/or hand sanitizing and will consider whether increased airflow from the outdoors is possible.
- At teacher discretion, with door remaining locked, the classroom door may remain open to improve air flow unless the classroom door opens to the exterior of the building.
- At teacher discretion, with door remaining locked, the classroom door may remain open to improve air flow unless the classroom door opens to the exterior of the building.
- Dividers will be provided for elementary classrooms (pre-kindergarten through fourth grade).
- Group or pair work can be implemented while maintaining as much physical distancing as possible.
- Teachers may consider assigning cohorts of students’ specific instructional materials in order to reduce the possibility of exposure or consider creating individual bags of supplementary aids and/or manipulatives for student use that could also be sent home in the event of school closure.
- When possible, technology can be utilized when the use of hands-on teaching tools are needed.
- Whenever possible, students and staff will maintain consistent groupings of people to minimize the spread of the virus.
- Physical education classes will be conducted outdoors whenever possible. Appropriate social distancing measures will be followed.
- The recommended procedures will be applied to all classroom settings, including special education services locations when possible and appropriate. Students’ individual needs will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
Cafeteria Safety
Mansfield ISD plans to utilize the school cafeteria for student meals at lunch time. No parents or visitors will be allowed during lunch.
- Cafeteria staff will be trained in COVID-19 safety protocols.
- When feasible, cafeteria tables will be 6 feet apart, and students will social distance in the line and while seated.
- Staff will consider ways to expand the cafeteria and where students eat.
- Seats, tables, door handles and high-touch areas will be disinfected between lunch periods/use.
- Classes will go to lunch on a staggered schedule as much as possible to minimize the number of students in the cafeteria each period. The campus may add a lunch period to reduce the number of students in each lunch period as well.
Use of Other Non-Classroom Spaces and Common Spaces
Knowing that one size does not fit all, each campus will determine the use of each space and what will work for the individual campus.
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Restrooms – Every other toilet and sink will be marked as unavailable for use. A sign outside of each restroom should indicate the maximum occupancy for social distancing.
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Locker rooms – Staggered entry schedules based on locker location should be implemented. Students will be encouraged to use backpacks instead of hallway lockers and cubbies to help ensure social distancing/space between students occurs. A locker may be checked out to an individual student upon request.
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P.E. students are encouraged not to suit out it the activity can be performed in street clothes. A sign outside of each locker room should indicate the maximum occupancy for social distancing.
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Break rooms – Stay at least 6 feet (about two arms’ length) from other people. A sign outside of each breakroom should indicate the maximum occupancy for social distancing.
- When feasible and appropriate, if it is preferable for students to gather outside, rather than inside, because of likely reduced risk of virus spread outdoors. Classes must stay 12’ feet apart.
- As feasible and appropriate, campus administration will implement one-way traffic, “stay to the right” or another means of proximity control in times of transitions that reduce large group gatherings in close proximity.
- As feasible and appropriate, staggering bells, lunches, dismissal, etc. should occur.
- Assemblies, pep rallies and other activities that bring large groupings of students and/or teachers and staff together should be eliminated.
- As feasible and appropriate, staggering bells, lunches, dismissal, etc. should occur.
- Campuses will develop schedules and protocols for the use of common areas, including how to sanitize space between use. When needed, students will bring personal supplies from the classroom. All students and staff will be required to use hand sanitizer when entering and exiting common areas.
- Common areas include spaces that are used for meetings and collaboration, such as computer labs, flexible spaces, campus libraries, conference rooms and other meeting rooms.
- Common areas include spaces that are used for meetings and collaboration, such as computer labs, flexible spaces, campus libraries, conference rooms and other meeting rooms.
- The use of virtual meetings will be considered when possible.
District-Issued Devices [UPDATED Dec. 1]
All remaining device requests for Fall 2020 Student Device Distribution will be delivered directly to the school for parent pickup. Parents will be notified when the device is ready.
NEW! Starting Dec. 1, 2020, the MISD Technology Department will begin deploying new Chromebooks to all middle school students. The new devices will NOT be issued until the district-issued iPad or Chromebook has been returned. As a reminder, students do not need to use a district-owned device. Any device with an Internet connection can be used to access all programs and apps needed for learning. For complete information, visit the District-Issued Devices webpage.
Sample Student Schedules [ADDED July 29]
The master schedule and staffing model will be adjusted in accordance to student movement to create the safest and most secure learning environment. To see sample schedules of what your student's day will look like, please view slides 11-22 from the Fall 2020: What Will Learning Look Like board presentation. The presentation gives an overview of what instruction will look for the opening of the 2020-21 school term.
Schedule changes or requests need to made through campus counselors. In elementary and intermediate schools, teachers will change classes, not students.
Student Recess & Activities [UPDATED Aug. 26]
Each campus will determine how to safely manage recess time. Strategies to minimize risk may include staggered times to limit group gathering, social distancing reminders on the playground and outdoors—including visual and verbal reminders, increased hand hygiene and washing before and after recess and limiting the number or students in a recess at the same time.
Recess
- Campuses will consider limiting the number of students per recess group. Staggered schedules can be utilized when needed.
- All students and staff will be required to use hand sanitizer before entering the playground and upon exiting the playground.
- Brain breaks and mask breaks will be implemented, as needed, at the discretion of the campus/teacher following health and safety protocols.
Elective Classes
- Physical education classes will be conducted outdoors whenever possible. Appropriate social distancing measures will be followed.
On and Off-Campus Student Activities
- Virtual field trips will be considered as often as possible. Off-campus field trips might be scheduled as appropriate to meet curricular needs while maintaining proper social distancing requirements.
- PTA event and fundraising information is pending and will be provided by the campus.
- After-school club information is pending and will be provided by the campus.
Campus Events
- No in-person assemblies will be held in the fall.
Student Meals [UPDATED Dec. 2]
MISD is dedicated to nourishing our students to give them the energy they need for each school day in a safe and healthy environment.
NEW! Starting Oct. 1, all in-person learners will be able to receive one breakfast and one lunch meal at no cost every school day through the end of the school term, May 26. Second meals, additional entrees, sides and snacks will be available for in-person learners to purchase.
Mansfield ISD plans to utilize the school cafeteria for student meals at lunch time, but it is not a one-size-fits-all approach, but rather is custom plan for each campus depending on all the factors. Teachers will monitor in the cafeteria and hallways to ensure social distancing. No parents or visitors will be allowed during lunch.
- Breakfast will be served daily at all cafeterias and “grab and go” packaging will be available at campuses implementing meals in the classroom.
- Classes will go to lunch on a staggered schedule as much as possible to minimize the number of students in the cafeteria each period. The campus may add a lunch period to reduce the number of students in each lunch period as well.
- Students will walk down the serving line in a spaced-out fashion. There will be indicators on the floor for where each child should stand while waiting to order. Hand sanitizer will be offered as the student exits the lunch line.
- High Schools - Students will have assigned seats that are as physically distanced as possible. Students are encouraged to setup an account on My SchoolCafe and use the barcode for lunches.
- High Schools - Students will have assigned seats that are as physically distanced as possible. Students are encouraged to setup an account on My SchoolCafe and use the barcode for lunches.
- Servers will be placing everything on the plate, and students may decline up to two out of five components or take all five. Snacks and beverages will still be available for a la carte sales, but salad bars, self-serve stations and bulk condiment bottles will not be available this year.
- Meals will be served on a traditional compartment tray or be packaged in a box to be brought back to the classroom to consume if campuses choose to eat in the classroom. Seats, tables, door handles and high-touch areas will be disinfected between lunch periods/use for those that will stay in the cafeteria.
All Nutrition workers will take their temperatures on-site and answer a health-screening questionnaire prior to clocking in for the day. If any staff member has symptoms, he/she will not be allowed to work.
- Workers will wear a mask during their shift and will wear a mask plus face shield during the service period.
- Staff wear single-use gloves for all food preparation, serving, and cashier tasks. We change gloves and wash hands with soap and water in between all tasks.
- The team is trained to keep physically distanced during prep and service as much as possible.
- Workers will practice frequent hand washing. The team also has an EcoLab disinfectant at every campus. Hand sanitizer is in place in all kitchens as an extra layer of safety.
MISD Student Nutrition Services highly encourages prepayments this year instead of bringing cash/check to school. A new prepayment system is being introduced this year called SchoolCafe. For more information, visit the Meal Payment System page.
School Bus Services [UPDATED Aug. 26]
Mansfield ISD will provide bus transportation for all students meeting the eligibility requirements for transportation. Families are strongly encouraged to drop students off, carpool or walk with their student to school to reduce possible contact on buses.
- Bus drivers will be trained in COVID-19 safety protocols.
- Drivers will be required to wear a face covering/mask at all times when anyone else is on the bus.
- Drivers will be required to wear a face covering/mask at all times when anyone else is on the bus.
- All students in grades 4-12 will wear a face covering/mask while riding a school bus.
- Each bus/route will be limited to one student per seat when feasible or two students from the same household in order to encourage social distancing.
- Hand sanitizer will be supplied and available on every bus.
- Seats, handles, and high-touch areas will be thoroughly cleaned at the end of morning runs and at the end of the evening runs utilizing EPA-approved disinfectants, focusing on high-touch surfaces such as bus seats, steering wheels, knobs and door handles. During cleaning, windows should be opened to allow for additional ventilation and air flow.
Suspected and/or Confirmed COVID-19 Case Protocols [UPDATED Dec. 16]
Mansfield ISD will immediately separate any student who shows COVID-19 symptoms and remove that student from the classroom. Remaining students will be relocated to a safe area with the teacher while the room is cleaned and the school nurse contacts Health Services.
MISD follows the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) definition of close contact, “any individual who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to positive specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.” MISD Health Services evaluation of close contacts to students/staff with laboratory-confirmed or probable COVID-19 may vary depending on the exposure setting. Contacts in special populations and/or congregate settings require additional considerations.
COVID-19 Response Rubric COVID-19 Cases
Campus Procedures for Confirmed and/or Suspected Cases
When a student or staff member has displayed symptoms of COVID-19, the school nurse will provide a clinical assessment to determine if and when a student needs to be sent home.
- Students who are ill will be immediately separated from their peers and should be picked up within 30 minutes (no later than 1 hour) from the time the campus contacts the student's parent/guardian. A room on each campus, outside of the school clinic, will be dedicated for ill students or staff members who need to be isolated while waiting to be picked up by a family member.
- Other students will be removed from the classroom and taken to an alternate location on campus so that the classroom can be disinfected.
- Each MISD facility has a designated COVID-19 building coordinator, all employees are expected to report COVID illness/exposure (symptoms, known-exposure, and/or positive case) to their supervisor and building coordinator.
- When a known exposure or confirmed case occurs, the employee or building coordinator completes a COVID reporting form, which includes identifying all individuals who may have been in close contact with the confirmed case for two days prior to symptoms.
- When a positive case has been confirmed, close contacts are notified of possible exposure by MISD Health Services and further isolation/quarantine instructions are provided.
- All students/staff on the facility/campus will be notified of a positive case on a campus or facility; however, only those who are considered to have been in close contact will be required to isolate or quarantine.
- When a known exposure or confirmed case occurs, the employee or building coordinator completes a COVID reporting form, which includes identifying all individuals who may have been in close contact with the confirmed case for two days prior to symptoms.
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Consistent for other communicable diseases and legal requirements, schools must notify all teachers, staff, and families of all students and/or staff in a district facility for a lab-confirmed positive case.
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District communication will be provided to all parents and staff of a campus who came in contact with a COVID-19 positive student or staff at a campus.
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District communication will be provided to all staff members who came in contact with a COVID-19 positive staff member at a non-campus building.
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Notification must follow confidentiality requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The district must notify its local health department, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
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- With the guidance provided by Tarrant County Public Health, the district has created guidelines for procedures when a campus or facility has multiple active cases or increased impact of COVID-19 on their campus.
During Periods of Quarantine or Absences from School
Beginning Wednesday, Nov. 4, all students who have selected in-person instruction will only be counted present when they are physically in class unless they have been quarantined due to COVID-19. Only students who are quarantined by the district will be served remotely. This means that non-quarantined in-person students will no longer be able to turn in assignments by 11:59 p.m. of that day to be counted present. They must be physically present in class to avoid an absence. If there are any questions regarding instruction while a student is absent, the student's teacher should be contacted.
NEW! Quarantine Periods - Mansfield ISD has been in continuous talks with local health experts after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Tarrant County Public Health (TCPH) released information about reducing the quarantine time of exposed individuals. We are still assessing and evaluating the feasibilities of the options presented. In the meantime, MISD will continue to adhere to the 14-day quarantine period.
Re-Entry Protocols for Confirmed and/or Suspected Cases
Any individuals who themselves either: (a) are lab-confirmed to have COVID-19; or (b) experience the symptoms of COVID-19 (listed below) must stay at home throughout the infection period, and cannot return to campus until the school system screens the individual to determine any of the following conditions for campus re-entry have been met.
In the case of an individual who was diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual may return to school when all three of the following criteria are met:
- at least 24 hours have passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications);
- the individual has improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and
- at least ten days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
In the case of an individual who has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and who is not evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19, such individual is assumed to have COVID-19, and the individual may not return to the campus until the individual has completed the same three-step set of criteria for a diagnosed COVID-19 patient.
If the individual has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and wants to return to school before completing the above stay at home period, the individual must obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for return based on an alternative diagnosis or obtain an acute infection test that comes back negative for COVID-19.
Other
Community Resources (ADDED Aug. 5)
Community resources, including childcare services and remote learning center programs, are being offered as we continue to face the COVID-19 pandemic. View the comprehensive list here.
QUEST Afterschool Care (ADDED Aug. 26)
QUEST Afterschool Care for elementary and intermediate students will not begin until Tuesday, Sept. 8, the start of in-person instruction. The program will be following district COVID-19 protocol and procedures. View details about the program here.
Selecting This Option / Requesting a Transfer
Families are asked to commit to remaining in the in-person instruction setting for the entire semester. However, if circumstances change, requests to move from in-person to the Virtual Learning Academy can be made. To request a transfer, parents/guardians must submit an online application during the designated learning transfer windows.
- Fall Reopening Transfer Windows
- Fall Reopening Transfer Application
- Transfer Application Instructions (step-by-step instructions for how to change modes of instruction during the designated transfer window)
REMINDER: Applications can only be submitted during the designated learning transfer window. Students who switch learning modes are not guaranteed to have the same teachers or choices for elective courses. If you are new to the district and/or have not completed student registration for the fall, you will need to register for school.
Have Questions?
As a continuous improvement district, parents are always welcome to submit questions and feedback to their campus principal or to the district via MISD_Fall2020@misdmail.org. The district and campus will provide updates regularly throughout the COVID-19 crisis.
Details are subject to change based on guidelines from local, state and federal authorities. This page will be updated as needed to equip the public with the latest information.