COVID Information

We will no longer send notifications about every COVID case. We will still update the district dashboard.

We are currently providing antigen and PCR testing for students and staff. Families who want a test for their child should contact their school nurse. Staff members should contact their supervisors and then call the testing site. 

Assessing Symptoms:

The school nurse will use their nursing judgement to evaluate the person’s symptoms. Even if a student or staff member's fever does not reach the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation of 100.4 F, the nurse might send the student or staff member home after considering all symptoms.

Safety Precautions:

Our school nurse will use CDC-recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) when working with a student or staff member with COVID-19 symptoms, and the nurse will try to keep the person with symptoms separated from everyone else until they can carefully leave the school.

Guidelines:

For students who are sick, the nurse will send home guidelines to the student’s family or staff member, including information about the rules for returning to school.

Medical Care:

The nurse will recommend the person with symptoms follow up with a licensed medical provider or the health department.

Contact Tracing:

We plan to work directly with local health department officials to report all positive COVID-19 cases, and local health departments will be responsible for contact tracing. 

If the School Nurse Sends a Student or Staff Member Home:

If a school nurse sends a student or staff member home with COVID-19-like symptoms, they will use these guidelines to decide about the student or staff member’s return to school:  

• Must be fever-free a minimum of 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication such as Tylenol or ibuprofen
• Must have an improvement in COVID-19-like symptoms
• Might be asked to stay home at least five days after symptoms first appeared
• Might be asked to bring medical clearance to return to school signed by their licensed health care provider 

If a Student or Staff Member Gets Diagnosed with COVID-19:

If a student or staff member has a positive COVID-19 test or gets a diagnosis of presumptive COVID-19 from their health care provider, we will follow these guidelines to decide about the return to school: 

• Must be fever-free a minimum of 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication such as Tylenol or ibuprofen AND
• Must have an improvement in COVID-19-like symptoms AND
• Must stay home at least five days after symptoms first appear
• If symptoms resolve and fever has been gone for more than 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, the person may return on the sixth day. We will ask them to wear a mask for the next five days, but we will not enforce mask-wearing.
• Might be asked to provide documentation from a licensed health care provider stating clearance to return to school
• If you tested positive, you are not required to re-test or have a negative test result before returning to school. The CDC shared information that indicates a person who has had and recovered from COVID-19 might still have low levels of the virus for up to 3 months that will continue to result in a positive test, even though they are not spreading COVID-19. We are using the above guidelines to determine the return to school or work. 

Flowchart for Students

Flowchart for Staff

There are many opportunities for people to get the vaccine for themselves, if they choose to do so:

• Sign up for a vaccine with the Platte County Health Department. 
• Sign up for a vaccine with St. Luke's.
• Sign up for a vaccine with the Missouri COVID-19 Vaccine Navigator. 
• Look into opportunities with your pharmacy.

The Pfizer COVID vaccine is now approved for everyone who is 12 years old or older. There are many opportunities for people to get the vaccine for themselves or their children, if they choose to do so:

• Sign up for a vaccine with the Platte County Health Department. 
• Sign up for a vaccine at Children's Mercy.
• Sign up for a vaccine with St. Luke's.
• Sign up for a vaccine with the Missouri COVID-19 Vaccine Navigator. 
• Look into opportunities with your pharmacy.

The Pfizer COVID vaccine is now approved for children who are between five and 11 years old. There are many opportunities for people to get the vaccine for themselves or their children, if they choose to do so:

• Sign up for a vaccine with the Platte County Health Department. 
• Sign up for a vaccine at Children's Mercy.
• Sign up for a vaccine with St. Luke's.
• Sign up for a vaccine with the Missouri COVID-19 Vaccine Navigator. 
• Look into opportunities with your pharmacy.

If a student or a staff member is sick, it is more important than ever that they stay home. Please help us keep our community safe by being cautious and staying away, even if you think an illness could be allergies. The nurse at your school will be happy to help you talk through your symptoms. 

Students and staff should screen for these symptoms each day:  

• Fever or chills  
  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a fever is 100.4 F or greater.  
• Cough  
• Rash  
• Sore throat  
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing   
• Diarrhea  
• Nausea or vomiting  
• Fatigue  
• Headache  
• Muscle or body aches  
• Loss of taste or smell 

Masks:

Masks are recommended but not required in our schools, facilities and buses.

Monitoring Data: 

We will continue to monitor the data about COVID-19 cases, as well as community data. We will also continue to collaborate with our local health departments, following all their requirements.

Buses:  

Masks are recommended but not required on our buses.

Quarantines:

Starting in January, the Kansas City Health Department took back the contact tracing duties when a Park Hill student or employee has a positive case of COVID-19. It will be the health departments that will let you know if there needs to be a time of quarantine.

Testing: 

We will still provide free, optional antigen testing for students and staff. Families of students who have symptoms should contact their school nurses, who can help them request and schedule a test. Staff members who have symptoms should contact their supervisors and then call the testing site.

Physical Distancing:

We cannot keep everyone three to six feet apart.

Handwashing:

Throughout the day, we will encourage hand washing, and we will also supply hand sanitizer in every classroom. Students and staff members must wash hands or use hand sanitizer before and after meals and recess. We will also teach proper etiquette for preventing respiratory illness, including covering your cough and not touching your face. 

Cleaning:  

We are cleaning high-touch surfaces and shared objects at least once a day. We will provide wipes and spray bottles with disinfectant in every classroom.  

Visitors: 

We are allowing visitors and volunteers in our schools. Speak to your child's school for more information. 

Outside Food: 

Our Nutrition Services department can no longer provide birthday treats. See our Menus and Nutrition page for more information about approved treats for birthdays and classroom parties.

Food Service:  

The Nutrition Services staff is keeping up with the latest federal, state and local guidelines for preparing and serving meals. 

Water:  

We are asking students and staff members to please come to school and work with a water bottle, if possible. Our water fountains will be on.  

Large Gatherings:

We are holding gatherings and events without restrictions.

Extra-Curricular Activities, Athletics and Clubs:

We will continue offering extra-curricular activities, including athletics and clubs, taking as many safety precautions as possible. We will follow guidelines from MSHSAA as we receive them, and we will keep participants updated on their rules.

Special Education:  

We are including health and safety precautions as we work with each student’s IEP. We also make changes to 504 plans when necessary to meet students’ needs. 

Notifications:

We will no longer send notifications about every COVID case. We will still update the district dashboard.

Confidentiality: 

Keep in mind that each staff member must keep strictly confidential all medical information regarding students and other staff, including symptoms and attendance. This includes not discussing others’ medical information with coworkers. 

Can my supervisor or HR send me home? If so, do I have to use my leave?

Your supervisor or someone in HR may send you home if they believe you have COVID-19 symptoms or an illness that is causing concern about your wellbeing or the risk of contagion to others. There will be expectations for you to pursue treatment or medical consultation. You might be eligible for paid leave for seeking a medical diagnosis for COVID-19 symptoms. Check with Dr. Linda Kaiser, director of human resource services, for more information.

Can my supervisor or HR ask me about my symptoms if they are related to COVID?

Yes, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has weighed in on COVID-related conversations in the workplace. Normally an employer may not ask you specific questions related to symptoms without medical documentation. However, as COVID-19 is a medical condition that affects others and has been deemed a public health concern, employers may ask employees if they are experiencing COVID-related symptoms, even prior to the employee working at the facility or location.

All of our students, as well as other children in our area, will be able to eat free through the end of the 2021-2022 school year. For both options, you must pre-order before picking up your food.

Our social workers have also put together a list of nearby food pantries that can help families in need:

• A Turning Point:
  5105 NW Waukomis Drive
  Riverside, MO 64151
  816-237-0138
   
• Avondale United Methodist Pantry:
  3135 NE Winn Road
  Kansas City, MO 64117
  816-452-3518
   
• Barry Christian Church Pantry:
  1500 NW Barry Road
  Kansas City, MO 64155
  816-436-0462
   
• Englewood Baptist Church Pantry:
  1900 NE Englewood Road
  Kansas City, MO 64118
  816-453-0975
   
• Gladstone Seventh Day Adventist Pantry:
  3800 NE 80th Street
  Gladstone, MO 64119
  816-436-2530
   
• Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Pantry:
  5409 NW 72nd Street
  Kansas City, MO 64151
  816-741-3150
   
• Harvesters:
  3801 Topping Avenue
  Kansas City, MO 64120
  877-653-9519
   
• Hillside Christian Church Pantry:
  HOPE Wrx
  900 NE Vivion Road
  Kansas City, MO 64118
  816-453-2623
   
• Metropolitan Lutheran Ministries:
  MLM Northland Food Pantry
  1100 NE Vivion Rd.
  Kansas City, MO 64118
  816-454-5295
   
• Mimi’s Food Pantry:
  2255 NW Vivion Road, 
  Riverside, Missouri 64150
  Phone: (816) 735-0220
   
• Northland Assistance Center:
  2018 Gentry Street
  North KC, MO 64116
  816-421-2243
   
• Salvation Army - Northland:
  5306 N Oak Trafficway
  Kansas City, MO 64118
  816-452-5663
   
• SPEAC Food Pantry:
  819 Main Street
  Parkville, MO 64152  
  816-746-1057 
  (Entrance is on 9 Highway - Lower level of Parkville Presbyterian Church)
   
• St. Charles Catholic Church Pantry:
  900 NE Shady Lane
  Kansas City, MO 64118
  816-468-5153
   
• St. James Lutheran Church:
  1104 NE Vivion Rd.
  Kansas City, MO 64118
  816-452-1018
   
• St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantry:
  7207 NW Highway 9
  Kansas City, MO 64152 
  816-741-8661
   
• Vineyard Church:
  12300 Arrowhead Trafficway
  Kansas City, MO 64165
  816-734-8100
   
• United Way: 211:
  United Way 2-1-1 is a free and confidential service that connects people to everyday needs that aren’t quite 9-1-1 emergencies. Simply dial 2-1-1, or visit their website to search for resources on your own.
   
• Northland Human Services Directory:
  This is a list of resources for families who need help.

Park Hill’s department of technology still has a limited number of free wireless hotspots available for families who do not have reliable internet access at home. Families who have no internet access, have low-speed or dial-up internet, or can only access the internet via smart phone are great candidates for this opportunity. For more information about getting a hotspot for use at home, please call 816-359-5000.

To help you deal with your children’s and your own fears about COVID-19, many mental health experts are providing guidance, including the CDC and The Child Mind Institute. You can also watch our webinar, Parenting in Challenging Times: How to Care for your Child and Yourself During this Pandemic. 

Find resources from our school social workers, some of which include food resources, community resources for parents, housing and shelter resources, medical and dental resources, and substance abuse resources.