Mindfulness and appropriate student spacing in morning gathering spaces will be necessary for student safety. Each school will communicate arrival and dismissal times. Upon arrival, buildings will provide direction to students about safe gathering areas and practices (as level appropriate).

Assemblies are allowed with the modifications noted below. 

• All levels - Assemblies that require gathering the entire student body in one location at one time indoors will not occur in the first quarter. These assemblies will be adapted for indoor purposes and may occur outdoors. 
• Middle School / High School - Indoor gatherings may occur by grade level or other group arrangements where appropriate spacing can be provided. Cohorts will be utilized in these gatherings as appropriate and possible. Updated information regarding second quarter assemblies will be shared prior to the end of October.

Back to School events will occur at each school level (i.e. Kindergarten Sneak Peek, Kindergarten Orientation, Back to School Nights, etc.). Parent in-person attendance is not required for these events.  Alternate options, when possible, will be communicated by building administration to the school community. During Back to School events all guests, staff, and students attending in grades EC-8 are required to wear masks regardless of vaccination status.

Clubs and activities may occur with club/activity-specific mitigation measures as appropriate for the event. Information about KSHSAA athletics and activities can be found on this web page.

Students will remain part of cohorts that are reasonable to maintain at each school level. At elementary schools, a student’s main cohort is the homeroom student group to which they are assigned. Cohorts at middle school and high school are within student grouping or seating assignments as defined within each classroom/setting throughout the school day. This practice is similar to the 2020 - 21 school year.

Parent-teacher conferences will be a combination of Zoom and in-person conferencing. Plans are still being developed. Final details will be communicated by the building administration.

As appropriate, the district will inform parents/guardians of avenues to access COVID-19 testing.

Schools will communicate directly to parents about the processes by which lunches, instruments, and other items left at home will be received or delivered during the school day.

Enhanced cleaning will occur throughout schools and district facilities.

Curricular-related field trips will not occur in the first quarter. When educational field trips resume, they will do so with an emphasis on local trip travel. Public health measures associated with travel restrictions will be followed. Field trips will be subject to cancelation for health or other safety related reasons.

Food Services will return to the use of keypads in grades 6-12 this year. Elementary students will continue to use cards with lanyards. Students may serve themselves on occasion.

Students and staff will continue to be encouraged to practice good hygiene by frequent hand washing and/or utilization of hand sanitizer.

IEP meetings will be conducted via Zoom unless the IEP team or parent requests an in-person meeting. The IEP team should determine the most effective and efficient mode for achieving desired outcomes of the team for student benefit.

Athletics and activities will follow the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) COVID-19 Mitigation Information and COVID-19 Return to Participation Guidelines for those who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case. No restrictions for fan attendance are currently in place. Concessions will be available to event attendees.

Guidance regarding libraries will be communicated by building staff.

Lockers may be available on a very limited basis for middle school student belongings. Buildings will communicate details on this topic as appropriate.

Three feet social distance will be provided when possible. This will not be possible for all schools and all lunch shifts. Stable cohorts will be ideal and encouraged and applied, as appropriate, for each school level.

Following the Public Health Order issued by the Board of Commissioners of Johnson County on August 5, Blue Valley Schools will require all early childhood and K-8 students, staff and visitors to wear masks inside school buildings beginning August 9, 2021. Additionally, the Blue Valley Board of Education extended this order to include 9-12 and the 18-21 year old program students, staff and visitors for the 2021-22 school year, to be reviewed at least quarterly. Unless otherwise required, children, faculty, staff and visitors of all ages do not need to wear masks when outdoors on school property. In addition, all individuals must wear a mask when utilizing district-provided transportation (including buses and vans).

For more information regarding guidance about masks, please visit the CDC page for information about masking and/or the CDC page for information on types of masks.

There may be specific situations where a student may have a medical reason to avoid mask usage. This may include persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a face covering. This also includes persons with a medical condition for whom wearing a face covering could obstruct breathing or who are unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance. In order for students to be exempt from wearing a mask/facial covering, a discussion with a medical provider needs to occur (M.D., D.O., P.A. or NP). The district will honor all Mask Exemption forms that were submitted and approved during the 2020-21 school year. 

Instrumental and vocal music will occur during and beyond the instructional day. Mitigation measures as recommended by KSHSAA will guide district action. Outdoors may be a preferred environment for performances when possible.  Indoor performances may occur at all school levels. Mitigation measures will be in place to allow guest attendance.

Because the risk of transmitting disease is reduced outdoors, especially where physical distancing is being maintained, masks are not currently required while outdoors when on Blue Valley grounds.

Students and staff will continue to be encouraged to conduct a personal health assessment prior to entering any district facility or participating in any district-sponsored activity or event. Individuals that suspect they are ill (i.e. fever, chills, cough, etc.) and are not feeling well should stay home.

Plexiglass placed throughout the district during 2020 - 21 will remain in place.

PTA / PTO may plan school events in cooperation with building administration. The first quarter should emphasize outdoor events when possible or consider crowd size when planning. Safety will be at the forefront of these plans.

When at play outdoors, masks are not required. While at play, it is possible students may extend beyond their classroom cohort.

Per guidelines from the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), remote learning will not be offered to students. Students will be considered present when they are learning in the school building unless otherwise enrolled in an approved VirtualEd program, a Blue Valley virtual class as part of their daily schedule, or any other allowable circumstance per state regulations. Schools will not have the flexibility of allowing students to Zoom into class for instruction under the current state guidance. Teachers at each level will work to make work available in the event of student absences which may occur for COVID-19 or a variety of other reasons.

At this time, the district awaits further guidance regarding benchmarks that will be utilized by the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) to recommend school closures as related to COVID-19.

When the district is aware of a positive COVID case, the district will work in cooperation with JCDHE to gather the necessary information so JCDHE can make public health decisions.  The district will exclude individuals from the school until JCDHE can make a determination.  The exclusion will continue if quarantine is recommended by JCDHE.  Parents will be contacted directly by BV COVID Team if their student has been identified as a possible close contact.  In addition, elementary parents will receive a low risk letter if a positive case is identified in their class.  JCDHE will communicate their recommendations to students, staff, and families around quarantine and returning to the school environment. JCDHE has posted the "School Guidance."  This guidance will likely change time to time based on new evidence and recommendations from the CDC and/or the Kansas Health Department.

Per guidance from the CDC, asymptomatic individuals who are fully vaccinated or have had a positive lab-confirmed molecular (PCR) test within the previous 180 days will not be asked to quarantine.

Snacks are allowable indoors and outdoors. Social distancing will be provided when possible.

The district anticipates traditional snow days will be utilized during the 2021 - 22 school year.

Social distancing will be encouraged where and when possible within Blue Valley schools and other facilities. Social distancing of 3 feet will be provided as appropriate and/or when possible.

Special education services will be provided in accordance with the student’s IEP. When the student has unique health needs that would prevent receiving FAPE in the school environment, the child’s IEP team, including the parents/guardians, may consider additional accommodations and/or related services necessary to meet student needs.

Each school building will utilize traffic patterns throughout their schools which allow for efficient and safe student transitions throughout the school day. Transitions from the 2020 - 21 school year which proved successful, safe, and efficient at each school will be put in place for the current school year.

Individuals should take their temperature before coming to school or work should they suspect they have a fever. Temperature checks via Health Services will occur for students on an as needed basis.

Each school will be emphasizing culture and climate as students return for the 2021 - 22 school year. Creating an increased sense of school connectedness for students and families will be a priority. Schools will be creating additional opportunities for transition for students that were full VirtualEd students during the 2020 - 21 school year that have not learned in the traditional setting since March 2020.

Bus transportation is available for all students via Durham School Services. In accordance with Executive Order 13998 and CDC order under Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 264) and 42 Code of Federal Regulations 70.2, 71.31(b), 71.32(b)), effective February 1, 2021, requiring individuals to wear masks when boarding, disembarking, and traveling on any “conveyance.” 

individuals must wear a mask when utilizing district-provided transportation (including vans) unless there is documentation presented to the school for a medical mask exemption.  This requirement is also consistent with the Public Health Order issued by the Board of County Commissioners of Johnson County, Kansas sitting as the County Board of Health. 

Travel for activities and/or athletics will follow the KSHSAA guidelines.

Blue Valley School District will not be collecting COVID-19 vaccination information for students as part of the school enrollment process. COVID-19 vaccination is not a requirement for school enrollment or attendance. Vaccination information will only be collected in accordance with district policy and state law. Vaccination information is utilized when making quarantine recommendations. As appropriate, the district will inform parents/guardians of COVID-19 vaccination opportunities for eligible students.

The district remains in compliance with ventilation guidelines providing for safe air quality for all individuals who enter and exit all schools and facilities. Facility maintenance staff will continue to maximize fresh air intake, manage the frequency of the recycling of air to the greatest degree possible, and continuously monitor all HVAC systems. More information about ventilation in Blue Valley is available online.

Virtual courses were made available to students at the high school level as part of the fall course selection process consistent with past practices. VirtualEd student enrollment in the Greenbush Partnership closed in May for grades K-8. Remote learning is not allowable for the 2021 - 22 school year per KSDE.

Visitors to school buildings during the school day will remain by appointment only for the first quarter. Visitors are required to wear a mask or face covering, regardless of vaccination status.

Water fountains will not be available for general student or public use.  However, students may fill a water bottle at the fountains or water bottle filling stations.