2020-2021 Coronavirus(COVID-19) Re-Entry Plan

Mitigating the Spread in Schools

As we plan for returning to school in Mesquite ISD, we recognize that this will be an unusual school year,
but we remain committed to supporting your student’s learning, as well as his or her health and safety.
The following information is directly in line with the guidance Texas school districts received from The
Texas Education Agency (TEA) and The Center for Disease Control (CDC).

This document outlines the procedures campuses will have in place to prevent and mitigate the spread
of COVID-19 and to respond if a positive case is identified. We hope this transparency helps you
understand our efforts to create a safe environment for our in-person learners.

The virus that causes COVID-19 can infect people of all ages. That said, research from the CDC, among
others, has found that while children may contract COVID-19 and some severe outcomes have been
reported, relatively few children with COVID-19 are hospitalized or have severe symptoms. For many
children, there are distinct benefits to attending school in person, including instructional, social, and
safety benefits. For these reasons, the American Academy of Pediatrics has made a statement
supporting on-campus instruction for students for the 2020-2021 school year.

While it is not possible to eliminate all risk of furthering the spread of COVID-19, the current science
suggests there are many steps schools can take to reduce the risks to students, teachers, staff, and their
families significantly. The Mesquite ISD strategy for opening and operating is outlined below. More
information is available on the district website.

Prevention
To prevent COVID-19 from entering Mesquite ISD campuses:

 MISD is installing GPS Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization (NPBI) units to clean the air inside all
district campuses and facilities.
 MISD has purchased electrostatic disinfectant sprayers for building sanitization each night.
 MISD has increased the district’s inventory of disinfecting products, soap, and hand sanitizer.
 MISD has installed plexiglass protective shields for all reception areas.
 MISD has increased part-time employee’s hours to provide continuous cleaning throughout the
school day.
 ● All staff will be required to self-screen daily and notify their supervisor of any illness, exposures,
or if they have tested positive for COVID-19.
● All essential visitors will be screened and have a temperature check upon arrival. Campuses
remain closed; however, essential visitors as deemed so by the campus may access the campus
by appointment only.
● Parents are asked to proactively screen their children for COVID-19 symptoms, including a
temperature check, and to keep students home who are sick or present with symptoms.
Students must remain home if they have been exposed to COVID-19, and parents must notify
the campus nurse.

Mitigation
Mesquite ISD will be taking the following steps across each campus and facility in order to mitigate the
spread of COVID-19:

● An array of health and safety protocols have been developed to guide specific groups in best
practices. The district protocols include (but are not limited to) campus mitigation, visitors to
campus, transportation, food service, counseling, athletics, drill, cheer, fine arts, clubs and
organizations, and stadium use.
● All adults and children (grades 4-12) in the building will comply with the Governor’s Executive
Order to wear face coverings. To explain, students in grades 4th-12th will be required to wear
face coverings, particularly when they are within six feet of one another, except when
participating in activities that cannot be conducted with a face covering on, such as eating. All
students PreK-3rd grade are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering.
● Custodial teams will conduct daily deep cleaning of all district campuses and facilities.
● Custodial teams will routinely clean high-touch areas throughout the day.
● Sanitization sprayers are utilized each night to disinfect the entire campus.
● Signage is posted throughout the school as visual reminders for students and staff to practice
good health and hygiene practices.
● Floor markings are prevalent as an additional visual reminder for students and staff to maintain
safe distancing.
● Campus plans for entry, exit, transition, cafeteria, and building use have been developed.

Response
MISD will notify the families and staff of each campus, each day, as to the number of positive COVID-19
cases reported on the campus even if the number is zero.

Identifying Possible COVID-19 Cases

 MISD schools will immediately separate any student who shows COVID-19 symptoms while at
school until the student can be picked up by a parent or guardian.
 MISD custodial teams will clean the areas used by the individual who shows COVIS-19 symptoms
while at school as soon as is feasible.
In the event of a COVID-19 positive case on campus, the campus will take the following steps:
 All areas that are heavily used by the individual with the lab-positive case will be closed off until
disinfected.
● The lab-positive COVID-19 individual will be excluded from the campus until they meet re-entry
criteria to return for in-person learning.
● All individuals determined to be in close contact with the lab-confirmed positive COVID-19
person will be notified.
○ Close contact is defined by TEA and CDC as the following:
■ Being directly exposed to infectious secretions (e.g., being coughed on); or
■ Being within 6 feet for a largely uninterrupted or sustained extended contact
period throughout the course of a day of approximately 15 minutes; however,
additional factors like case/contact masking (i.e., both the infectious individual
and the potential close contact have been consistently and properly masked),
ventilation, presence of dividers, and case symptomology may affect this
determination.

Criteria for Return to In-Person School

 Conditions for return to in-person school after an individual has a lab confirmed positive COVID-
19 test result:
o All three of the following criteria must be met:
 24 hours with no fever; and
 Symptoms improved; and
 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared
 Conditions for return to in-person school after an individual presents with symptoms of COVID-
19 but has NOT had a lab-confirmed test:
o Has completed the three criteria above; OR
o Obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for return based on an
alternative diagnosis. Notes must be submitted to the school nurse; OR
o Obtain an acute infection test at an approved testing location that comes back negative
for COVID-19. Proof of the negative test result that clearly indicates the testing site must
be submitted to the school nurse.
 Approved testing sites may be found at the following web address
https://tdem.texas.gov/covid-19/

Notification
All teachers, staff, and families of all students in a given school will receive a daily notification of the lab-
confirmed positive COVID-19 cases. Additionally, the campus nurse will notify suspected close contacts
by phone. The health department will be notified, as required by law.
Mesquite ISD is hopeful that the information provided will assist families in increasing confidence in the
school systems and the efforts taken to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on the campuses. The
partnership between students, families, and school is critically important for the safety and well-being of
all.