Face masks are currently optional in District buildings and on buses. Anyone who chooses to wear a mask will be supported in doing so.  

Face coverings are available in all school offices for families that request them.

Students and staff who are eligible for immunizations they have not yet received, are encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Staying up to date on routine vaccinations is essential to prevent illness from many different infections.  

• HEPA filters will remain in all instructional spaces and buildings.  
• Regular cleaning and disinfection of our learning spaces and vehicles will continue and they will be cleaned and disinfected regularly using disinfectant products that are approved and effective against viruses, including COVID-19.
• Students and staff are encouraged to wash their hands often throughout the day with soap and water. If soap and water are not readily available, they should use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Appropriate supplies to support healthy hygiene behaviors (e.g., soap, hand sanitizer, paper towels, disinfectant) will be available and strategically placed in areas where they can be/are frequently used.
• Schools will build routines of hand hygiene into the daily school schedule for all students and staff.   
• Students who are ill should stay home.
• Staff who are ill should stay home.  
• Anyone who is symptomatic and awaiting COVID-19 test results should stay home.

• The District will provide appropriate supplies in our schools and buildings to support healthy hygiene behaviors (such as soap, hand sanitizer, paper towels, disinfectant wipes, tissues)
• The District will reinforce handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and/or the safe use of hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol by staff and older students.
• Washing hands can help prevent the spread of infectious diseases. The District will reinforce hand washing during key times, such as:
  • before, during, and after preparing or eating food
  • after using the bathroom
  • after blowing one’s nose, coughing, or sneezing
• The District will reinforce covering coughs and sneezes to help keep individuals from getting and spreading infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

The District has optimized ventilation and maintained improvements to indoor air quality to reduce the risk of germs and contaminants spreading through the air. 
 
The District’s ventilation system has been certified by engineers, and an auxiliary system of air purifiers have been installed in classrooms and offices throughout the schools. This system introduces fresh air into every room frequently, and small particles, including the Coronavirus, are removed. 

Minnetonka Public Schools does not monitor students, families or staff for travel.  For current recommendations and guidance, please visit the CDC’s website.

Staying home when sick can lower the risk of spreading infectious diseases, including COVID-19, to other people. 

People who have symptoms of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, such as cough, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, or a fever of 100 degrees or higher, should stay home. Testing is recommended for people with symptoms of COVID-19 as soon as possible after symptoms begin.  Possible COVID-19 symptoms include (but are not limited to):

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Students or staff who come to school with symptoms of illness or develop symptoms while at school will be asked to wear a well-fitting mask while in the Health Office and will be sent home and encouraged to be evaluated by their health care provider.

• If a student becomes injured or ill during the school day, staff will notify the Health Office.
  • Health Office staff will assist the student and/or determine if they need to go home.
  • Students who are ill will be kept isolated from well students as much as possible until a parent can pick them up.
  • If a student is symptomatic at school, the school will notify a parent/guardian for the student to be picked up and the student will be required to wear a mask while waiting.

If a student becomes ill during District programming outside of the regular school day/year, the program coordinator will follow District protocols.

If a student or staff member tests positive or is notified of a positive COVID-19 case during the regular school year, the following process should occur:

• Families will notify the school nurse at their site if their child/student tests positive for COVID.
• If any staff member tests positive for COVID, they will notify the nurse at their school and their direct supervisor or the Director of Health Services (if not based in a school).

○      Here is a list of all school nurses:

■      Beth McAuley-Clear Springs beth.mcauley@minnetonkaschools.org

■      Sara Johnson-Clear Springs sara.johnson@minnetonkaschools.org

■      Patty Stang-Groveland patty.stang@minnetonkaschools.org

■      Patrice Pieczynski-MMW patrice.pieczynski@minnetonkaschools.org

■      Diane Severin-Minnewashta diane.severin@minnetonkaschools.org

■      Carol Traynor-Deephaven carol.traynor@minnetonkaschools.org

■      Jackie Dickens-Deephaven jacqueline.dickens@minnetonkaschools.org

■      Hannah Coil-MME hannah.coil@minnetonkaschools.org

■      Kyleen Waterhouse-SAIL/ECSE kyleen.waterhouse@minnetonkaschools.org

■      Nicole Witowski-Excelsior nicole.witowski@minnetonkaschools.org

■      Sue Rockers-Scenic Heights sue.rockers@minnetonkaschools.org

■      Sarah Palmer-Scenic Heights sarah.palmer@minnetonkaschools.org

■      Angela Vanderheyden-MHS angela.vanderheyden@minnetonkaschools.org

■      Brenna Healy-MHS brenna.healy@minnetonkaschools.org

■      Rhonda Kullman-MHS rhonda.kullman@minnetonkaschools.org

○      If they are not at a building, they will notify Annie Lumbar Bendson (Director of Health Services) at 952.401.5992 or annie.lumbarbendson@minnetonkaschools.org

●      The school nurse and administrative team will determine if notification notices need to be sent out and if so, to whom. 

●      If a student or staff member has been notified of a COVID-positive case outside of the regular school year, the following process should occur:

○      If a supervisor, coach, coordinator, Principal, Athletic Director, etc. is made aware of a COVID-positive case, they will notify Annie Lumbar Bendson (Director of Health Services) immediately at 952.401.5992 or annie.lumbarbendson@minnetonkaschools.org

●      The District is required to report all COVID-positive results to the Minnesota Department of Health.

A student or staff member who tests positive for COVID-19 will be required to isolate until all three of these things are true:

• It has been at least 5 days since they first felt sick or tested positive (if asymptomatic); and,
• they feel better. Their cough, shortness of breath or other symptoms are better; and,
• they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.

All COVID-positive school community members are required to report their positive test results to their building and/or program supervisor.

Minnetonka Public Schools follows a 5-day isolation guideline for students and staff experiencing mild or no symptoms, allowing them to return on day 6 as long as certain conditions are met. Masking is recommended through day 10.

If the COVID-positive student or staff had no symptoms:

• They may end isolation after day 5.

If the COVID-positive student or staff had symptoms:
They may end isolation after day 5 if:

• They are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication), and
• Their symptoms are improving

If they still have a fever or their other symptoms have not improved, they should continue to isolate until they improve.

After isolation has ended, if the COVID-19 symptoms recur or worsen, the isolation period should be restarted at day 0.

Other considerations:

• If students were asymptomatic and then developed symptoms after testing positive, the 5-day isolation period starts over, with the start of symptoms being day zero.

Quarantine is no longer recommended for people who are exposed to COVID-19 except in certain high-risk congregate settings (schools are not one of these settings). The District still recommends that students and staff exposed to COVID-19 should take precautions, including getting tested and wearing a well-fitting mask, regardless of vaccination status or if they have had a previous infection.