View the Midway ISD Situational Matrix

Updated January 10, 2022

Infection Control Standards 

• Stay home when you are sick. When others in your household are sick, avoid close contact, and follow  CDC guidelines for COVID-related illness. 
• People with COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), Follow that by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others to minimize the risk of infecting people they encounter.  

• Faculty, staff, and students must check temperatures prior to entering school, with enforcement based upon the “Honor System”.

• Engage in non-contact methods of greeting.

• Cover coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue or in the bend of your elbow; throw away the tissue; then follow with hand hygiene.

• Avoid touching mucous membranes; i.e. eyes, nose, and mouth.

• Wash hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer (20 seconds).

• All vaccines should be up to date for self and household members. 

Environmental Mitigation

• Frequent to persistent cleaning/disinfecting of frequently touched areas such as door handles and water fountains using EPA registered disinfectants is required. 

• Each campus nurse will monitor for classroom outbreaks of similar symptoms with notification to the custodians of that room number.

• Bell schedules and transitions will allow appropriate time to cleanse hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer.

• Signs and communication throughout schools will reinforce and encourage infection control measures.

• Desks and groupings will be distanced as much as possible.

• Lunches – Each campus will have a plan in place to physically distance as much as feasible. Outside food will not be delivered to students. Students may bring lunch from home or may buy breakfast and lunch from food services in the cafeteria. 

• Physical distancing will occur in classrooms as much as feasible; additional seating and workstations will be utilized as plausible. 
• Students must bring their own water bottle, labeled with their name, as water fountains will be used only as refilling stations.

• Ventilation will be increased as much as possible. Doors may be open when staffed to allow increased airflow and reduce touches but will remain closed and locked as appropriate to maintain security.

• Buses – Parents should coordinate drop off and pick up of their child as much as possible to avoid overcrowding on district transportation. As feasible depending upon ridership, more spacing and increased ventilation is recommended on buses, followed by daily sanitation. 
• Continued routine cleaning procedures will take place. 
• Weight Rooms: Athletics will follow the most up-to-date guidelines released by the UIL, and state and local officials

Training 

• Students and staff will be trained on proper and effective handwashing techniques through PSAs. 
• Staff will be trained on COVID-19 procedures for sanitation.
• Staff will maintain situational awareness to watch for symptomatic students.

Temperature taking 

• Faculty, staff, and students must check temperatures prior to entering school, with enforcement based upon the “Honor System”.
• Staff must self-report in the COVID Screener if symptomatic or running a temperature ≥100°.
• At any time during the school day, if a student or staff feels feverish or is experiencing chills or shaking, a temperature will be immediately taken. Thermometers will be available throughout each campus building.
• Thermal scanners will be available in the front office of every campus.

Extracurricular and Other Events / Athletics and Fine Arts

• The athletics and fine arts departments will follow all TEA and UIL recommendations, as well as state and local requirements. Detailed plans by activity will be communicated to students and families who are a part of that particular activity.

• Hands should be washed or sanitized before and after use of equipment. 
• Before utilizing district transportation for out-of-town events, students and staff may be screened for symptoms, with temperatures taken.

Immunizations

• All student immunizations must be up to date. Contact the campus nurse for more information. 

Campus Visitors

• Visitors will be allowed on campus for functions that are pre-approved by the principal.

• Both face-to-face and virtual meetings will be available for parent conferences, ARDs and 504 meetings.

• No outside food may be dropped off to students. Students may bring lunch from home, or purchase from food services in the cafeteria. Parents/guardians may drop off essentials, i.e. packed lunch box, medications, hygiene items, etc. on those rare occasions when essential items are left at home or in the car. However, no outside food (restaurant, fast-food items) will be dropped off and delivered to students.

• Our goal is unquestionably to limit the handling and transaction of items between outside entities and our staff and students during the school day.

Balancing Health & Safety 

• All components of the MISD Multi-Hazard Emergency Operations Plans (MEOP) will be enforced, including the annexes for Infectious Disease and Continuity of Operations. 
• Doors will be open when staffed to allow increased airflow and reduce touches but will remain closed and locked as appropriate to maintain security.
• Staff will increase situational and vigilant awareness to avoid safety breaches.

Students, faculty, and staff are required to stay home if they are sick. In order to "keep our doors open", we need everyone to work together to control the spread of COVID-19. Please remain vigilant and responsible regarding masking, symptoms, testing, and isolating. 

No attendance incentives are in place at MISD for the 21-22 school year. Absences will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. However, state attendance laws are still in effect, with state-required notification letters being sent to parents/guardians. Be sure to communicate with the campus office regarding absences. 

Customary Exclusion Guidelines for Illnesses

Symptoms requiring exclusion from school (sent home or absence)

• Fever of ≥100° 
• Parents should not give students fever reducing medication to be able to come to school
• Vomiting (unrelated to drainage, overeating, exercise, anxiety, or other non-infectious triggers)
• Diarrhea (unrelated to documented pre-existing gastrointestinal issues)
• Ringworm of the scalp
• The first 24 hours of antibiotic treatment for bacterial infection like pink eye, strep throat, etc.  
• New, undiagnosed, rash or skin condition, at the nurse’s discretion, until verified by healthcare provider that it is not contagious

COVID-19 symptoms:  With parent permission, campus nurses can test a student for COVID-19, with results in 15 minutes. MISD is part of the testing collaborative through the Texas Education Agency.  In evaluating whether an individual has symptoms consistent with COVID-19, consider if he/she has recently begun experiencing any of the following symptoms in a way that is not normal for them. Feeling feverish or a measured temperature ≥100° Loss of taste or smell Cough Difficulty breathing Shortness of breath Fatigue Headache Chills Sore throat Congestion or runny nose Shaking or exaggerated shivering Significant muscle pain or ache Diarrhea Nausea or vomiting

When to return to school from absence

• Students must be symptom and fever free without the use of medication for 24 hours.
• Parents must ensure they do not send a child to campus if the child has COVID-19 symptoms or is test-confirmed with COVID-19 until the conditions for re-entry are met. 

Personnel and students who have any of the above symptoms and were directed to care for themselves at home by medical personnel or the campus nurse clinic may discontinue isolation under the following conditions:

• At least 24 hours have passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and
• Improvement in symptoms; and
• At least 5 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. In other words, students may return to campus 5 days after the onset of symptoms AND 24 hours after recovery of symptoms without medication. 

Upon return to school, personnel and students should continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days. 

References for COVID-19 as of December 27, 2021: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html 

Nurse Clinic Visits

• Infection Control will be a priority in the clinic.  To prevent potential exposure to infectious illnesses and promote isolation, many students need to STAY IN PLACE in the learning environment.  
• Staff must reserve clinic visits (non-scheduled visits) for illnesses (STAY IN PLACE as best practice)
• Each teacher will have a supply of basic first aid care (Band-Aids, lip balm, etc.) to minimize clinic visits.
• Most scrapes need to be washed in the bathroom with soap and water and a Band-Aid applied.  Most scrapes do not require a clinic visit.
• Students with stomach aches need to go to bathroom and rest at desk for 20 minutes BEFORE coming to clinic.
• Students with headaches need to drink water and rest at desk for 20 minutes BEFORE coming to clinic.
• Students with anxiety/stress/psychosocial issues need to minimize stimuli, try calming techniques, and visit with the teacher and/or counselor as needed.  This is not a clinic visit. 
• EVERY student (besides scheduled visits for meds, glucose checks) must have a pass that includes the student's name, reason for visit, date, and time.
• Inhalers with spacers will be used for acute asthma symptoms; nebulizer treatments will not be used in the clinic according to CDC guidelines. Students experiencing acute asthma should not be attending face-to-face school without approval by a healthcare provider since symptoms of asthma and COVID-19 may overlap. 

Communicable Disease Monitoring

• Campus secretaries will notify the campus nurse for absence reasons.
• The Coordinator of Health Services will: 
• monitor health visit reasons and assess for trends
• collaborate with campus nurses, health department, and administration
• maintain ongoing monitoring of local, national, and global health trends
• be aware of up-to-date communications from DSHS, CDC, and the Office of the Governor regarding community specific communicable disease concerns, planning, and interventions 

School Closures Decisions regarding campus closures - during substantial transmission on the campus and/or throughout the community - will be made in coordination with the Waco McLennan County Public Health District and other local and state officials. Decision-making staff for school closures include the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services, Coordinator of Health Services, and Director of Support Services. It is possible that a campus may be closed for a period of time without closing the entire district. Please see the Situational Matrix section for more information.

Parent Contact, Exposure and Safe Return to Campus 

• Parents/guardians are required to pick-up within one hour after being notified by the nurse of a child’s illness. The student will be isolated, and clinics have limited space. 
• Parents will adhere to acceptable/safe return to campuses following illness following TEA and CDC guidelines; See “When to return to school from absence” section above. This includes students who are symptomatic, and those who have a test-confirmed case. 
• The District will submit required reports of positive cases to the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District and to the Texas Department of State Health Services. This process is in place to control the spread of COVID-19. 

• Campus personnel will assist the nurse in identifying students who have been directly exposed to a positive case. Parents/guardians will be notified if the campus has made a reasonable determination that their student was directly exposed. Certainly, this process will be more difficult at the secondary level as students change classes and interact with a larger group of students. 

• Parents who receive notification that their student was exposed are strongly encouraged to follow quarantine guidelines. Household-based close contact students are required to quarantine. 

• CDC guidelines state that there is not a need to isolate at home if your child has been vaccinated. Even so, CDC affirms that you should still watch for symptoms, and consider testing 3-5 days after exposure. 

• Parents who keep their student at home due to exposure: Please note that your student will be able to access, complete, and submit assignments through the student learning management system (SeeSaw for elementary students; Schoology for secondary students). Students placed in quarantine or isolation due to COVID qualify for a temporary remote learning option called Remote Conferencing. The Remote Conferencing option will allow your child to continue to be counted present for school while remaining at home due to a COVID-19 positive test or documented close contact with another person. Please see the Remote Conference section for more information. 

What to do if a student has a lab or test-confirmed case or a doctor diagnosed case of COVID-19 

Parents and/or guardians are asked to report - through a phone call to the campus office  - the lab or test-confirmed case, or a doctor-diagnosed case, in the same way any illness is reported. Documentation of the test results may be faxed or emailed to the campus. Timeliness of the reporting is essential to ensure the safety and health of all who may have been exposed through close contact. MISD is required to report the illness to the local health department and to the Department of State Health Services. 

What is the process for tracing and quarantine?

The Waco-McLennan County Public Health District quarantine guidelines should be followed by staff and students. Quarantines help to mitigate the spread of the illness. See below for more information regarding "Exposures and Communication". 

Exposures

The District will submit required reports of positive cases to the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District and to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Both entities maintain public reporting dashboards. 

• Campus personnel will assist the nurse in identifying students who have been directly exposed to a positive case. Parents/guardians will be notified if the campus has made a reasonable determination that their student was directly exposed. Certainly, this process will be more difficult at the secondary level as students change classes and interact with a larger group of students. 

• Parents who receive notification that their student was exposed are strongly encouraged to follow quarantine guidelines. Household-based close contact students are required to quarantine. 

• Students will be able to access, complete, and submit assignments through the student learning management system (SeeSaw for elementary students; Schoology for secondary students). See the next sectioin for Remote Conferencing (RC) information; students will be counted as in attendance and will complete work during RC. 

Communication to Parents

Principals will send campus-wide emails for daily cases. Elementary teachers will send notifications of cases in the classroom. Student cohorts in extracurricular and after-school programs will also be notified. 

Beginning Sept. 7, 2021:

Students placed in quarantine or isolation due to COVID qualify for a temporary remote learning option called Remote Conferencing. The Remote Conferencing option will allow your child to continue to be counted present for school while remaining at home due to a COVID-19 positive test or documented close contact with another person. This option is only available as assigned by campus staff. 

In order to be marked "Present" for school your student will need to log in to Google Meet with the provided Meet Code and then attend class virtually for the required amount of time. Meet codes and time requirements vary by grade level. 

Students in K-5th Grade

• The daily course starts at 8:00 am.
• Students must be logged in with the camera on at designated times to receive attendance credit.
• A Facilitator will help you with the schedule and classwork or technical questions.
• Your child needs four hours of instruction for attendance purposes.
• Plan to be logged in for 2 hours of Google Meet instructional time.
• The remaining 2 hours of instruction will be asynchronous activities in SeeSaw/Schoology.

 Click for a more detailed explanation of Remote Conferencing at the Elementary level.

Students in 6th-12th Grade

• The daily course starts at 8:30 am.
• Students must be logged in with the camera on at designated times to receive attendance credit.
• A Facilitator will help you with the schedule and classwork or technical questions.
• Your child needs four hours of instruction for attendance purposes.
• Plan to be logged in for 4 hours of instructional time.
• During this time you will complete your Schoology assigned lesson activities.

Click for a more detailed explanation of Remote Conferencing at the Secondary level.

Limiting exposure

• The health and safety of our students and staff will be protected and may limit some functions, activities, and gatherings during the instructional day. 
  
  
• Visitors are allowed on campus for functions that are approved in advance by the campus principal. 
  
  
• Vendors through support services or the business office will be screened, with temperatures taken by front office staff. 
  
  
• Each campus will provide specific information to parents regarding drop off and pick up procedures. Adults should remain in their cars, and will be unable to enter the building to walk students to and from their classrooms. 
  
  
• Non-MISD flyers or handouts will only be available online at www.midwayisd.org/community. No stacks of handouts will be placed in campus lobbies to reduce traffic, touch, and cluttered surfaces for cleaning.

No meal deliveries

• Students should bring their lunch to school or purchase food in the cafeteria. 

• Parents/guardians may drop off essentials, i.e. packed lunch box, medications, hygiene items, etc. on those rare occasions when essential items are left at home or in the car. However, no outside food (restaurant, fast-food items) will be dropped off and delivered to students.

• Our goal is unquestionably to limit the handling and transaction of items between outside entities and our staff and students during the school day.

Parent meetings

• Both face-to-face and virtual meetings will be available for parent conferences, ARDs and 504 meetings.
  
  
• Campus and district-level PTA meetings may be in person, but also may be held virtually.
  
  
• Presentations and student performances may be recorded, with links sent in newsletters for parent/guardian viewing. 

Food Handling & Limiting Outside Sources

• Outside food deliveries not allowed.
  
  
• Wearing cloth face coverings or face shields by Food Service staff is on a voluntary basis.

Lunches

• HS, MS, & Int - Additional spaces will be available for students to eat lunches (i.e. foyers, gymnasiums, outdoor courtyard) in order to reduce cafeteria congestion.
  
  
• Elementary – More space will be created for students to dine in the cafeteria. 

Participation in Extracurriculars

• The District will follow guidance from TEA and UIL to determine any limitations to extracurricular activities. 

Safety Protocols

• Before utilizing district transportation for out-of-town events, students and staff may be screened for symptoms, with temperatures taken. 
  
  
• Student groups that are not directly involved in the game or contest, i.e. marching band, cheerleaders, dance team, and other groups approved by the District, may be limited at times depending upon a number of factors, including availability of bus drivers.   

Enhanced/Additional Cleaning Procedures

• Custodial staff will conduct more frequent cleaning practices, as well as provide the opportunity for students to clean their own spaces before and after they are used, in ways that are safe and developmentally appropriate.
• 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, and high touch devices.
• Provide training for custodians on cleaning high touch surfaces on a scheduled basis and in accordance with CDC guidelines, as well as cleaning campuses in the event of a positive COVID case.
• Ensure cleaning products are stored safely, including storing harmful chemicals where children cannot access them, and ensuring harmful chemicals are not used near children.
• Train custodial staff on use of antimicrobial blast spray.
• Reduce clutter in classrooms to aid in cleaning and to reduce areas of increased germ exposure.

Implementation of Additional Protections

• Hand sanitizer made available in classrooms, cafeterias, and gyms
• Whenever feasible, improve air flow by allowing outside air to circulate in the building.
• Provide additional trash cans in new lunch areas
• Install bipolar ionization units on HVAC units across the district
• Apply antimicrobial floor wax in cafeterias
• Sanitizing playgrounds on a weekly basis

Enhanced/Additional Cleaning Procedures

• Drivers are encouraged to wear cloth face coverings or face shields and gloves.
  
  
• Buses will be cleaned and disinfected before and after each trip with a proper virucide, focusing on high-touch surfaces such as bus seats, steering wheels, knobs, and door handles. During cleaning, windows will be opened to allow for additional ventilation and airflow.
  
  
• Students and staff will be encouraged to use hand sanitizer upon boarding the bus.
  
  
• Drivers will sanitize seats between bus routes.

Limit Exposure

• As feasible, depending upon ridership, more spacing and increased ventilation will occur (weather permitting).
  
  
• Students will sit one per seat when feasible.

Facility use information

• The District will consider a number of factors in determining use of facilities, including but not limited to, district and county COVID-19 cases and positivity rates; quarantine and isolation rates; staff and student illness rates; regional hospital capacities; contact tracing data, and TEA and UIL guidelines. 

Spectators at public events

• The District may limit spectators depending upon a number of factors as listed above.

Helping Children Cope

• Back-to-School Anxiety During COVID
• Back-to-School Tips for Kids Who Are Struggling
• De-Stressing During COVID-19
• Anxiety and Depression in Children
• 13 First-Day-of-School Activities You Can Do at Home
• COVID-19 Resources & Updates
• Grief Resources for Kids, Parents, & Supporters | Dougy Center

How to Build Connections and Reduce Isolation-Tips for Parents and Caregivers (goodgrief.org, 2020)

1. Seek out regular social interactions-Interacting with others can reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. Utilizing technology can help maintain connectedness with others through phone chat and video chat.  
2. Get physical exercise–Encourage activity through outdoor walks, biking, walking a pet, throwing a football, dancing in the living room, yoga, etc. 
3. Balance Social Media/Phone Time-it is important to encourage face to face time over screen time to foster connectedness and reduce feelings of loneliness. There are apps and services available to help parents and guardians monitor screen time. 
4. Plan activities-Engaging in activities can help reduce loneliness and isolation.  Playing a board game, baking, taking a walk, coloring or drawing a picture, picking a movie to watch together, or reading a book are examples of activities for families.
5. Acknowledge emotions - Some children may be nervous, anxious, frustrated, lonely, or annoyed. All of these feelings are normal. Acknowledging emotions helps children feel they are being heard and not alone.  
6. Connect with resources - If your child has experienced any significant changes, loss, or health concerns in the past few months, consider reaching out to your child’s teacher or counselor at school. This will enable your campus an opportunity to connect your child with resources and/or support. You may also access the attached resources for more local supports. 

Community Resources

Texans Recovering Together

Midway Community Resource Guide

Parent Guide to Counseling Options

Heart of Texas Region MHMR: Home

Web Resources for Health & Education Authorities

• CDC
• CovidWaco.com
• Texas Education Agency (TEA) Coronavirus site

Tracking current information

• Waco-McLennan County Public Health District Twitter
• Waco-McLennan County Public Health District dashboard
• Texas Health and Human Services (DSHS) data downloads & dashboard

 

Health + Safety Working Group, Guidance & Resources

Superintendent: Dr. George Kazanas

Assistant Superintendent: Dr. Jeanie Johnson

Principals: Mandi Bronstad, Kappy Edwards

Assistant Principals: Kim Hawkins, Dr. Clint Glaesmann, Chelsea Lippe

Directors: Suzi Pagel, Brad Shelton, Darrell Umhoeffer

Additional Staff: DeeAnn Kleypas, Coordinator of Health Services; Anne-Marie Zellers, Lead Counselor for Student Support Services 

Resources:

• American Academy of Pediatrics
• American School Counseling Association
• Association of Texas Professional Educators
• Centers for Disease Control
• Character Strong- MISD’s Social-Emotional Learning Program 
• Cities of Hewitt, Waco, and Woodway 
• Department of State Health Services
• Governor Abbott’s Exec. Orders
• Local hospitals and health clinics
• Waco McLennan County Public Health District
• MISD Counselors, Nurses, & Social Workers
• MISD Education Foundation 
• MISD Safety & Security Committee
• MISD SHAC
• National Institutes of Health 
• National Safety Council 
• Other districts & colleges
• PTA
• Texas Education Agency 
• Texas School Safety Center
• Walsh Gallegos Law Firm 
• In regards to athletics and fine arts - NCAA, TSATA, Medical Boards, UIL, ACDA, Americans for the Arts, Music for All, TMEA

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Human Resources Working Group, Guidance & Resources

Superintendent: Dr. George Kazanas

Assistant Superintendent: Mary Lou Glaesmann

Principal: Christy Watley

Assistant Principal: Dr. April Harris

Director: Traci Marlin

Additional Staff: Human Resources Department, Communications Department, Assistant Principal Dr. Qunisha Johnson

Resources:

• Texas Association of School Boards
• Texas Education Agency
• Walsh Gallegos
• Sara Leon & Associates, LLC
• Region XII
• SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management)
• CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Spirit of Communication Council
• MISD Staff Thought Exchange

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Operations Working Group, Guidance & Resources

Superintendent: Dr. George Kazanas

Assistant Superintendent: Wesley Brooks

Principals: Angela Kirkpatrick, Paul Offill

Assistant Principals: Sheri Burns, Jess Wheeler, Christi Yourman

Directors: Rudy Frett, Buddy Freeman

Additional Staff: Maintenance and Transportation coordinators

Resources:

CDC

FDA

Texas DPS

Texas Education Agency

USDA

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Instructional Delivery Working Group, Guidance & Resources

Superintendent: Dr. George Kazanas

Assistant Superintendent: Dr. Aaron Peña

Principals: Jay Fischer, Dr. Mandy Johnson, Wes Kanawyer, Alison Smith, Dr. Stacey Voigt 

Directors: Dr. Becky Odajima, Lisa Cochran, Dr. Ashley Canuteson

Additional Staff: Office of Curriculum & Instruction, Innovation & Learning Department, Information Technology Department

Resources:

• Midway Thought Exchange
• Midway Parent Survey
• Centers for Disease Control
• Cities of Hewitt, Waco, and Woodway 
• Governor Abbott’s Exec. Orders
• Solution Tree
• Other districts & colleges
• Texas Education Agency
• Education Service Center - Region 12
• Walsh Gallegos Law Firm 
• WHO 
• In regards to athletics and fine arts - NCAA, TSATA, Medical Boards, UIL, ACDA, Americans for the Arts, Music for All, TMEA

• Use of Funds Planning Document
• Use of Funds Presentation to Board
• Stakeholder Input Communication Plan
• ESSER III Grant Application
• Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity Service Plan

Please see our FAQ page, also available under the navigation menu.