Frequently Asked Questions

School systems must require teachers and staff to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms before coming onto campus each day. Parents must ensure they do not send a child to school on campus if the child has COVID-19 symptoms or is lab-confirmed with COVID-19. 

School systems must notify their local health department if an individual who has been in a school is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19. School systems must close off areas that are heavily used by the individual with the lab-confirmed case of COVID-19 (student, teacher, or staff) until the non-porous surfaces in those areas can be disinfected, unless more than 3 days have passed since that person was on campus. School systems must notify all teachers, staff, and families of all students in a school if a lab-confirmed COVID-19 case is identified among students, teachers, or staff who participate in any on-campus activities. 

School systems must rely on health and hygiene practices, including the use of hand sanitizer and/or hand washing stations with soap and water.  Schools must comply with the governor’s executive order regarding the wearing of masks. School systems may require the use of masks by adults and students for whom it is developmentally appropriate in instances where masks are not mandated by the governor’s executive order. MISD will make recommendations to the School Board for consideration after consulting with local medical professionals that have served on the Reentry Task Force. School systems should encourage students to practice social distancing where feasible without disrupting the educational experience.

Consistent with school notification requirements for other communicable diseases, and consistent with legal confidentiality requirements, schools must notify all teachers, staff, and families of all students in a school if a lab-confirmed COVID-19 case is identified among students, teachers or staff who participate in any on campus activities. 

Any individuals who themselves either: (a) are lab-confirmed to have COVID-19; or (b) experience the symptoms of COVID-19 (listed below) must stay at home throughout the infection period, and cannot return to campus until the school system screens the individual to determine any of the below conditions for campus re-entry have been met: o In the case of an individual who was diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual may return to school when all three of the following criteria are met: i. at least one day (24 hours) have passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications); ii. the individual has improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and iii. at least ten days have passed since symptoms first appeared. o In the case of an individual who has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and who is not evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19, such individual is assumed to have COVID-19, and the individual may not return to the campus until the individual has completed the same three-step set of criteria listed above. o If the individual has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and wants to return to school before completing the above stay at home period, the individual must either (a) obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for return based on an alternative diagnosis or (b) receive two separate confirmations at least 24 hours apart that they are free of COVID via acute infection tests at an approved COVID-19 testing location found at https://tdem.texas.gov/covid-19/

These situations will be addressed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with MISD Board Policy and the law.  Depending on the circumstances, an employee may be entitled to leave under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA), which is limited to a total of 10 days between April 1 and December 31, 2020 for paid leave.  An employee is entitled to take paid leave (up to $511 per day or $5,111 in total) under the EPSLA if the employee provides  doctors documentation and is unable to work because the employee: 1) Is subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19, 2) Has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19, 3) Is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis. An employee is also eligible for paid leave under the EPSLA (up to $200 per day or $2,000 in total) if leave is taken because the employee 4) Is caring for an individual who is subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19 or has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine related to COVID-19, 5) Is caring for his or her child whose school or place of care is closed (or child care provider is unavailable) due to COVID-19 related reasons. Any days beyond the 10 days would require the employee to use any available leave. Doctors documentation is required for any medical leave. The employee could possibly be eligible for Family and Medical Leave (FML) or Expanded Family Medical Leave (EFML) depending on an employee’s eligibility and/or prior use of Family and Medical Leave (FML).

No. The school nurses will determine who was in “close contact”, as narrowly defined by public health agencies and the Texas Education Agency, and those students/staff would be considered as needing to follow the safety protocol for exposure. If an individual who has been in a school is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19, the school must notify its local health department, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, including confidentiality requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Schools must close off areas that are heavily used by the individual with the lab-confirmed case (student, teacher, or staff) until the non-porous surfaces in those areas can be disinfected, unless more than 7 days have already passed since that person was on campus. Consistent with school notification requirements for other communicable diseases, and consistent with legal confidentiality requirements, schools must notify all teachers, staff, and families of all students in a school if a lab-confirmed COVID-19 case is identified among students, teachers or staff who participate in any on campus activities.

Texas public schools are under the guidance of the Texas Education Agency for “close contact”.  Parents may opt to have their students receive remote instruction if their child has had “close contact” with an individual who is lab-confirmed with COVID-19 until the 14-day incubation period has passed. School systems may consider screening students for COVID-19 as well. Districts will be allowed to temporarily close a campus if a threshold of active-positive cases for up to no more than 5 consecutive days. 

As part of the self-screening process, staff must report to the school system if they have had close contact, by TEA definition, with an individual who is lab-confirmed with COVID-19, and, if so, must remain off campus until the 14-day incubation period has passed.

MISD has sent out an interest survey to current substitutes to gauge interest in a full time substitute position. We have numerous people interested in this opportunity.

Any mask will be appropriate that covers the nose and mouth. MISD is working on creating a graphic that will explain what will and won't be accepted.

 EPA and FDA approved Diversey Alpha HP - 67 Disinfectant

Click here to view more information about the product. 

Per current TEA Guidelines, Identifying Possible COVID-19 Cases on Campus:

• Schools must immediately separate any student who shows COVID-19 symptoms while at school until the student can be picked up by a parent or guardian.
• Schools should clean the areas used by the individual who shows COVID-19 symptoms while at school (student, teacher, or staff) as soon as is feasible.
• Students who report feeling feverish should be given an immediate temperature check to determine if they are symptomatic for COVID-19.

In addition, per TEA Guidelines, Required Actions if Individuals with Lab-Confirmed Cases Have Been in a School: 

• If an individual who has been in a school is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19, the school must notify its local health department, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, including confidentiality requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
• Schools must close off areas that are heavily used by the individual with the lab-confirmed case (student, teacher, or staff) until the non-porous surfaces in those areas can be disinfected, unless more than 3 days have already passed since that person was on campus.
• Consistent with school notification requirements for other communicable diseases, and consistent with legal confidentiality requirements, schools must notify all teachers, staff, and families of all students in a school if a lab-confirmed COVID-19 case is identified among students, teachers or staff who participate on any on campus activities.

The District is currently working with our local health authorities from the Task Force on thresholds that would constitute a shutdown. Currently, TEA allows a district to shut down for no more than 5 consecutive days. 
 

TEA is operating under the Governor’s current Executive Order regarding masks. TEA does allow school districts to require mask orders that exceed the Governor’s order. On July 27, 2020, the MISD School Board adopted the MISD Health and Safety Plan that includes the wearing of masks or face coverings for all staff and for students in Grades K-12. MISD does have a specific set of mask removal protocols that could be allowed for a specific instructional activity outside of food consumption and physical exercise. If masks are removed for an approved activity, other social distancing mitigation efforts are required. 

View Executive Order GA 29