July 22, 2021:
Update from the Board of Education Special Meeting

During the July 22 Special Meeting, Dr. Clemens shared the following information with the Board of Education regarding the district’s current recommendations on masks and vaccinations:

NKC Schools is recommending that all non-vaccinated or immunocompromised students and staff wear masks upon returning in August. Based on the advice of national and local health professionals, we are also recommending that students 12 years or older consider receiving the vaccination as soon as possible.

Families should visit our website to understand isolation protocol for close contacts and positive cases prior to the start of school.

We will continue to collaborate with our local health departments and monitor data, particularly at individual school sites. If we see data demonstrating a spike in particular classrooms, grade levels or schools, additional safety measures will be put into place.

The numbers of student and staff COVID-19 cases have remained quite low over the last four weeks. We will remain vigilant regarding contact tracing and reporting as well as providing updates regarding local data regularly. No further debate nor discussion was held during the meeting; this update was simply informational. Throughout the month, Dr. Clemens and district administration have been in constant contact with the Clay County Health Department and other area school districts, collaborating to make the best possible decisions for students. We will continue to share any further updates with staff and families directly should they arise.

June 10, 2021:
Changes to Mask Requirement

This afternoon, the Clay County Health Department released updated guidance for schools, lifting the mask requirement for all school buildings. In response to this new guidance, North Kansas City Schools will update our COVID-19 protocols accordingly. These changes in procedure regarding masks, transportation and stay-at-home protocols will take effect beginning Friday, June 11.