Coronavirus Frequently Asked Questions

We want to share some key information with you as we work to keep each of our families updated and current with the status of the district’s response to this unique situation.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the Nampa School District doing to prevent the occurrence or spread of contagious disease on our campuses?

1. Universal Precautions. We are reinforcing universal precautions with all students and staff. This includes hand washing and respiratory hygiene. Hand washing hygiene includes frequent hand washing that is thorough and complete (20 seconds is recommended with attention to each finger and nail). Respiratory hygiene includes cough etiquette or more simply, coughing into your elbow or a tissue followed by washing your hands. These are great precautions that you can practice at home as well.

2. Disinfecting and Cleaning. We are working with our custodial partner, ABM, in ensuring staff are disinfecting frequently used surfaces and cleaning our buildings to the standards recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

3. Responsible Voluntary Quarantine. We are reminding staff and students to stay home if they are feeling ill until they have gone 24 hours without a fever and without the use of fever reducing medication.

4. Volunteers and Vendors. We love volunteers and are grateful for our business partners, but we are asking visitors and volunteers who have experienced symptoms such as fever, cough or respiratory issues within the last 24 hours to reschedule their visit or volunteer time. We are in the process of contacting our vendors and have asked them to support us in this effort.

5. Communication and Partnerships. We are in contact with Southwest District Health and have prepared and contacted our partners in the area so that we can consistently share information.

What will happen if there is a case of novel coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) in Idaho? In Nampa? In a school building?

We continue to monitor and follow the guidelines we shared previously for confirmed cases in Idaho.

If there is a confirmed case in Nampa, we will work in collaboration with Southwest District Health to determine next steps. A case in Nampa may or may not impact our schools, students or personnel.

If there is a confirmed case in one of our schools, Southwest District Health will notify us of a positive test result. Depending on the situation, the school may or may not be closed. If there is likelihood of transmission or exposure, we will notify the impacted persons based on the recommendation of Southwest District Health.

Disinfection and deep cleaning will be implemented (ABM corporate office sends out almost daily updates on best practices and expectations for disinfection for novel coronavirus to ensure the best practices and products are used). If this can be accomplished without closing school for a period time, the impacted school will remain open. If disinfection cannot be completed before students and staff are scheduled to return, the impacted school will be closed until the disinfection process is complete.

How will Nampa School District inform families of an extended school closure?

If a situation occurs where must announce an extended school closure, we will announce the situation using the same avenues we use to announce a school closure for a snow day. We will post the information on our social media and website, we will notify the news media and we will send an email blast to the families of impacted schools.

How will the Nampa School District be able to continue educating students?

The district is prepping for delivering content and instruction virtually. Students and staff have access to devices and most have access to the Internet, email or hotspots through their phone service.

The district is working with our staff to prepare for online instruction, particularly in core subject areas such as language arts, mathematics, social studies and science.

The district is researching options for families and staff that do not have connectivity from their home. When we are ready to deploy, we will test the delivery – watch for our email. This is a good time to make sure we have current email and phone numbers on file for you. If you need to change or check the information on file, please contact our school office.

While schools are open, can I keep my child home even if he/she is not sick?

Parents and guardians always have the discretion to make enrollment decisions for their children. If parents decide to keep students home when the district and Southwest District Health have determined it is not necessary, we ask for your patience. We believe we could have an abnormal number of parents who may choose to do this. While normally teachers could prepare and send “make up” homework for the occasional student who is gone for an extended period, the volume of requests may not be practical for individual teachers to respond to in a timely manner. They will be focused on students who are in school.

Once we have our online alternative up and running, the district will be able to offer online instruction for those students who have chosen to remain at home. If your family has made this decision, please communicate with your school.

There are some policies and practices that will be suspended until further notice.

Programs that could be affected include attendance/credits, unenrollment, perfect attendance awards, and any other practice that would compel students or staff to attend school even if they may feel ill. It is much more important that
families and students make good choices to stay home when they are
experiencing symptoms. Please do not send sick children to school. Keep them
home until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of pain medication.

What about spring break? If people travel to impacted areas will they be allowed to return to Nampa campuses?

As a reminder, the CDC has produced guidelines related to travel to impacted areas. If individuals travel to a Level 3 impacted area such as Italy, Iran, China or South Korea, the CDC is asking individuals to stay home for a period of 14 days from the time they left an area with widespread or ongoing community spread (Level 3 Travel Health Notice). Some quarantines have been mandatory.

We ask employees and families to be informed and to take the appropriate precautions to protect themselves, our students, staffs and campuses.

We appreciate any communication that will assist us in making informed decisions that align with our priorities listed at the beginning of this letter.

When schools are closed, will employees still report to work?

The district has adjusted its business continuity plan. Teachers will be involved in online instruction, and essential HR and payroll services will
continue. Some positions will be able to continue their essential job functions from an off-site location. Some positions will be converted to perform other tasks such as a student/parent help desk to assist students in accessing their instruction online from home.

What do I do if I or one of my family members start to not feel well and exhibit the symptoms of COVID-19?

First, if you or one of your family members are experiencing respiratory issues, have a fever, or are generally feeling unwell please stay home and don’t go into work or school! Please be thoughtful and help us keep others safe by staying home until you have been fever-free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication. As of 3/9/20 the CDC also recommends that if you have been in close contact with a person confirmed to have COVID-19 or if you live in or have recently traveled to an area with ongoing spread and you develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness such as a cough or difficulty breathing, you should call ahead to a healthcare professional and tell your healthcare professional about your recent travel or contact. Your healthcare professional will work with your state’s public health department and CDC to determine if you need to be tested for COVID-19.

Use this flow chart produced by the Centers for Disease Control to learn how to respond to being exposed to the virus.

What if I have more questions about COVID-19?

Find more information at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare website.

Last updated 3/17/2020

District Updates

FACTS ABOUT
COVID-19

Coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) spreads through close personal contact with a sick person.

SYMPTOMS

Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath

Call your healthcare provider if:

You have symptoms and have been to a country that has experienced an outbreak within the last 2 weeks of your travel.
You have symptoms and have been in close contact with a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

PREVENTION

Wash your hands often, with soap, for at least 20 seconds each time, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
Cover your cough/sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue away.
Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
Avoid close contact with sick people.
Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces often.
Stay home when you are sick.

Coronavirus Frequently Asked Questions