This page will be regularly updated as school guidance evolves, including changes in rguidance from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Public Health - Seattle and King County. For detailed information, please see the District's updated 2021-22 COVID-19 Response Plan.

The metrics presented in the KING 5 story are not a good indication of a facilities ventilation system effectiveness or its ability to support the prevention of potential virus transmission.

The data set linked is to the building conditional assessment surveys completed through OSPI and is likely pulled from averages on the ICOS (Information and Condition of Schools) web-based platform. 

The problem with the data set is it generalizes the overall condition of the HVAC system and is not strategically focused on the ventilation systems alone. Most existing facilities of age are going to score low because the active heating, cooling and ventilation components may be nearing the end of their useful service life and should be considered for upgrade or replacement in the near future. 

A low score should not be believed to infer that existing facilities have “poor” ventilation systems as the KING 5 reporting indicates. And it should also be noted that these conditional assessment reports are, in almost all instances, pre-pandemic surveys and thus none of these scores would be considering what additional actions have been implemented by MISD and other districts to address pandemic response, including increased ventilation and MERV 13 filtration.

MISD has worked very hard to ensure that our facilities meet all the required safety guidance in regards to PPE, sanitization, physical distancing and ventilation. We have consulted with the Department of Health, L&I, King County Health and HVAC engineering consultants to review our ventilation systems and filtration as part of COVID safety plan.

Within the guidance that we have received from the HVAC engineers, we have determined that individual portable filtration devices are not necessary due to the design, efficiency and filtration level of our HVAC system. In discussion with engineers, we learned that these units often work against the designed air flow within a space and creates additional airflow circulation that may increase risk. 

There is a recommendation that in certain locations that are tightly defined, such as supply closets that have been converted to office spaces where airflow was not originally designed for occupancy or spaces where risk is significantly elevated beyond a classroom setting, that these spaces would be more appropriate for the consideration for portable filter use. 

If there is a space that meets these tightly defined conditions, the District will consult with engineers to determine if the space warrants a portable filter and if one is warranted, the District will provide one. 

First and foremost, we are meeting all the requirements as set out by Public Health Seattle King County and WA State Dept. Of Health.

Here are some of the consideration as schools consider whether to do lunch and snack outdoors. 

1. Adult supervision: splitting the lunch supervision between the lunch room and an outdoor eating area would double the required staffing, something that is not financially viable at this time. 
2. Scheduling: Pre-pandemic the time required for setting up the lunch room and cleaning up was already challenging in that it was barely adequate to properly clean the lunch room so that PE would be ready to go. By adding a second space that would require additional setup, take down and cleaning, staff would be unable to properly clean and prepare for the next class or recess.
3. Sanitation: Spills and messes are a natural part of lunch time with children. Being able to clean both a lunchroom and the outside space in the required time would be problematic. Crows and squirrels would get to messes before clean up and scatter waste all over the grounds
4. Storage and maintenance of tents: The needed tents are not the pop-up style of tents that one would use at a picnic. There would need to be a higher grade tent and would need professional installation and regular maintenance to prevent damage. They would not be able to take them down on a daily basis.
5. Windy days and rain exposure safety: To meet the needed air flow requirements for outside dining the tents would need to be without walls. This would increase the exposure to the elements and leave students open to windy and rainy conditions. 
6. Capacity of tents and distancing: Irregardless of whether or not that students are inside or outside, we must retain physical distancing. This would increase the need to square footage under the tents which would necessitate the need of sacrificing more area of the playground. 

Grounds usage: This could also necessitate the need to use the grass fields which would increase wear and tear and likely place the students in wet and muddy conditions while eating lunch.

The MISD COVID 19 Response Plan aligns with DOH guidance. Guidance. Health attestations are no longer a requirement as they were not a proven mitigation strategy. Testing access has shown to be readily available for the Mercer Island community. School site personnel do have tests available for students or staff who are symptomatic and need verification. We do not have the authority, resources or staffing  to screen test classrooms or the general school population.

MISD’s close contact definition is in alignment with DOH definition. We will continue to follow the guidance and work with our LHJ partners in our contract tracing efforts.

Please see the 2021 School Opening Health, Safety and Operations Quick Guide for resources guiding our planning and decisions.

On August 18, 2021, Governor Jay Inslee announced a new directive legally requiring all K–12 school district employees, contractors, vendors and volunteers to get a COVID-19 vaccination or submit a medical or religious exemption by mid-October.

This proclamation does not apply to students. The COVID-19 vaccine is not required for students; however, we know that a large percentage of our eligible students are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. When younger students are eligible (those under the age of 12), the District will once again look to partner with outside providers to make the COVID-19 vaccine even more accessible. 

This announcement will not delay our return to school buildings this fall. Our first day of school will continue to be on September 1 for grades 1-12 and Sept. 3 for kindergarten.

Key elements of the Governor’s proclamation are outlined below:

• Mercer Island School District and our Board of Directors do not have local  control over this matter. We are legally required to follow the Governor’s directive. Employees may obtain a medical or religious exemption.

•   There is not an option to undergo regular testing for COVID-19 instead of receiving a vaccination or exemption.
•   Employees will need to provide proof of vaccination. Attestation is not an allowable substitute for vaccination.
•   Vaccination is a condition of employment in the proclamation. Only a medical or religious exemption will substitute for the vaccine requirement.

Again, this proclamation does not include vaccine requirements for students. The proclamation also does not replace the requirement for all staff and students to wear masks or face coverings in schools and on school buses. We are sharing this information so families understand some of the health and safety requirements in place for the 2021–22 school year.

We still do not know when kids under 12 will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. We do know that both Pfizer and Moderna are currently running clinical trials for kids, and we are hopeful that Pfizer will be approved before the end of the year for children 11 and under, with Moderna following soon after. Pfizer is expected to submit for emergency use authorization in September for children 5-11 years old, and for children 2-4 shortly thereafter. This could mean a vaccine would be available as early as this fall – but the time frame can easily shift sooner or later. We do know that any vaccine is likely to be approved for younger children after school has already started.

Until younger kids are able to be vaccinated, Public Health encourages everyone 5 years and older to wear a mask anytime they are indoors. Masks are required indoors in school settings for everyone. Everyone who is eligible should get vaccinated now! This will help us be ready once vaccines are authorized for kids under 12. Finally, get kids fully up to date on all routine immunization before school starts! For the latest updates, please visit the COVID-19 Vaccination for Children and Teens webpage.

Yes, masks will be required indoors for staff, students and visitors irrespective of vaccination status per Department of Health and Public Health - Seattle and King County guidance. This is not a local decision. Students, staff, volunteers, and visitors must wear face coverings at school when indoors, unless specifically exempt. Masks may be removed by all persons when eating indoors but should try to maximize physical distancing during this activity.

Exceptions to wearing a mask indoors are as follows:

• When eating: applies to all people regardless of age or vaccination status;
• When working alone: applies to all employees
• When working in areas where students and non-staff members are not present or expected to be present IF the staff member has been verified to be fully vaccinated. Only applies to staff. 

At this time, masks are generally not required outdoors; however, masks are strongly recommended when outdoors in crowded spaces. A space might be considered crowded when individuals are unable to maintain proper physical distancing. 

Currently, masks are not required when students are outside unless in crowded areas. The District is currently not planning to universally require all students to wear masks when outside; however, the District continues to monitor, adapt, and amend its procedures and follow updated guidance from DOH.

Daily health attestation screenings are no longer required by DOH and will not be used in the coming school year. Everyone should continue to monitor for symptoms and follow MISD District protocols as outlined in the District COVID-19 Response Plan. Do not send your student to school if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.  Please review the 2021-22 District COVID-19 Response Plan (CRP) for detailed information. 

Additionally, temperatures will not be checked prior to students entering the building. However, students should not attend school if they have been in close contact with anyone with confirmed COVID-19 or are sick or experiencing the following symptoms:

• Fever above 100.0 degrees
• Chills
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Unusual fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Recent loss of taste or smell
• A sore throat
• Congestion / runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Classrooms will be set-up to meet the recommended 3 feet of physical distance while students are at their desks to the degree possible. Physical distancing constraints will not impede the District’s ability to operate full-time, in person learning for all students. Students and staff will maximize greater physical distancing in common areas such as lunchrooms, halls, pick up/drop off points, etc.

Yes. All students and drivers are required to wear masks regardless of vaccination status. It is recommended that students and parents  wear masks while waiting at the bus stop.