Blue Springs School District

Students and staff may be asked to stay home for a variety of reasons, including:

• Fever of 100.4 degrees or higher – must remain at home until 24 hours fever-free without fever-reducing medication such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen.
• Vomiting – must remain at home until 24 hours have passed since the individual has last vomited
• Diarrhea (at least three loose or watery stools in the last 24 hours) – must remain at home until 24 hours have passed since the individual last experienced diarrhea
• Respiratory Illness/COVID-19 –must remain at home until symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours
• Pink Eye – remain at home until receiving a doctor’s diagnosis that it is noncontagious, 24 hours has passed since prescription antibiotic eye drop treatment has started, or the eye is free from redness and drainage
• Skin Rash – if the cause of the rash is unknown, the individual will remain at home until the rash is gone or a doctor provides documentation that the rash is not contagious
• Chicken Pox – remain at home until all lesions are crusted and no new lesions appear; this generally occurs on day six after the rash begins
• Head Lice – remain at home until the active head lice infestation is gone
• Scabies – remain at home until adequate treatment is completed
• Streptococcal Infections (Strep Throat/Scarlet Fever) - Must remain home until 24 hours after antibiotic treatment begins.

Communicate with your School
If your student is missing school for any reason, please call and let us know.

We take a variety of precautions daily to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, including the virus that causes COVID-19.

• Vaccinations – Staying up to date on routine vaccinations is an important part of preventing illness. COVID-19 vaccines are available for individuals aged five and older. Free vaccines are available through the Jackson County Health Department.
• Stay Home when you are Sick – As listed in detail above, it is critical that all ill individuals stay at home until they are feeling better, have ruled out infectious disease, or have a doctor’s recommendation to return to school.
• Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette – Washing hands is crucial to preventing the spread of infectious diseases. Elementary students will be required to wash their hands after recess, before lunch, and after using the restroom. Students in middle and high school will be educated on the importance of handwashing, and good handwashing techniques will be reinforced throughout the school. In addition, hand sanitizer will be available throughout the school. Finally, all schools will teach and reinforce the importance of covering your cough or sneeze.
• Cleaning and Disinfection – It is our goal to disinfect high-touch surfaces at least once a day.

Safe, Healthy, and Happy School Environment

BSSD takes pride in offering the highest quality education in a safe, encouraging, and welcoming environment, and it takes all of us working together to keep our community healthy. Please keep this guide handy to help inform your decisions as to when it is appropriate and safe to attend school. Also, please do not hesitate to call your school nurse or health aide for additional guidance and advice on when it is safe to return to school.

We look forward to another fantastic school year, and as always, we appreciate your partnership in education.