Covid Mitigation Plan for the 2021-22 School Year

Mill Valley School District’s COVID Mitigation Plan focuses on the health and safety of all staff and students. Our strategies were developed in partnership with School Guidelines: Public Health Guided Site-Based Classroom Instruction to support a full return to in-person instruction for all students. 

The most up-to-date version of the School Guidelines: Public Health Guided Site-Based Classroom Instruction can be found below or by clicking here.

The information on this page will remain fluid and responsive to new information from local, regional, state, and federal agencies. This information is intended to offer each community member a central location to access information during this continually evolving experience. As new decisions are made and as content is developed, it will be added to this page.

Vaccinations

Marin County Public Health requires that vaccination percentages of each educational center must be posted on center websites and must be updated at least once a month. Unvaccinated staff are required to be tested weekly. The status of individual staff and students will not be published. 

Covid Testing

Spring Break Test-to-Return Distribution

Following is information on results of at home testing for each break. 

How can I get free tests?

Access to tests helps keep our community strong against COVID-19 and every household in the U.S. is eligible for free COVID test kits.  Earlier this year, the U.S. government mailed four sets of rapid antigen tests, free of charge, to any household who ordered them. If you’ve used up your complimentary supply, weren’t aware of this promotion, or would like to stock up now, an additional round of four free rapid tests is now available.

Place your order for four free COVID-19 tests by visiting COVIDtests.gov. You’ll receive them in mail. There is a limit of two orders per household, equating to eight total at-home tests.   If you need help placing an order for your at-⁠home tests, please call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).

Masking 

Masks are a simple and effective safety mitigation layer to prevent in-school transmission of COVID-19 infections and other respiratory illnesses.

Marin County Public Health will update recommendations and/or requirements for indoor masking based on local COVID-19 case rates, test positivity, and hospitalization data; evidence of heightened in-school transmission; and circulating variant characteristics.

• Consider wearing a mask, especially if you or someone in your household is immunocompromised, at high risk for severe illness or not up to date with theirCOVID-19 vaccine.
• Face masks are not required outdoors as the risk of transmission is low in most outdoor settings.

As we have throughout the pandemic, Mill Valley School District will follow the recommendations of Marin Health and Human Services (MHHS).  

Illness and Quarantine

Students and staff who are ill are expected to stay home.  Students who exhibit any symptoms of illness will need to be picked up from school.

We use the Marin County COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Guidance for TK-12 Schools, Child Care, Youth Programs/Activities, and Household/Community Exposures document to determine when quarantine is required and when to return to school after quarantine.  Families may refer to this for guidance regarding how long to stay home from school when ill, and what to do if a household member is exposed to someone with, or contracts, COVID-19.   This year, if families are asked to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test to return to school, the test may be either a PCR molecular test or a rapid antigen test such as the Binax test. 

Up-to-Date Guidelines

Marin County Schools SMARTER Plan (5-3-2022)

Marin County Schools SMARTER Plan (3-24-2022)

Marin County Schools 32-Point Plan (3-11-2022)

Marin County Schools 32-Point Plan (1-25-2022)

Marin County Schools 32-Point Plan (1-5-2022)

Marin County Schools 32-Point Plan (10-11-2021)

Site Specific Safety Plans (SSSPP)

Each school will continue to operate under Mill Valley School District’s Site Specific Protection Plans (SSSPP).  Specific information regarding your child’s school campus can be found in these documents which were originally developed by the SSSPP Task Forces (teachers, administrators, parents, staff) at each school and have been approved by the Marin County Office of Education. These have been updated to meet new guidelines for the 2021 - 2022 school year.  

• Edna Maguire Plan 
• Old Mill Plan
• Park School Plan
• Strawberry Plan
• Tam Valley Plan
• MVMS Plan

We will continue to follow guidance from our public health partners to ensure that our schools are safe for our students and staff.  Frequent hand hygiene is one of the most important preventative practices to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and will be encouraged at school. Time for hand hygiene is scheduled throughout the day including before eating and before returning to the classrooms after out of class activities. 

COVID Dashboard

Our dashboard is updated upon District Office notification of a positive case. All reported cases are cumulative since the start of the 2021 - 2022 school year, August 19, 2021. 

Marin County Public Health COVID Dashboard

Travel Guidelines

Current travel guidance from the CDC can be found here.

Do NOT travel if…

• You are sick.
• You tested positive for COVID-19.
  • Do not travel until a full 10 days after your symptoms started or the date your positive test was taken if you had no symptoms.
• You are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test.
• You had close contact with a person with COVID-19 and are recommended to quarantine.
  • Do not travel until a full 5 days after your last close contact with the person with COVID-19. It is best to avoid travel for a full 10 days after your last exposure.
  • If you must travel during days 6 through 10 after your last exposure:
    • Get tested at least 5 days after your last close contact. Make sure your test result is negative and you remain without symptoms before traveling. If you don’t get tested, avoid travel until a full 10 days after your last close contact with a person with COVID-19.
    • Properly wear a well-fitting mask when you are around others for the entire duration of travel during days 6 through 10. If you are unable to wear a mask, you should not travel during days 6 through 10.

If you had close contact with a person with COVID-19 but are NOT recommended to quarantine...

• • Get tested at least 5 days after your last close contact. Make sure your test result is negative and you remain without symptoms before traveling.
  • If you travel during the 10 days after your last exposure, properly wear a well-fitting mask when you are around others for the entire duration of travel during the 10 days. If you are unable to wear a mask, you should not travel during the 10 days.

Safety Protocols

We continue to implement our Safety Protocols that were in place during the 2020-2021 school year, including cleaning and disinfecting practices.  Staff will continue to have access to cleaning supplies and essential protective equipment.

Resource Documents:

• May 11, 2022 - COVID-19 Surge in Marin
• May 3, 2022 - COVID 19 Guidance: School End of Year Events 
• March 17, 2022 - COVID Guidance for K-12 School and Youth Performing Arts, Sports and Extracurricular Activities in Marin County
• March 3, 2022 - Marin Aligns with State on School Mask Recommendation
• February 3, 2022 - COVID-19 Interim Guidance for K-12 School and Youth Performing Arts, Sports and Extra Curricular Activities
• January 24, 2022 -  School Community Omicron Update
• January 18, 2022 - Free COVID Testing Kits
• January 14, 2022 - Universal Marin Schools COVID-19 Exposure Notice
• December 29, 2021 - Marin Aligns with State on Masking
• December 22, 2021 - Omicron Surge in Marin
• December 17, 2021 - Families receive take home COVID kits
• December 1, 2021 - Update - School Guidance - Omicron - High Risk Youth Activities
• November 29, 20212 - Letter Pediatric Vaccine
• October 29, 2021 Indoor Face Covering Mandate To Lift in Public Places
• September 24, 2021 Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters
• September 10, 2021 CDPH COVID-19 Interim Guidance for K-12 School and Youth Performing Arts, Sports andExtracurricular Activities in Marin County
• August 6, 2021 CDPH K-12 Schools Guidance 2021-22 FAQ
• July 12, 2021 CDPH COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California, 2021-22 School Year
• July 12, 2021 CDPH K-12 school-based COVID-19 testing strategies for school year 2021-22
• July 9, 2021 CDC Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools
• July 20, 2021 What Parents Should Know About the Updated COVID-19 School Guidance
• June 22, 2021 Safely reopening California
• July 27, 2021 CDC Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People
• July 29, 2021 California Department of Public Health Vaccine Record Guidelines & Standards
• CDC K-12 Guidance on Disabilities or Other Health Care needs
• State of California Safe Schools For All Hub
• July 28, 2021 CDPH - Guidance of the the Use of Face Coverings
• June 15, 2021 CDC Cleaning and Disinfecting your Facility
• CDPH Indoor Air Quality
• June 30, 2021 CDPH Travel Guidance
• May 25, 2021 Marin County School Air Quality Activity Recommendations
• June 21, 20201 Cal/OSHA Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards - What Employers Need to Know About the June 18 Standards
• June 11, 2021 CDPH State Public Health Orders
• June 11, 2021 CDC How to Wear Masks
• CDC Symptoms of COVID-19
• California K-12 School Antigen Testing Program Playbook
• Marin County Schools Mitigation Strategies Continuum 2021-22 School Year
• Public Health References for Rethinking Schools Bibliography