A Message for all NCSD Stakeholders from Superintendent Dr. Kathy Burns

Nassau County School District
Media Release
March 12, 2020

This is an emerging situation that the district will continue to monitor and update the public with information as it becomes available. We will continue to rely on the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to provide us with the most up‐to‐ date and accurate information available. NCSD remains in close communication with the Florida Department of Health‐ Nassau and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to make appropriate operational decisions.

Re‐entry of Students Traveling from High‐Risk Areas

The Nassau County School District requests for all parents and guardians to inform their schools by telephone if people in their household have traveled to areas that the CDC has deemed to be high‐risk for widespread sustained transmission of the virus. Upon notification, schools will work with district and community health officials to determine the appropriate action regarding re‐entry of those children into the school.

Registration of New Students from High‐Risk Areas

Any new families arriving to Nassau County from high‐risk areas are also requested to telephone the school for instructions prior to registration. School officials will work with district and community health officials to determine the appropriate registration and attendance plan for those students. Families arriving from high‐risk areas are asked not to visit the school(s), but to interact with the school by telephone.

Sanitization of School Facilities

NCSD will begin a process of sanitizing and disinfecting all schools.

School Attendance

Students who provide written documentation from their healthcare provider advising them to refrain from attending school due to COVID‐19 will be excused. Families of these students are asked to coordinate with their school principals to develop an appropriate education plan on a case‐by‐case basis.

Employee and Student Travel (School Sponsored and District Sponsored)

Currently planned school‐sponsored or district‐sponsored out‐of‐state travel for students and employees may be allowed if a trip is to an area which is not on the CDC’s list of concern. District administration will review each trip on a case‐by‐case basis.

Until further notice, new out‐of‐country travel requests will not be approved. Until further notice, new out‐of‐state travel requests will not be approved.

The district is proceeding with caution regarding in‐state travel. All in‐state travel must be approved by the Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent.

There are currently no restrictions for in‐county field trips. The district will continue to work with the Florida Department of Health‐Nassau and monitor any potential issues in our local community.

We are currently working with Florida High School Athletic Association regarding regional and state athletic events and will provide guidance to schools once that information is received.

Parents and guardians are urged to ensure their phone numbers are correct in Focus. Please login to Focus and click My Child and then Addresses & Contacts to verify the phone number(s) on file. Please contact your child’s school if your information needs to be updated.

Staff Responsibility

Staff returning from any location the CDC recommends “avoid all nonessential travel” will be required to “self‐ quarantine” for 14 days upon return to the United States.

The district requests for all employees to inform their supervisor by telephone if people in their household have traveled to areas that the CDC has deemed to be high‐risk for widespread sustained transmission of the virus. Upon notification, the supervisor will work with district and community health officials to determine the appropriate action regarding re‐ entry of the employee to the school or facility.