The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District (FNSBSD) infectious disease prevention and mitigation protocols are in place to protect the health and safety of our schools and to minimize disruption to teaching and learning.  This mitigation plan can be summarized in four levels:

• Level 1: Prevention

• Level 2: Mitigation

• Level 3: Modified Operations

• Level 4: Campus Closure

The district’s disease mitigation protocols layer on each other. For example, when a location moves into level 2: mitigation, it adds mitigation measures to the level 1: prevention measures already taking place.

For the purpose of this document and the plans outlined within, the district will not be treated as a whole. Instead, each level of district protocols will be addressed at the community level. Community refers to the school building, the staff, students, programs, and volunteers that function within the building.

FNSBSD uses a layered variety of strategies to help prevent communicable disease transmission.  

Face Coverings  

Students, staff, and visitors may choose to wear a mask while in school buildings or on school grounds. Masks may be requested to be worn in specific circumstances for limited durations, such as in the nurse’s office.. There are masks available in schools and district buildings for any students, staff, or visitors who may want one.

Healthy Hygiene

All students and staff should frequently wash their hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds throughout the day. Hand sanitizer will be available for use when soap and water are not available, i.e. the playground, building entrance.

Coughs and sneezes should be covered by an arm or tissue/napkin.

Symptom Screening 

Anyone who enters a district school or building should comply with the Wellness Check screening. This includes students, staff, families, visitors and volunteers. Please do not enter a school facility if you are sick, quarantining, and are waiting for test results for a communicable illness.

Vaccination

According to the CDC, vaccinations are currently the leading strategy to prevent communicable disease. The district recommends families consult with their primary care physician about the appropriateness of various vaccinations for themselves and their family. Certain immunizations are required by the State of Alaska.

Testing

To prevent the spread of infectious diseases, if you or someone in your family has been exposed to an infectious disease, or develops symptoms of an infectious disease, the district recommends seeking testing through your healthcare provider.

Symptoms at School

Students and staff should review the Wellness Check for Students & Staff when they have any symptoms of illness.

• If a student develops symptoms while at school, they will be sent home. It’s the parent or guardian’s responsibility to have the child picked up as soon as possible.

• Staff should go home if they develop symptoms at school and contact their healthcare provider as needed.

Infectious Disease in the Community

For more information about infectious disease in the state of Alaska, visit the Department of Health Epidemiology page.

Decision to Move to Modified Operations

When there is known transmission of communicable illness identified within a class, team, group or school community, modified operations will involve increased communication and following public health guidelines . 

The following steps may be included as part of modified operations: 

1. Encouraging masking for a short period of time for a school, grade band, classroom, activity group, etc.

2. Limit large group gatherings, such as school wide assemblies

3. Increase high touch surface cleaning 

4. Limited sharing of classroom supplies

5. PE instruction outdoors as much as weather permits

Campus Closure Protocols

On rare occasions, immediate closure and subsequent reopening of FNSBSD campuses during periods of peak communicable disease transmission may be necessary throughout the school year to maintain healthy school environments for district students and staff. District administration will determine whether a campus closure is necessary and school communities will be notified as soon as possible. During school closures, all student activities for the affected school may be canceled until the campus is re-opened for in-person learning. Campus closure is defined as the entire school being closed.