During the SMSD Board of Education meeting on Jan. 24, a new COVID-19 mitigation plan was presented and voted on. 

Previously, masks were optional. If a SMSD building reached 3% or higher of the student body in quarantine, masks would be required for at least two weeks. Since Northwest exceeded the 3%, masks were required again. 

On Jan. 24, board members decided masks are now required until Feb. 15. If the number of positive tests is 8% or higher and the number of students after an extended break (Summer, Spring, Winter and Thanksgiving) is unknown, all buildings will return to required masking. This will not last longer than a week unless the number of positive cases is 3% or higher. 

The Shawnee Mission School District will continue to implement their previous quarantine protocol, which can be found here. 

As of Jan. 24, Johnson County currently has 11,502 positive COVID-19 cases according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). As of Jan. 21, the Shawnee Mission School District currently has 919 students absent due to either exposure to COVID-19 or a positive test.