Health & Safety

• The Superintendent of Schools has been identified as the District COVID-19 Program Coordinator.

• The Principals at each site has been identified as the Site COVID-19 Program Coordinator.

The Site COVID-19 Program Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring all building staff are made aware of current operational procedures and future updates. District staff, under the direction of the Superintendent, will provide training and other information to all staff as part of orientation for new staff, at the beginning of the school year, and as needed throughout the calendar year.

The District will follow the current recommendations from MDH/MDE regarding face coverings and social distancing protocols for students, staff, and visitors. Employees and visitors are expected to wear face coverings in district buildings. See MDH guidance on the use of face coverings and the ISD162 Mask FAQ for further info. Employees will be issued one cloth face mask and one face shield at the beginning of the school year, but limited numbers will be available at all district buildings for employees or visitors who need additional face coverings.

Students, employees and visitors are expected to wear a face covering:

• Upon entering a district building

• When walking in common areas like lobbies, hallways, bathrooms, kitchens, and cafeterias

• When unable to maintain minimum social distancing of 6 feet.

• Masks may be temporarily removed in accordance with executive order 80-21 and 2020-2021 Planning Guide for Schools.

  • 1. • Face coverings may be temporarily removed to eat or drink, but care should be taken to maintain as much space as possible between people, recognizing it is not always feasible to maintain 6 feet of distance from others.

       • During indoor practices or performances involving singing, acting, public speaking, or playing musical instruments where a face covering cannot be used while playing the instrument. Performers should maintain 6 feet or greater of physical distance from others while participating in the activity to the extent possible, and should replace their face covering as soon as the activity is completed.

       • People who are entering the school building during the day may be required by school staff to briefly remove their face covering for the purposes of checking identification.

       • Staff working alone in their offices, classrooms, vehicles, or other job locations who do not have any person-to-person interaction.

       • Staff working in communal spaces (e.g., at desks or in cubicles) that have barriers such as plexiglass or cubicle walls between employees that are above face level.

       • When communicating with a person who is deaf or hard of hearing or has a disability, medical condition, or mental health condition that makes communication with a face covering difficult, provided that social distancing is maintained to the extent possible.

Employees who are unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition or their job duties should speak with their supervisor regarding alternatives and provide medical documentation of exemption, before returning to work.

Employees who serve students with sensory or cognitive needs whose instruction or safety would be negatively impacted by the use of a face mask, will use a face shield. The identification of individual student needs will be determined through an IEP or 504 team meeting.

Visitors to district buildings will be asked to wear a face covering. If they choose not to wear a face covering, they will be asked to meet at a location where a barrier is available for interaction with others.

Basic infection prevention measures are in effect in workplaces at all times. Staff, students and visitors are instructed to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water frequently throughout the day, but especially at the beginning and end of the day, prior to any mealtimes and after using the restroom. All staff, students and visitors are required to wash or sanitize their hands prior to or immediately upon entering the facility. Hand-sanitizer dispensers are at main building entrances, common areas, and classrooms.

Staff, students and visitors are instructed to cover their mouth and nose with their sleeve or a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and to avoid touching their face, particularly their mouth, nose and eyes, with their hands. Staff, students and visitors should wash or sanitize their hands immediately afterward.

Hygiene etiquette will be communicated to staff and students on a regular basis in various forms including posters, videos, and physical modeling.

Hygiene supplies provided by ISD162, including hand sanitizer, will meet all required safety requirements. Custodial staff will monitor the availability of hygiene supplies at least once daily. School staff who identify that cleaning supplies need to be replaced will notify building custodial staff.

All staff will assist with cleaning and disinfecting their personal work spaces and instructional spaces. Cleaning and disinfecting supplies are provided for employees to use in accordance with product labels. The school district’s custodial department will implement additional disinfection procedures to ensure the building is ready for students each day. Custodial staff will use a variety of equipment and supplies to clean areas and surfaces following recommended guidelines related to ventilation and usage procedures. When not in use, cleaning materials and equipment will be properly stored away from children. All chemicals used will support disinfection of surfaces. These chemicals will be those normally used in the school setting. Extra attention will be given to high-touch surfaces.

Custodial staff will clean and disinfect the following high-touch surfaces and objects at least daily (or more, depending on use):

• Door knobs and handles

• Handrails

• Lunchroom tables and chairs

• Countertops

• Light switches

• Handles on equipment

• Push-buttons on vending machines and elevators

• Restrooms

All staff will be provided with cleaning supplies for their work or instructional area. Sharing of supplies will be avoided. Specific procedures for requesting additional supplies will be identified for each site.

Bagley Public Schools will utilize passive screening practices at all sites. Every student, visitor and staff member is expected to self-monitor for new symptoms of COVID-19 each day before arriving on site and while on site using the MDH Daily Self-Screening Tool, and should stay home or go home if exhibiting a new cough and/or shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, or two or more of the following symptoms with no other diagnosis to explain them:

• fever of 100.4°F or greater

• chills and a repeated shaking with chills

• muscle pain

• headache

• sore throat

• loss of taste or smell

Students and employees should stay home from school/work and notify their school/supervisor if they:

• Have one or more symptoms of COVID-19

• Lives with someone who has COVID-19

• Have been in close contact (within 6 feet for greater than 15 minutes, with or without a face covering) with anyone who has been instructed to isolate due to illness or positive test according to Minnesota Department of Health.

• Have been advised by a medical provider that they may have been exposed to COVID-19

• If students/families/employees have traveled, they should follow the guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and/or local government.

If a student/employee develop symptoms of COVID-19 while at school/work, they should notify their teacher/supervisor and site COVID-19 Program Coordinator and avoid contact with others. See below for how decisions will be handled if students/staff exhibit symptoms while at school.

Employees who test positive for COVID-19 must stay home from work, notify their supervisor, separate themselves from others, and reference the Minnesota Department of Health’s What to do if you have COVID-19 guide and their physician for additional guidance.

Human Resources and Health Services follow guidance from public health agencies to identify and notify others who have had relevant exposure to the employee, with information about the need to quarantine and take appropriate leave. Human Resources and Health Services are liaisons for communication with and between employees and community resources for support.

The principal at each building is the COVID-19 Program Coordinator for that building. The coordinators receive input and communicate concerns related to COVID-19. They also serve as the point of contact for their sites, and work collaboratively with district leadership, Human Resources, and Health Services.

When to Return to Work

Employees who have COVID-19, symptoms of the disease, or were exposed to someone with the disease or its symptoms, should follow the Minnesota Department of Health’s Decision Tree for Symptomatic People to determine when it is safe for them to return to work.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Privacy is critical during this time. In accordance with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), names and information of those that have been identified as positive or those that went home sick are not to be shared (staff or child). Sharing of this information violates HIPAA and can result in disciplinary action. Bagley Public Schools cannot disclose or assume the health conditions of children, staff or families to anyone.

Students/families who test positive for COVID-19 must stay home from school, notify the school office, separate themselves from others, and reference the Minnesota Department of Health’s What to do if you have COVID-19 guide, COVID Illness FAQ's and their physician for additional guidance.

Health Services follow guidance from public health agencies to identify and notify others who have had relevant exposure to the student, with information about the need to quarantine and take appropriate leave. Human Resources and Health Services are liaisons for communication with and between students, families, staff and community resources for support.

The principal at each building is the COVID-19 Program Coordinator for that building. The coordinators receive input and communicate concerns related to COVID-19. They also serve as the point of contact for their sites, and work collaboratively with district leadership, Human Resources, and Health Services.

Students are responsible for completing all school work in accordance with the Bagley School District handbook.

When to Return to School

Students who have COVID-19, symptoms of the disease, or were exposed to someone with the disease or its symptoms, should follow the Minnesota Department of Health’s Decision Tree for Symptomatic People to determine when it is safe for them to return to school.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Privacy is critical during this time. In accordance with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), names and information of those that have been identified as positive or those that went home sick are not to be shared (staff or child). Sharing of this information violates HIPAA and can result in disciplinary action. Bagley Public Schools cannot disclose or assume the health conditions of children, staff or families to anyone.

When guidance is finalized for the 2020-2021 school year additional best practices and protocols will be issued for student drop-off and pick-up. As of July 30th, Bagley Public Schools will utilize passive screening practices at all sites, but may include on site screening when necessary.

• Each morning, parents are encouraged to review health screening information with their child.

• There are designated doors for entering and exiting the building.

• Building visitors will be limited and by appointment only.

• Hand sanitizing options are available for visitors/students to use as they enter the building.

• If medications need to be dropped off, they will need to be in a sealed bag with medical providers orders and our form giving permission.

The district follows all industry guidance recommendations. Fresh air recirculation and ventilation are properly maintained and monitored. Building mechanical systems are regularly evaluated to provide proper ventilation and healthy indoor air quality that meets EPA and ASHRAE standards. The district will alter as many settings as possible to promote the intake and circulation of fresh air in the school building while maintaining all code and standards that apply to public schools.

• Water Fountains - Water fountains will be shut off and students will be encouraged to utilize a water bottle to remain hydrated.

• Restrooms - Staff will work to stagger restroom breaks for students so as to limit the number of occupants at any given time.

• Cafeterias - Appropriate signage will be in place to implement social distancing and utilize specific traffic patterns.

• Playgrounds - Playground usage will be in accordance with MDE/MDH guidelines.