Facilitate Effective and Open Communication

BRSSD commits to providing our community with open and regular communication. As elaborated in the Pandemic Recovery Framework, during the COVID 19 threat, the district is responsible for maintaining its essential operations and supporting public health where possible. As such, the District has and will continue to work closely with the San Mateo County Health Officer to monitor the threat, promote strategies to prevent disease transmission, and prepare for the potential spread within the community.

Family and Student Education

As a community, we will work together to keep one another safe. This begins with consistent communication, clear expectations, and opportunity for dialogue between stakeholders. We have held multiple parent engagement sessions and continue to seek feedback through public opportunities.

Family education begins at our Town Hall meetings scheduled for the week of November 17.

Tuesday, November 17th

Ralston Middle School, 5:00-6:00 pm

Wednesday, November 18th

Cipriani, 5:00-6:00 pm
Nesbit, 5:00-6:00 pm
Fox, 6:00-7:00 pm
Sandpiper, 6:00-7:00 pm

Thursday, November 19th

Central, 6:00-7:00 pm
Redwood Shores, 6:00-7:00 pm

Students will be welcomed back to campus for instruction in a measured, sequential approach here in-person health and hygiene training will take place. Staff will work together to explain all the safety protocols including health and hygiene, face coverings, physical distancing, restroom use and flow patterns around campus. Topics will include the following:

Ingress/Egress procedures.
Playground rules.
Bathroom procedures.
Handwashing protocols and techniques.
Physical distancing protocols.
Face Covering Protocols.
Classroom/playground materials protocol.
Water bottle filling procedures.

Staff Training and Education

Our staff will be "on the ground" ensuring that protocols are followed. We will work with our school site administrators to ensure that all staff receive training to effectively monitor adherence to the four safety pillars. We have begun the process, and will continue to engage in this work with our dedicated team.

Staff will receive training through online education and at staff meetings regarding safety protocols prior to all students returning to in-person learning. Topics to be included are:

Site-specific ingress/egress plans and monitoring.
COVID-19 surveillance testing plan and procedures.
Use of the district-wide screening application.
Thermometer training.
Classroom best practices for mitigating COVID spread including hand washing and hygiene routines.
Plan for onsite staff or student illnesses including isolation spaces.
Procedures for when BRSSD becomes aware of a COVID-19 case or contact.
Review of district-wide reopening plan.

District wide professional development will begin with a staff training on December 2, 2020. Additional training will be conducted prior to staff beginning with students in January 2021.

The district will facilitate a medical panel geared toward staff safety and preparation on January 12, 2021.

Health Check Forms

All employees are required to submit self-certifications on a daily basis as part of our protocols for safe re-entry to the work place.

Employee Symptom Screeners

The following Google forms will be used for employees pending a transition to Parent Square

Central Elementary School: cen-selfcheck.brssd.us
Cipriani Middle School: cip-selfcheck.brssd.us
Fox Elementary School: fox-selfcheck.brssd.us
Nesbit School: nes-selfcheck.brssd.us
Ralston Middle School: ral-selfcheck.brssd.us
Redwood Shores Elementary School: red-selfcheck.brssd.us
Sandpiper Elementary School: san-selfcheck.brssd.us
District Office: do-selfcheck.brssd.us

Student Symptom Screeners

BRSSD will utilize the Parent Square app to collect and facilitate daily student symptom screening.

The link and training materials will be provided when available

Visitor Screeners

We have a strict no-visitor policy at the moment. Any visitors to the school site will be District personnel who will utilize a Google form available at all front offices.

Central Elementary School: cen-selfcheck.brssd.us
Cipriani Middle School: cip-selfcheck.brssd.us
Fox Elementary School: fox-selfcheck.brssd.us
Nesbit School: nes-selfcheck.brssd.us
Ralston Middle School: ral-selfcheck.brssd.us
Redwood Shores Elementary School: red-selfcheck.brssd.us
Sandpiper Elementary School: san-selfcheck.brssd.us
District Office: do-selfcheck.brssd.us

Case Examples

When a Student, Teacher, or Staff member Has Symptoms, Is a Close Contact of Someone Infected or Is Diagnosed with COVID-19, we will follow guidance from the San Mateo County Public Health Department.

Included below are two tables that detail the processes we will follow based on the situation.

Table 1. Steps to Take in Response to Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 Cases and Close Contacts to Known COVID-19 Cases

Table 2. Steps to Take in Response to Negative Test Results

Table 1

Table 2

School Site Plans and Directional Maps

Each school principal has developed their site plans with input from stakeholders. These comprehensive plans include ingress, egress, walkways, restroom assignments by cohort, location of isolation spaces, playground and recess areas, as well as plans for staff and student training.

Central Elementary School - Plan and Directional Maps

Cipriani Elementary School - Plan and Directional Maps

Fox Elementary School - Plan and Directional Maps

Nesbit School - Plan and Directional Maps

Ralston Middle School - Plan and Directional Maps

Redwood Shores Elementary School - Plan and Directional Maps

Sandpiper Elementary School - Plan and Directional Maps

Central School Plan and Directional Maps

Cipriani School Plan and Directional Maps

Fox School Plan and Directional Maps

Nesbit School Plan and Directional Maps

Redwood Shores School Plan and Directional Maps

Sandpiper School Plan and Directional Maps

Ralston School Plan and Directional Maps

Community Town Hall and Medical Discussion Panel Recordings

All staffs and school communities were invited to participate in site-specific town halls. We also hosted a discussion with medical professionals about school reopening with a community focus. You can access the recordings below.

Community Town Halls

Ralston Middle - Meeting Recording

Cipriani Elementary - Meeting Recording
Nesbit School - Meeting Recording
Fox Elementary - Meeting Recording
Sandpiper School - Meeting Recording

Central Elementary - Meeting Recording
Redwood Shores Elementary - Meeting Recording

Medical Panel Discussion

Medical Professionals Discuss School Reopening in the Era of COVID-19 - Panel Recording
Medical Panel Discussion for Educators - Panel Recording

Sample Community Messages - Positive Case

In the event that there is a positive case in your local community, you will receive a notification similar to the sample included here. You will not receive further details unless you are considered a close contact; this is to protect confidentiality and to follow HIPPA laws.

Sample Message to School Community When a Student or Staff Member is a Case

Dear [XXX School/Classroom] Parents/Guardians and Staff:

The health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority. This letter is to inform you that a member of our school community has tested positive for COVID-19.

Consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), California Department of Public Health, and our protocols, the community member is self-quarantining, monitoring symptoms, and working with their healthcare provider to identify additional steps.

We will also reach out to staff members and families who might be considered a close contact. (Close contacts are individuals who were in proximity to the person who tested positive, less than 6 feet, for more than 15 minutes). If you do not receive a separate notice, you can consider your [self/child] an indirect contact, and no further action is required on your part.

We will update you with any additional pertinent information when we receive it. Please continue to monitor [your self/child] for symptoms and keep them home if they or someone in your household is experiencing influenza-like illness. Please contact your healthcare provider if you have any additional questions or concerns.

Consistent with privacy laws and our own policies, we cannot share more specific information concerning the community member. As members of a compassionate and caring community, I ask everyone to respect each other’s privacy, especially health information.

Finally, there are concrete things we all can do to keep ourselves and families healthy and safe: practice good hygiene, wear face coverings and practice social distancing when outside of your home, and avoid public gatherings. Thank you for your continued support.

Resources:

Sample Community Messages - Close Contact

In the event that you are a close contact, you will receive a notification similar to the sample included here.

Sample Message to School Community When a Student or Staff Member is a Close Contact

Dear [XXX School/Classroom] Parents/Guardians and Staff:

The health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority. This letter is to inform you that a member of your child’s [class/cohort] has been in close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Consistent with the California Department of Public Health’s and our protocols, the community member is in quarantine, monitoring symptoms, and working with their healthcare provider to identify additional steps, including testing if advised. We have also conducted a thorough cleaning of the [school/classroom]. [School/the program] will be open on [Monday?] as planned.

As part of its contact tracing, you should be notified by Public Health. In the meantime, San Mateo County Health advises that [you/your child] immediately quarantine to the greatest extent possible, even if [you/they] are asymptomatic. In addition, please work with your healthcare provider to schedule testing as soon as possible. Be sure to let the provider know that [you/your child] has had a direct exposure through this cohort. Information and links to testing sites are available from the County of San Mateo.

At this point, there is no laboratory-confirmed case in your child’s [class/cohort]. We will update you with any additional pertinent information when we receive it. Please continue to monitor [your self/child] for symptoms and keep them home if they or someone in your household is experiencing influenza-like illness. Please contact your healthcare provider if you have any additional questions or concerns.

Resources

Pandemic Terms/Glossary

There are several terms that are new and specific to our pandemic response; please see the list included below if you have any questions.

Case - A person who tests positive for COVID-19

Close Contact - A person who has been within six feet for more than 15 minutes with a case or potential case

Contacts to Contact - Contacts to Contact are people who may have been in proximity to a Contact

Disinfecting - The use of chemicals, for example, EPA-registered disinfectants, to kill germs on surfaces. Disinfecting does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but killing germs remaining on a surface after cleaning further reduces the risk of spreading infection

Face Covering - A covering made of cloth, fabric, or other soft or absorbent material, without holes, that covers only the nose and mouth and surrounding areas of the lower face

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - Equipment that is worn and used to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses. In response to COVID-19, essential protective equipment may include items such as face coverings, gloves, handwashing supplies, including hand sanitizer and safety glasses for some workers

Physical Distancing - Maintaining a greater than usual physical distance from other people or avoiding direct contact with people or objects in public places during a pandemic in order to minimize exposure and reduce the transmission of infection

Staggered Schedule - A school schedule that allows for staggered drop-off/pick up times and school class schedules in order to accommodate physical distancing recommendations

Get in touch at feedback@brssd.org

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