Fruitvale ISD has implemented increased cleaning protocols, hand sanitizer stations throughout the facilities and in classrooms, social distancing measures, self screening protocols, and education for our staff and students on hand washing and classroom cleaning measures. The district is providing gators, masks and shields as options on campus for staff and students. Sneeze guards are going up in the offices and we are building outdoor pavilion classrooms and creating outdoor classroom spaces for our students and staff. Disinfectants will be used for deep campus cleaning. Social distancing and safety signage will be added and visible throughout the school facilities. Our staff and student safety is our number one priority. Families will have the option for their child to participate in on campus instruction or to participate in virtual instruction daily. Substitute teachers will be screened and have their temperature taken if needed on campus, and will be required to report COVID-19 situations to administration.
FISD will not allow normal visitation to our campuses. Only FISD staff is allowed on campus during preparation for reopen. Visitors to campus will wear a face covering, maintain social distancing and must have a scheduled appointment. Upon arrival on campus, visitors will complete the COVID-19 screening process and have a temperature check. No volunteers will be allowed on campus.
FISD will discontinue staff travel to conferences until further notice unless pre-approved by the office of the Superintendent. We will minimize non essential travel throughout the year.
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the potential risk of exposure to our employees and students, we will be requiring employees to take their temperature prior to coming to campus and to complete a self-screening on Time clock plus with questions related to COVID-19 symptoms including:
● Cough
● Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
● Chills
● Repeated shaking with chills
● Muscle pain
● Headache
● Sore throat
● Loss of taste or smell
● Diarrhea
● Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit
● Known close contact with a person who is lab confirmed to have COVID-19
All screening information will be kept confidential by Human Resource and the district nurse. Teachers and staff must report if they have COVID-19 symptoms or are lab confirmed with COVID-19, and, if so, they must remain off campus until they meet the criteria for re-entry. Additionally, staff must report if they have had close contact with an individual who is lab-confirmed with COVID-19, and, if so, must remain off campus until the 10-day incubation period has passed.
Parents must ensure they do not send their student to school if the child has COVID-19 symptoms or is lab-confirmed with COVID-19, and instead should opt to receive virtual instruction until the conditions for re-entry have been met. Parents may also opt to have their child receive virtual instruction if their child has had close contact with an individual who is lab confirmed with COVID-19 until the 10-day incubation period has passed.
At the beginning of the year and the start of every week of on-campus instruction, FISD parents will screen students prior to coming onto campus by taking their temperatures and answering the COVID-19 screening questions. FISD is permitted to prevent any individuals who fail the screening criteria from being admitted to the campus or a bus until they meet any of the criteria for re-entry to the campus.
● All district staff will be trained in COVID-19 safety protocols.
● Disinfectants will be used for deep cleaning campuses.
● Students, teachers, staff, and essential campus visitors will be encouraged to sanitize and/or wash hands frequently.
● Tissues will be provided in each classroom and common areas to encourage students and staff to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, and if not available, to cover with their bows. Used tissues should be thrown into the trash immediately and hand washed immediately with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or hand sanitizer should be used.
● Sneeze guards and plexi-glass will be added to public reception desks.
● Social distancing signage will be added and visible throughout school facilities.
● No outside visitors or parents will be allowed to enter the student areas of the school.
● All visitors will be scheduled to be on campus and screened prior to a scheduled meeting. We will prevent visitors who fail the health screening from being admitted on campus until they meet the criteria for reentry to campus.
● Students will utilize backpacks instead of hallway lockers, at least during the fall semester, to help ensure social distancing/space between students.
Individuals including students, teachers, staff or other campus visitors/volunteers who have had close contact with someone who is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19, as narrowly defined in this document as determined by the appropriate public health agency through the 10-day incubation period, and should not be allowed on campus.
Fruitvale ISD school nurses will screen individuals after the incubation period has concluded, and if the individual did not experience COVID-19 symptoms during that period, the individual can be allowed back on campus. If the individual experienced symptoms, they must stay at home until the conditions for reentry have been met.
If an employee or student becomes ill on campus/district, he/she will immediately report to the district nurse’s isolation room and the case form will be completed.
Once the employee or student arrives at the isolation room, immediately provide them with a mask and gloves. Explain that this is to help protect other employees and students and prevent the spread of the potential virus.
The nurse must complete the Suspected COVID-19 Case Form and call the local health authority and seek advice regarding transportation and location.
The nurse and others attending the suspected infected person, should also wear a protective mask and gloves while working with the suspected infected person.
The nurse will direct the ill employee to leave work or call the parent of the student to be picked up and go home. The nurse and campus/district supervisor must identify persons who may have come in contact with the suspected infected person. Unless required by the local health authority, the name of the employee/student should not be provided.
The nurse will advise employees and families of students that they may have been in contact with a suspected employee/student, and if they test positive will post on the school district website. The isolation area and suspected employee’s or student’s work area/classroom must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, in addition to all other common surfaces recently touched by the employee or student.
Positive Cases and Teachers, Staff, or Students Showing COVID-19 Symptoms
· Schools should close off areas used by a sick individual (student, teacher, or staff) until they can be disinfected. If possible, wait 24 hours to clean these areas to increase the chances of the virus becoming inactive. If 24 hours is not possible, wait as long as possible.
· If a positive case is identified for a school participant, whether teacher, staff, or student, the school must identify any individuals who had regular or close contact with the affected participant. This will include the entire class (students, teacher and staff) and potentially other teachers and staff (if multiple teachers work regularly with the student or staff member). If those teachers or the students interacted with other students or staff on a regular basis or came in close contact with them, those students and staff should be considered potentially exposed as well and should be screened for symptoms and tested for COVID-19 before returning to school or should quarantine for the required time period.
· All participants of the school program must receive notice if there is a positive case- we will do this through our school messenger email, so please ensure your email is correct. We will also post case numbers on the Fruitvale ISD website. FISD cannot release names or specific classes of students because of FERPA privacy laws.
· Any teacher, staff member, or student who experiences any of the symptoms of COVID-19 (listed below) should self-isolate until the below conditions have been met. In the case of an individual who was diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual may return to the school program when all three of the following criteria are met:
· at least three days (72 hours) have passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications); and
· the individual has improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and
· at least ten days have passed since symptoms first appeared; or in the case of an individual who has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and does not get evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19, the individual is assumed to have COVID-19, and the individual may not return to work until the individual has completed the same three-step criteria listed above; or if the individual has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and wants to return to the school program before completing the above self-isolation period, the individual must obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for return based on an alternative diagnosis.
Any student, teacher, or staff member living with someone who experiences any of the symptoms of COVID-19, whether they have a positive COVID-19 test or not, should self-isolate until the above conditions have been met. If they do not experience any COVID-19 symptoms during that period, they can return to school. If they experience symptoms, they must self-isolate until the conditions outlined above have been met.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or ACT) requires employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. These provisions apply until December 2020. Please contact the administration office with questions or if you need to apply for leave.
1. We will have one nurse designated for non-COVID situations.
2. School nurses will be trained in COVID-19 safety protocols.
3. Minor health needs will be handled in classrooms for the most part.
4. All school health areas will be cleaned and disinfected regularly.
While we all hope to avoid exposure to illness from COVID-19, we need to be prepared for that possibility. If you or someone you’ve been in contact with has been exposed to the virus, our first concern is for your health and safety and those around you. In this rapidly changing situation, healthcare providers should have the most up-to-date information from the CDC.
Please do the following:
Quarantine yourself in a specific room away from others in your home
Contact the following (in order of priority), let them know you have been exposed to COVID-19, then follow their instructions.
Your healthcare provider
Your supervisor
FISD Administration office
Your supervisor will work with admin to determine appropriate next steps.
In case of an emergency, call 911 and let them know you have been exposed to COVID-19, then follow their instructions.
FISD recommends the student, teacher, staff or visitor should stay home through the 10 day incubation period and will not be allowed on campus. If the individual experiences symptoms, they must stay home until they meet the return to school/work requirements.
LAB CONFIRMED CASE RESPONSE
· Local Health Department Notified
· Areas Closed for Cleaning
· Alert Notifications Are Sent
Social distancing is an effective way to prevent potential infection. FISD employees, students, parents, and visitors should practice staying approximately 6 feet away from others and eliminating contact with others.
● Traffic Flow – Taped lines on the floor will mark the walking direction throughout the office in order to maintain the social distancing requirement of 6 feet
● Ad-hoc Interactions/Gatherings – Non-essential/informal meetups and visiting should be avoided
● Students and staff will be trained in proper social distancing.
● Signage will be used as a reminder to help assist students and staff with social distancing in common spaces and hallways.
● Whenever possible throughout the day, students and staff will remain six feet apart. NOTE: It isn’t realistic that staff and students can maintain six feet of social distancing at all times, especially in the classrooms.
Social distancing becomes a personal responsibility of each individual attending school or coming to the FISD facility.
In order to minimize exposure to COVID-19, PPE may be needed to prevent certain exposures. PPE can include:
Masks: Face masks are an important part of student and employee protection, as well as personal hygiene, social distancing, and frequent cleaning efforts. All staff and students will be provided options for masks including disposable masks, face shields or gators (buffs). FISD staff and students will comply with the governor’s orders concerning face coverings. Elementary students are not required to wear mask, and TEA has said that it is not developmentally appropriate for PK and Kinder students to wear face coverings, but parents will determine if masks are developmentally appropriate for their child for first grade through fifth grade. Parents will be responsible for ensuring students bring these back to school each day for usage.
JH/HS students who are participating in outdoor activities (such as PE, ag, or band) will not be required to be masked, and if a staff or student brings a medical note they will not be required to wear a mask. If social distancing is maintained the students do not have to be masked, but during interactions with others they will be required under the current governor’s orders to comply. When the governor’s orders end, then it will become optional for staff and students.
We hope to keep at the Elementary and Junior High pods of students together for the most part during the day- which will minimize exposure to large groups of students, and we will encourage students to wear their gators or mask in larger settings to reduce transmission.
The Texas Education Agency is sending a number of disposable masks, reusable masks, gloves, thermometers, face shields and hand sanitizer to the district. The district has purchased multiple of additional items in addition to these for our staff and students.
Gloves: Touching your face with contaminated hands, whether gloved or not, poses a significant risk of infection. Wearing gloves does not diminish the need to wash your hands. Please remember to wash your hands properly as it is the number-one defense against any virus. Additionally, the proper removal of gloves reduces the risk of being exposed to contamination.
Please note that social distancing should still be practiced even with the use of gloves and masks.
In addition to using PPE, please remember to:
● Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. Staff and students will be trained in proper hand washing protocols to prevent COVID-19 and the spread of germs.
● Elementary teachers will teach and supervise proper hand washing.
● Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
● Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow
FISD staff will use the signage provided to indicate the room is in need of sanitizing and disinfecting. All teachers and students are asked not to visit another classroom outside of their team or grade level. Employees are encouraged to disinfect their own personal workspace (teacher desk, phone, etc) throughout the day, giving special attention to commonly touched surfaces. Disinfectants should be stored securely in classrooms when not in use.
Space seating/desks at least 6 feet apart when feasible, or have students wear mask and sanitize when working close together.
Turn desks to face the same direction, or have students sit on only one side of tables, spaced apart.
Create distance between children on school buses, unless they are the same household, or have students wear mask and use hand sanitizer.
Provide physical guides, such as tape on floors or sidewalks and signs on walls, to ensure that staff and children remain at least 6 feet apart in lines and at other times.
In areas such as dining halls and playgrounds with shared equipment stagger usage and clean and disinfect between use. Elementary students will be able to play on the playground with a reduced number of students.
Keep each child’s belongings separated from others and in individually labeled containers, cubbies or areas.
Classrooms need adequate amounts of supplies so they can minimize sharing of high touch materials (such as art supplies). If sharing is unavoidable, limit use of supplies and equipment to one group of children at a time and clean and disinfect between uses.
Employees are encouraged to disinfect their shared workspace in shared areas multiple times throughout the day, giving special attention to commonly touched surfaces. FISD has alcohol-based hand sanitizers throughout the workplace and in common areas. Cleaning sprays and wipes are also available to clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces such as telephones and keyboards. The FISD Custodial Team will clean all workspaces at their designated cleaning time.
Please note that proper equipment such as acceptable disinfectant and PPE should be used when cleaning individual workspaces.
There will be limited access to certain workspaces to reduce exposure to risks and ensure employee safety. Workspace usage is as follows:
Capacity– FISD will be monitoring the number of employees in the offices while the risk of infection exists and begins to diminish.
Meetings- All meetings are required to use Zoom as a virtual option even for employees in the office or school, or provide room for social distancing.
Breakrooms or Teacher Lounge/Multipurpose Room–These spaces could be closed for use until at different times of the year. This includes the use of shared appliances such as coffee machines, refrigerators, and microwaves.
The safety of our employees and students are our first priority. Upon reopening, our schools have been completely cleaned and disinfected and we will continue to adhere to all necessary safety precautions. In addition to the deep cleaning of the office and school before employees and students return, the cleaning steps outlined below are to be taken to disinfect workplace surfaces, chairs, tables, etc. to protect employees and reduce the risk of spread of infection. We will require employees to maintain this safety standard by continuously cleaning and disinfecting based on the frequency stated below.
Classrooms, Offices
At the end of each use/day
Appliances
Refrigerators, Microwaves, Coffee Machines
Daily
Electronic Equipment
Copier machines, Shared computer monitors, TV’s, Telephones, keyboards
At the end of each use/day and/or between use
General Used Objects
Handles, light switches, sinks, restrooms
At least 4 times a day
Buses
Bus seats, handles/railing, belts, window controls
At the end of each use/day
Common Areas
Cafeteria, Library, Conference rooms, Gyms, Common Areas
At the end of each use/day; between groups
The goal is to establish a sanitary baseline before the site opens. The site should be 100% disinfected prior to anyone returning to work.
· FISD custodial employees will be trained on COVID-19 safety protocols.
· Cleaning and disinfecting will occur daily in every classroom, common areas, and on high touch surfaces.
· Every classroom and office area will have disinfectant wipes and or disinfectant in a spray bottle with cleaning cloths provided to employees to use in high touch areas throughout the school day.
Deep cleaning is triggered when an active employee or student is identified as positive for COVID 19 based on testing. Deep cleaning should be performed as soon as the confirmation of a positive test, as practical. While the scope of deep cleaning is presumed to be the full site, sites may reduce the footprint to be deep cleaned if there is sufficient rationale to do so, and they gain approval of the superintendent. Notwithstanding the above, if an active employee is confirmed to have a COVID-19 positive test, in lieu of performing deep clearing, sites may shut down the site for a period of 72 hours to allow for natural deactivation of the virus, followed by site personnel performing a comprehensive disinfection of all common surfaces. If possible custodial staff should wait 24 hours before disinfecting the area where a COVID 19 case is identified.
Signage will be placed throughout the offices and school district to remind staff and students of social distancing, hand washing and sanitation, and other positive safety protocols.
Library books will be reviewed on the school website and we will set up a way for them to notify the instructional aides in the libraries of their wish to check out a book. The book will be delivered to the student for checkout in their classroom, books will be returned to a plastic bin in the classroom to be picked up by the library and held for a number of days before being put out for recheck in the library. No student or staff will enter the library and touch multiple books while browsing for a selection.
· Cafeteria staff will be trained in COVID-19 safety protocols.
· Students will be provided with healthy meals Monday-Friday regardless of instructional setting or days on the campus, free of charge.
· Lunches are staggered to limit capacity
· Deep sanitizing of tables, chairs and walls will be done daily.
· No parents/visitors during lunch time.
· Classes will go to lunch on a staggered schedule to minimize the number of students in the cafeteria.
· We will have a no touch process for entering the numbers for student meals.
· Plexiglass will be installed to provide an additional barrier between the student and the cashier.
· Students may bring their own meals or be served individually plated meals in the cafeteria. A microwave will be provided in the cafeteria for warming food. The district will not allow outside food deliveries to our offices this school year.
· Students will be seated on one side of the table with a seat between them and the next student.
· Some students will also be able to eat in our outdoor pavilion when it is completed on campus, which will provide for additional safety and space.
· Each table and seat will be disinfected after usage.
· FISD will use disposable food service items and food items will be pre-packaged and boxed to minimize face-to face contact in the cafeteria line.
· Confirm school district has an adequate supply of soap, disinfection, hand sanitizer, paper towels, and tissues
· Confirm a supply of gloves and other protective gear
· Touch less thermometers on-site for employee and student screening
Provide supplies for employees to clean up after themselves in staff only restrooms.
While in restrooms or locker rooms, students are to stay 6 feet from others as a normal practice. Eliminate contact with others, such as handshakes. Avoid touching surfaces touched by others to the extent feasible. Avoid anyone who is coughing, sneezing or appears to be sick. Wash hands before exiting the area.
Sanitation logs will be turned in to the Transportation Director after completing your last route. All surfaces must be cleaned with a disinfectant solution.
· Hand sanitizer will be at the entry of all buses.
· For routes where students sit in close proximity within the bus, students are encouraged to wear mask or face shields while on the bus.
· When possible, windows will be open to allow outside air to circulate throughout the bus.
Bus drivers or custodial staff must disinfect the buses at a minimum:
Right after the morning and afternoon routes or after each trip
Bus drivers must not report to work if they suspect they are sick or if they have symptoms such as fever or difficulty breathing, or have been in contact with other people who have any confirmed respiratory illness or disease the last 7 days.
· Fruitvale ISD will provide bus transportation.
· Drivers will be trained in COVID-19 Protocols.
· Bus riders will be encouraged to social distance as much as possible.
· Bus riders will be taught to space themselves out from others as they exit the bus and walk into the school building.
· Drivers and riders will be strongly encouraged to wear a face covering.
· Hand sanitizers will be installed on all buses and are to be used by students when entering and exiting the bus.
· When possible, bus windows will be opened to allow outside air to circulate in the bus.
Arriving/Dismissal
● HRE will allow one day of two guardians walking in HS, PK, and Kindergarten students the first day. All other students will be dropped off and no visitors will be allowed on campus to walk students to class.
● Parents are encouraged to drop their child off at school to reduce possible virus exposure. We are discouraging school transportation.
● Students will be provided hand sanitizer stations and be encouraged to use hand sanitizer immediately upon entering the building.
● Parents will not be allowed to drop off before 7:30 a.m.
● Parents/guardians will not be able to leave their cars or enter the building. We ask that parents make appointments and if necessary, return at a time when students and staff are inside of their classrooms.
● Parents who wish to pick up their student before the end of the school day will need to call ahead so that the child can be sent or accompanied to parent vehicles upon arrival.
Paperwork will be provided at the vehicle and parents will not enter the building for pickups.
Parents may not schedule a pickup between 3:00 and 3:30 for a child.
The district/campus counselors will develop or provide videos and resources for parents and teachers to access. The counselors will work with students individually or in small groups to address any well-being needs. Counselors will have a scheduled meeting time with virtual students each day.
● Pre-return to school training-
Presented virtually to ensure understanding and preparedness to align with this manual
● First Day Training/Orientation
Align local protocols and procedures with this manual; meeting area must adhere to social distancing protocols or present via digital platform such as Zoom
● Cleaning Crew Protocols
Disinfection methods, comprehensive cleaning training
It is very important that all employees understand the safety requirements, protocols and expectations to ensure everyone and their communities stay safe and prevent the spread of the virus.
We will structure the training plan to effectively disseminate information to all teams and audiences.
Content Covered:
● All training topics can be reinforced with signage in the buildings.
● School/District checklists
● Response Teams
● Disinfection Measures
● Transportation
● Isolation protocols
● On site health screening
● Daily self-screenings
● Visitors
● Cleaning Crew Protocols
To stay updated on the most up-to-date information:
1. Teachers, students, and parents need to check their email often.
2. Visit our district website
3. Follow our Facebook