What will be the primary mode of communication with parents?
How can the community (eg: parents) be leveraged to support school health plans?
What local expertise can be used to guide the decisions we make on a local level?
How can you promote social distancing, hand washing, sneezing, coughing and PPE use through summer and preparing to return to school
PDE Health and Safety Plan Requirements
Plan must include the following:
System for ensuring ongoing communication with families around the elements of the local Health and Safety Plan including ways that families can practice safe hygiene in the home.
Timely and effective family and caregiver communication about health and safety protocols and schedules will be critical. Schools should be particularly mindful that frequent communications are accessible in non-English languages and to all caregivers (this is particularly important for children residing with grandparents or other kin or foster caregivers). Additionally, LEAs should establish and maintain ongoing communication with local and state authorities to determine current mitigation levels in your community.
PDE Considerations
Post Health and Safety Plan on public school/district website.
Provide regular update information on school website and in parent flyers/letters.
Encourage caregivers and families to practice and reinforce good prevention habits at home and within their families.
Remind parents to keep child at home if sick with any illness.
Prepare parents and families for remote learning if school is temporarily dismissed.
Provide training to prepare parents/guardians for digital and remote learning.
Discourage students and families from gathering in other public places while school is dismissed to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
Engagement of the School Community is crucial in any planning for return to school in the fall.
Survey families about their intentions for the fall return to school.
Engaging parents in conversations around what safety for students and the community looks like.
Engaging parents in conversations around what mandatory/required remote learning for students looks like.
Hold Virtual PTO/Family Forums for input on instructional methodologies for next school year.
Consider starting/continuing the conversation about the start of school throughout the summer with parents and students.
Communicate with your constituents, board and stakeholders;
Develop predetermined responses to questions and concerns that may be asked by community members.
Be prepared to communicate with the press realizing that everything that you share will be of the utmost importance.
Explore and determine digital and social media platforms that can be utilized to share information.