Health and wellness protocols

Introduction

The health and safety of the children and adults in our schools is paramount. Health and safety considerations always come first in every decision made and every action taken by our school district.

Mitigation is accomplished by:

• Temperature Checks and Health Screening Attestations (see Before Arrival);

• Healthy Hygiene Practices

  • • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use district provided sanitizer.

    • Follow respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette.

• Social Distancing;

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Masks/Face Coverings (see Before Arrival);

• Management of Ill Persons; and

• Cleaning and Disinfection.

All students, faculty and staff are reminded that they must report symptoms of, or exposure to, COVID-19 to the school nurse. Please see our Health Services page for contact information.

Training will be provided to students and staff in healthy hygiene practices, social distancing, proper use of personal protective equipment, and to recognize the signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

All students, faculty, staff and visitors will be reminded through signage to adhere to CDC and DOH guidance regarding the use of PPE, specifically acceptable face coverings, when a social distance cannot be maintained.

Classroom Capacity and School Schedules

Our classroom capacity calculations and scheduling decisions are informed by health and safety standards and the most up-to-date guidance from the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Education Department.

Per the New York State Department of Health guidance, our plan addresses a combination of in-person instruction and remote instruction which may be necessary at various times throughout the 2020-2021 school year.

Classroom capacity is determined by calculating the number of students and teachers who can safely maintain 6 feet of social distancing in all directions. Student desks will be spaced six feet apart and will all face the same direction. Extraneous classroom furniture will be removed from each classroom to the extent possible to allow for social distancing.

A distance of 12 feet is to be maintained in all directions between individuals while participating in activities requiring projecting the voice, playing a wind instrument, and aerobics.

High Risk Groups

The following groups are at increased risk for complications from COVID-19 and may need added or alternative provisions for social distancing. Students who have family members who are in high risk groups may also need to attend school remotely. We will make accommodations to meet the needs of these students.

Students with special needs or students who are medically fragile may not be able to maintain social distancing, hand or respiratory hygiene, or wear a face covering or mask. It is important for parents/ guardians to work with their child’s healthcare providers so that an informed decision can be made on how best to meet the child’s needs at school while protecting their health and safety.

Transitioning medically fragile students back to school requires:

• Planning and coordination of:

  • • school health services personnel

    • special education personnel

    • pupil personnel services and

    • administration.

Alternate plans created in consultation with school health personnel on how to meet the needs of the child while keeping social distancing may include:

• Additional PPE for staff caring for such students;

• Assigning only one staff member to care for the student; and/or

• Provision of related services to an individual instead of group setting.

If a parent/guardian choose not to send their child back to school they should contact their child's building principal (elementary schools) and school counselor (secondary school) to arrange for remote instruction.

Faculty and staff who are at high-risk for complications associated to COVID-19 may request a reasonable accommodation through the Human Resources Office.

Temperature Check/screening On Site

Prior to leaving your home all students and adults are required to take their temperature and complete and submit the health screening attestation. In the event that a parent/guardian has not been able to check their child's temperature, school staff will conduct a temperature screening. Visitors will also be subject to temperature screenings.

Temperature screenings will follow the procedures outlined below:

• While waiting for their temperature to be checked, students must be socially distanced.

• Trained staff members will perform the temperature screenings.

• Trained staff will make a visual inspection of the child for signs of illness which could include flushed cheeks, rapid breathing or difficulty breathing (without recent physical activity), fatigue, or extreme fussiness.

Visitors, guests, Contractors, and Vendors

Access to our campuses will be strictly limited to essential visits only. All meetings with school administrators, teachers, and staff will be held virtually.

Essential school visitors, guests, contractors, and vendors will be required to complete a health screening attestation including a temperature check prior to arrival to the school building. Unscheduled visitors will be subject to a health screening attestation and a temperature check.

All visitors must wear a mask/face covering and adhere to all social distancing protocols established by the school district.

Facilities

When students and adults return to their school buildings for in-person instruction, the physical spaces they occupy have been configured and maintained in a way that provides the maximum possible protection from spreading the coronavirus.

We continue to follow health guidance related to social distancing and other safety measures that are in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. Strict protocols for cleaning and disinfecting, including high touch surfaces are followed and logs are maintained.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

• Cleaning and disinfection will be rigorous and ongoing and will occur at least daily, or more frequently as needed.

• Each day, each space including desks, desk shields, and tables will be cleaned and disinfected using a 24-hour and 30 day residual cleaner and surface disinfectant.

• The District has hired additional day-time cleaning staff to conduct regular cleaning and disinfection of the high-risk areas used by many individuals such as bathrooms and for frequently touched surfaces including hand rails and door knobs.

• To reduce high-touch surfaces, the District has installed touch-free amenities, such as water-bottle refilling stations, faucets, soap dispensers and hand sanitizers, where feasible.

• See COVID-19 Confirmed Cases for cleaning and disinfection following suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case

Ventilation

The District will continue to ensure that there is an acceptable level of ventilation throughout each building. The District contracted with Madison & East Mechanical Corporation and completed a survey of the District's ventilation systems and completed repairs. In addition, the District completed a survey of its windows and completed repairs. The District will open windows (temperature permitting) to supplement the mechanical ventilation of school facilities.

Water Fountains

The District has ensured the appropriate ratio of one water fountain per 100 people in each school building. Water fountains that supply water to a personal water bottle have been installed where feasible. Water fountains that contain bubblers have been disconnected.

Detailed plans for water fountains and ventilation are available in the District's Facilities Office.

Safety Drills Modifications

Conducting drills is an important part of keeping students and staff safe in an emergency. Steps are taken to minimize the risk of spreading infection while conducting drills. As such, it will be necessary for schools to conduct drills in the 2020-21 school year using protocols that are different than in previous years.

Regardless of the modification used when conducting a drill, students will be instructed that if it was an actual emergency that required evacuation or lockdown, the most imminent concern is to get to safety; maintaining social distancing in an actual emergency that requires evacuation or lockdown may not be possible and should not be the first priority.

Each school building has developed written protocols to conduct required safety drills with modifications ensuring social distancing between persons.

M.A.X. Program

The M.A.X. program will continue to operate following their normal schedule anytime Munsey Park or Shelter Rock schools are open for on-site instruction. Should all students in a school building be learning remotely the M.A.X. program will not run.

M.A.X. will follow all protocols instituted by the district for social distancing.

School safety coordinator

The school safety coordinator is responsible for continuous compliance with all aspects of the school's reopening plan.

District Level:

• Rosemary Johnson, Deputy Superintendent

• Gaurav Passi, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction

• Allison Rushforth, Executive Director for District Special Education Programs and Pupil Personnel Services

School Based Safety Coordinator:

Shelter Rock School:

• Richard Roder, Principal

• Paulette Williams, Assistant Principal

Munsey Park School:

• Chad Altman, Principal

• Brian Nolan, Assistant Principal

Secondary School:

• Dean Schlanger, Principal

• Peter Vercessi, Associate Principal