Health and Safety Measures

Ensuring all students, staff and community members remain healthy and safe by following best practices in the areas of:

• Guidance, directives and recommendations from health authorities

• Health & safety information, social distancing and infection control practices (handwashing, face coverings)

• Health office practices, personal protective equipment (PPE), management and isolation of students showing signs of illness

Infection Control Measures

• Staff highly recommended to wear face coverings when in hallways and common areas, class times, and during arrival and dismissal

• Students highly recommended to wear face coverings when in hallways and common areas, class times, and during arrival and dismissal

• Students will be in a classroom in which we will strive to keep them separated within the CDC and TEA guidelines.

• No access to water fountains; students are encouraged to bring their own water bottles.

• Restroom capacity examined and measures in place for social distancing

• Elevator capacity limited for social distancing

• Students and staff are encouraged to provide their own personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE will be provided as needed to staff and students

Health Screenings

• Staff required to complete daily health screening

• Parent or guardian will be required to complete daily student health screening

• Students will be screened prior to entering the school building and/or loading school buses.

• Visitors will be limited and required to complete health screening upon entry into the building

Learning Environments

• Daily wiping of high hand-touch areas

• Hand sanitizer in each classroom, entrances, and throughout common spaces

• Campuses will open multiple entrance/exit points during arrival/dismissal to promote social distancing.

• When possible, arrangement of desks to maximize space between students

• Keep school playgrounds closed to the general public

• Use of visual aids to illustrate appropriate spacing and traffic flow throughout the building

• Restrict nonessential visitors and activities involving external groups or organizations

• Limit students sharing of personal items and supplies

• Limit mixing between cohort groups as much as possible

• Arrange desks and table to maximize space between students

• Limit the number of students participating in small group instruction at one time

Student Nutrition / Lunch

• Recommended health and safety measures, such as staff wearing face coverings and gloves

• Sanitizing and hand washing practices in all areas of the cafeteria and serving area

• Eliminate self-serve counters and create traditional serving lines for elementary schools

• Condiments and pre-wrapped silverware to be included with all meals

• “Grab and go” meals for breakfast at all levels

• Meals in disposable packaging to eat in cafeteria

• Use Plexiglas shields at cashier counters and full length serving counter sneeze guards for service

Transportation

• Ridership will remain at typical district capacity

• All buses will have hand sanitizer dispensers placed in the stairwells for use when loading/unloading

• All buses will be sanitized and wiped down daily

• Bus windows will be partially open (at minimum) during routes to provide for additional ventilation

Campus Procedures Related to COVID-19

• If a campus is notified that a student or staff member has a lab confirmed case of COVID-19 the student or staff member will be required to stay home until the return to school criteria is met

• If a student or staff member is assessed and exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 during the school day, the cohort will be located to an alternate area while the room is being disinfected

• District communication will be provided to the students who came in contact with a student or staff member displaying COVID-19 symptoms

• At this time, we have not been provided with specific criteria regarding the number of positive cases that would lead to a classroom or campus closure.

• Students exposed to a lab-confirmed case of COVID-19 outside of school should stay home and contact the school for instructions on meeting the return to school criteria

Clinic Procedures Related to COVID-19

• Students or staff who present with symptoms will be evaluated and assessed by the school district nurse

• If COVID-19 symptoms are present: staff member will be sent home, and student will be isolated from other students and asked to put on a face covering until parent arrives

• Student will be escorted to vehicle upon parent arrival

• Nurse will provide parent/staff with return to school criteria

• Contact tracing for lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 will be conducted

Instructional Delivery Models

Providing a high-quality education through two instructional delivery models:

• Face-to-Face Learning (Traditional Classroom Experience)

• Asynchronous Instruction (Virtual Learning Experience)

Communication Tools and Channels

• Parents will receive callouts and weekly emails from Santa Gertrudis ISD Principals, sent through the School Messenger system.

• Information about Back to School 2020 will be posted on the SGISD ISD website.

• Regular updates will be posted on SGISD social media channel (Facebook)

• SGISD has the capability to send direct text-messages to parents. At this time, text messages will only be sent in an emergency situation. Phone numbers and emails will be collected during enrollment.

• Asynchronous Instruction support offered to parents through consistent communication

Circumstances related to COVID-19 may change throughout the coming school year and we will keep all parents informed if conditions change.