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In the event of a contagious disease outbreak, the Superintendent shall:

1. Work with school administrators, District medical personnel, local county health representatives, teachers, school counselors, and other staff as appropriate, to update as necessary, as part of the District’s existing emergency/safety plan, a contagious disease preparedness plan. Such plan shall include, but not be limited to:

• describing the potential impact of an outbreak on student learning (such as student and staff absences), school closing, and extracurricular activities based on having various levels of illness among students and staff and the alternative means of delivering education (e.g., educating students through the Internet, long-distance learning, telephone conference calls, etc.).

• establishing procedures for caring for, isolating, and/or transporting students who become ill with contagious diseases while in school.

• establishing non-punitive attendance policies for students unique to an outbreak of contagious diseases.

• developing a process for gathering and analyzing the latest information and recommendations from health experts (for example, from the Centers for Disease Control, the New York State Health Department, etc.) which will inform District policymakers’ decisions.

• developing a process for communicating information concerning the outbreak of contagious diseases to the school community on a continuing basis. Such efforts may include preparing an information letter for distribution to parents and guardians of students advising them of the dangers of contagious diseases and the steps that may be taken to reduce the risk of infection, and/or establishing a section on the District’s website to communicate information about the District’s policy concerning contagious diseases and links to relevant governmental websites.

• coordinating the District’s plan with the local and state health departments as well as the State Education Department and area BOCES.

• assigning responsibility for the activities listed above to appropriate staff.

2. Implement infection prevention control procedures that could help limit the spread of contagious diseases at schools in the District, including, but not limited to:

• encouraging, through classroom instruction at every grade level, good hygiene habits recommended by public health experts to help protect the school community from contagious diseases (e.g., washing hands frequently with soap and water, coughing/sneezing into the crook of the elbow instead of one’s hand, utilizing alcohol-based/waterless hygiene products and avoiding shaking hands);

• providing a description of warning signs and symptoms of contagious diseases infections and instruct parents and employees that students and staff displaying such symptoms should not report to school;

• providing sufficient and accessible infection prevention supplies including soap, alcohol-based/waterless hygiene products, tissues and receptacles for their disposal.

• requiring personal protective equipment (PPE) as determined by the District’s Medical Director.

In the event that the District implements its emergency plan in response to a pandemic, the Superintendent shall keep the Board regularly informed regarding any actions taken and information gathered.

Adoption date: February 22, 2010

Amended date: September 14, 2020