Reopening ELCO School District STRATEGIES FOR A SAFE AND HEALTHY START TO THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR
Background • Each school entity must create a Health and Safety Plan; • The Plan should be tailored to the unique needs of each school district and in consultation with local health agencies; • The Plan should be flexible to adapt to changing conditions; • The Health and Safety Plan must be approved by the School Board and posted to the school district’s website prior to the reopening of school; • It is expected the Plan will be monitored throughout the year. Any revisions to the Plan should be reviewed and approved by the School Board and reposted to the website.
Health and Safety Plan “All decision makers should be mindful that as long as there are cases of COVID-19 in the community, there are no strategies that can completely eliminate transmission risk within a school population. The goal is to keep transmission as low as possible to safely continue school activities.”
Health and Safety Plan: Three Phases The Red Phase has the sole purpose of minimizing the spread of COVID-19 through stay-at-home orders, strict social distancing, closures of non-life sustaining businesses, closures of schools and in-person instruction, and building safety protocols. Remote learning opportunities should be the method of providing any instruction to students. Support services for students such as school meal programs and at- risk student check-ins, should be provided as feasible. In the Yellow Phase , stay-at-home orders are lifted, but some restrictions on work and social interactions ease. Limitations around large social gatherings, remain in place. Schools in yellow counties will be permitted to reopen for in-person instruction after July 1 provided the schools adhere to PDE guidance which includes Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. The Green Phase eases most restrictions, but still encourages social distancing and limitations on large social gatherings (250 people maximum) to allow the economy to strategically reopen while continuing to prioritize public health. While this phase will facilitate a return to a "new normal" for schools and communities, it will be equally important to continue to monitor public health indicators and adjust strategies to mitigate community spread. Schools in green counties must continue to adhere to PDE guidance.
Health and Safety Plan The Reopening School recommendations are tentative and can be influenced by other factors including: • Changing health and safety guidelines • Updated guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and/or the Pennsylvania Department of Health and/or the Governor’s Office Flexibility and Fluidity
Resources and Guidance • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • The American Academy of Pediatrics • The World Health Organization • Pennsylvania Department of Education • Pennsylvania Department of Health • Lebanon County Department of Emergency Services • WellSpan Health • Local Health Officials • Stakeholder groups, survey results, Lebanon County SDs
• Planning for a Safe and Healthy Return to School ; • Providing Staff Support through professional learning / Our Priorities planning opportunities and safety trainings; and • Focusing on Student Learning and Academic and Social/Emotional Support.
Pandemic Coordinator / Team “Each school entity is required to identify a pandemic coordinator and/or pandemic team with defined roles and responsibilities for health and safety preparedness and response planning during the phased reopening of schools.” Julia Vicente, Pandemic Coordinator Daniel Marks, Plan Development/Response Team Barbara Davis, Plan Development/Response Team Brad Entrekin, Plan Development/Response Team Michael Miller, Plan Development/Response Team Michael Gerhart, Plan Development/Response Team Amy Shoemaker, Plan Development/Response Team Tam Hower, Plan Development/Response Team Doug Dresch, Plan Development/Response Team Steven, LIn, Plan Development/Response Team Jenelle Himmelreich, Plan Development/Response Team Douglas Bohannon, Plan Development/Response Team Robert Boltz, Plan Development/Response Team Dr. Steven Shay, Plan Development Jeremy Sweigart, Plan Development/Response Team Stakeholder Group Members, Plan Development Jennifer Haas, Plan Development/Response Team District Staff, Plan Development Craig Soden, Plan Development/Response Team
Cleaning, Sanitizing, Disinfecting, Ventilating “The ELCO School District is committed to ensuring the health and safety of every student and staff member which includes maintaining clean learning and work environments.” Yellow and Green Phases • High touch points/surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected using hospital grade disinfectant several times a day, by custodial staff, and after each new group of students. Deep cleaning will be completed regularly; • Bathrooms will be regularly cleaned at least twice each day and more if needed; • Additional cleaning materials will be available to staff; • Playgrounds will be disinfected daily; • Bottle filler stations will be installed throughout all buildings; • District vehicles will be cleaned daily with a disinfectant that is sprayed on the interior; • Antimicrobial HVAC filters will continue to be used and replaced regularly. Yellow Phase: 25 people or less; Green Phase: 250 people or less, both utilizing social distancing to the maximum extent possible
Classroom Space Visitors and Volunteers Hygiene Practices Social Distancing Signage Recess and Physical Cafeteria / Education Large Group Classes Areas
Social Distancing “The ELCO School District will continue to practice recommended health and safety protocols that are provided by the state and county.” Yellow and Green Phases Classroom Space • All seating must consist of hard surfaces that can be wiped down; • Desks all face the same direction; • Desks will be separated as far as possible to allow for the greatest amount of social distancing. Hygiene Practices • Expected hygiene/hand-washing practices will be reviewed and taught; • Hand sanitizer stations will be placed in every classroom and throughout the building; • Staff and students will use hand sanitizer upon entering/exiting the building and at mealtime; • Scheduled hand washing (sanitizing) will occur throughout the day; • Reminders and discussions will focus on hand washing, social distancing, avoidance of touching face, mouth, etc. Yellow Phase: 25 people or less; Green Phase: 250 people or less, both utilizing social distancing to the maximum extent possible
Social Distancing Signage Yellow and Green Phases Reminders and signs of healthy hygiene practices will post throughout the buildings, in bathrooms and locker rooms; • Floors will be marked to encourage social distancing; • Entry doors will have signs with expectations for symptom self-screening; • Announcements, videos, flyers; Reopening ELCO Webpage will contain resources on healthy hygiene. • Cafeterias / Large Group Areas YELLOW : No congregating of more than 25; meals provided in classrooms; limited menu options. • GREEN : Seating will maximize the greatest social distancing possible and students will face the same direction, Dining • areas and cafeteria will be thoroughly cleaned between lunch periods; limited menu options. Visitors / Volunteers Only “essential” personnel will have access to buildings and must follow current operating procedures. • YELLOW : No volunteers. • GREEN: Volunteers will be permitted on a limited basis. • Yellow Phase: 25 people or less; Green Phase: 250 people or less, both utilizing social distancing to the maximum extent possible
Social Distancing Recess • YELLOW Recess: permitted by individual classrooms; Playground equipment will not be used; may consider jump ropes and balls but must be sanitized after use; • GREEN Recess: Recess permitted; playground equipment will be used and sanitized daily. Physical Education Classes • P.E. will be held outside whenever possible and will maximize social distancing to the greatest extent possible; Equipment sharing will be kept to only those items which can be sanitized; • Lessons limit use of equipment and promote contactless activities. Yellow Phase: 25 people or less; Green Phase: 250 people or less, both utilizing social distancing to the maximum extent possible
Shared Materials Coordination with Local Childcare Communal Other Safety Providers Spaces / Hallways Protocols Transportation Other Social Distancing and Student Safety Practices Interaction
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