Clyde-Savannah Central School District

Reopening to Diminish Risk to Public Health

2021-2022

Please be advised that this plan is subject to change with limited notice base on state, regional, and local circumstances.

This plan is effective September 7, 2021, at when all Clyde-Savannah students will fully return to in-person learning.  The plan maximizes in-person learning, reduces the risk and need for school closure, and reduces the spread of COVID-19. The plan is applicable to all Clyde-Savannah events and activities including the regular school day, athletics, and extracurricular activities. Because our schools serve many children under the age of 12 who are ineligible for vaccination at this time, emphasis is placed on implementing layered prevention strategies to protect students, teachers, staff, and other members of their households who are not fully vaccinated.

This plan was reviewed by the Wayne County Public Health (WCPH) and the School District’s Medical Director. The district, in conjunction with these entities, will monitor community transmission, vaccination coverage, screening testing, and occurrence of outbreaks to monitor this plan and make adjustments as necessary. The health and safety measures in this plan will apply to everyone regardless of their vaccination status.

School Implementation - CDC Strategies

Vaccination

Vaccination is currently the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vaccination is not required for school attendance. Vaccination, however, has a significant impact on COVID transmission.* As such, the health and safety measures in this plan will apply to everyone regardless of their vaccination status.

For CDC transmission level designations at substantial and/or high, school buildings may initiate voluntary testing in concert with WCPH. Testing would only be performed with parental consent.

*Those who are vaccinated can still contract COVID-19 but symptom tend to be mild and significantly diminish severe illness, hospitalization, and death.

Consistent and correct maske use for students and staff

Minimum Expectations for Indoors*

Given the new information from the CDC (July 27, 2021), “to maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others” masks are required indoors unless WCPH determines that the Level of Community Transmission is Low. Levels of transmission are designated by the CDC and confirmed in consultation with WCPH.  

Masking is required indoors so long as WCPH determines that the Level of Community Transmission is Moderate, Substantial, or High: Face covering breaks are optional, and students may fully leave their face coverings on if they choose, with the exception of the meal break. When possible, face covering breaks will be staggered or occur outside or in other areas with good airflow, and where a minimum of 3 feet distance can be accomplished. Staff members will use care not to single out any student who opts to leave a mask on during face-covering breaks.

Outdoors

Masks are not required for vaccinated individuals.

Masks are not required but are recommended for unvaccinated people. This is subject to change based on local rates of transmission.

Supply of Masks

Parents are encouraged to supply face coverings for their child’s use in the school setting. Employees are encouraged to supply a face covering for their use. The school will supply a face covering to any student who does not have one. PPE will be available to all staff members.

Transportation

Passengers and drivers must wear a mask on school buses at all times. Students must be wearing a face covering at the bus stop at the time of boarding the school bus. Students who do not have a face covering will not be denied transportation; they should wait until other students have boarded and will immediately be given a face covering by the bus driver. In order to ride the bus, all students must wear a face covering for the duration of the time aboard the bus. Students without authorized accommodations who refuse to wear a face covering will not be able to board the bus and the child will remain in the custody of the parent. Parents are encouraged to drop off or walk students to school to reduce density on buses.

*This is subject to change based on local rates of transmission. Changes to protocols for level designations will only be modified per the recommendation of the WCPH.

Physical Distancing Handwashing & Respiratory Etiquette

Minimum Expectation for all subject areas*

3’ minimum distancing requirement to the extent possible

For students having meals in cafeterias, distancing will be implemented to the extent possible. Each table will be a pod that would be subject to quarantine if deemed a close contact.

Instruction is considered a core activity. As such, physical distancing may be diminished for shorter intervals of core activities.

Large group assemblies where social distancing can be maintained are permissible. (In cases where transmission is substantial or high, indoor occupancy by outside agencies may not be permitted or will be limited to three feet distance.)

*Changes to protocols for level designations will only be modified per the directive of WCPH

Information will be shared with staff and students on to follow COVID-19 protocols safely and correctly, including but not limited to hand hygiene, proper face covering wearing, social distancing, and respiratory hygiene.

Hand hygiene stations will be maintained, including handwashing with soap, running water, and disposable paper towels, as well as an alcohol-based sanitizer containing 60% or more alcohol for areas where handwashing is not feasible.

Should a person become ill and exhibit symptoms, they will be separated from others by at least 6’ until they are picked up to leave.

Changes to protocols for level designations will only be modified per the recommendation of the WCPH.

Ventilation

Bus windows and roof hatches will be opened weather permitting

Ventilation with fresh outside air shall be provided in all occupied spaces. The Director of Facilities or designee shall ensure that all occupied spaces will have an operable system to bring outside air into the space and that those systems are maintained to operate in accordance with the original design.

Staying home when sick and getting tested

Parents are responsible for screening student health every day prior to a student boarding a school bus or entering a building. The screening must include a temperature check and assessment of illness-related symptoms. Parents allowing a child to board a school bus or enter the school building for the instructional program are verifying that a health screen has been completed and that the child has not:

● Knowingly been in close or proximate contact in the past 10 days with anyone who has tested positive through a diagnostic test for COVID-19 or who has or had symptoms of COVID-19;

● Tested positive through a diagnostic test for COVID-19 in the past 10 days;

● experienced any symptoms of COVID-19, including a temperature of greater than 100°F, in the past 14 days; and/or ● travelled internationally or from a state with widespread community transmission of COVID-19 per New York State Travel Advisories.

Parent submission of a daily health screen is not required.

Contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine

Seating Charts for Purposes of Contact Tracing

Students will be assigned a seat on a bus. Students will not be able to choose their own seat. Seating charts must be available for buses, cohorts, lunches, and other such pods.

Contact Tracing and Positive Results

There will be a contact tracing protocol administered by WCPH.

The School Nurse will immediately notify the local health department about any case of diagnostic test results that are positive for COVID-19.

WCPH will not disclose personal information for those testing positive for COVID-19. Relevant parties will be notified appropriately by WCPH.

Cleaning and disinfection

Students who screen positive for COVID-19 symptoms can only return to school when approved by school medical authorities and in accordance with the protocols of the local health department. Any return-to-school will require signed documentation from a healthcare provider that includes negative COVID-19 testing, and symptom resolution/release from isolation.

In order to limit contacts and reduce risk of transmission in the school, visitors in buildings will continue to be substantially limited. Parents should continue to use designated drop-off/pick up procedures for each building and avoid entering the buildings.

*The likelihood of having to quarantine is substantially diminished for those who are vaccinated, wear a mask, and physically distance.

The district will adhere to hygiene, cleaning, and disinfection requirements from the CDC.

Instructional Model

Per the NYS Education Department, the district is expected to prioritize a return for all students to in-person instruction.

All school buildings are staffed with school counselors, school psychologists, and community agency social workers/counselors. Students will be supported by a professional in the counseling office or by other trained staff members. Social, emotional, learning professionals with respective representatives are in place to employ practices for coping and resilience skills.   Appropriate assistance to individuals with disabilities or other health care needs will be provided.

Student Absence from Instruction Due to Illness

When your child is absent from school for illness or any other reason, parents or guardians must notify the School Health Office. Please remember to send in a written note of explanation when your child returns to school.

Missed work due to absence can be requested from the classroom teacher. For students in grades 7-12, call the Counseling Office prior to 10:00 AM to request missed work.

School Closure

Should a complete school closure be warranted as determined by the local health department in consultation with the school superintendent and district’s medical director, the identified communication protocols will be used to provide information to families as aligned to the District’s existing safety and emergency plans. A transition to fully remote learning will require at least 3 days and no more than 5 days of planning time where remote instruction may not occur.

Homeschooling (home instruction)

Homeschooling is governed by the regulations of the New York State Education Department. Parents wishing to homeschool a child must follow the published guidelines, including the submission of an intent to homeschool and an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP). The Stated Education Department has published a Q&A document to support parents in the homeschooling process at:

http://www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/homeinstruction/homeschoolingqanda.html  

Parents must submit a letter of intent to homeschool according to the established timeframe. Letters of intent are to be emailed to: Holly Drahms, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, holly.drahms@clyde-savannah.org or by mail: 215 Glasgow St., Clyde, NY 14433. Once the original letter of intent has been received a school official will contact the family.