Marquand Zion School Re-Entry Plan 2020

COVID-19 Re-Entry Plan

Fall 2020

Updated last 8/6/2020

As new information becomes available the plan will be updated.

Introduction

The global Coronavirus pandemic has caused many changes in the American society. One change is how we socialize or have in-person gatherings. The pandemic has added a new level of risk for person to person instruction. The Pediatrics Association encourages the reopening of schools for the academic, social and emotional well-being of the American children.

As we plan for the 2020-2021 school year, we know the year will most likely be continuously impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The two priorities we will use in making decisions are:

· Providing environments that are as safe as possible for students and staff.

· Providing an equitable, guaranteed, and viable education.

The Marquand-Zion School District will be following The Center for Disease Control (CDC), Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and the Madison County Health Department guidelines and recommendations.

DAILY SELF-CHECK AND SCREENING

· Parents should screen their child each morning before school for the symptoms below. Staff should self-screen each morning prior to coming to work for the symptoms below.

Anyone with the following symptoms who have a fever (100 or higher without fever-reducing medication) and/or cough will be asked to stay home and report the absence to the school.

• Fever or chills (100 degrees or higher without fever reducing medication)

• Cough • Headache • Muscle aches • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

• New loss of taste or smell • New runny nose or congestion

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing • Sore throat

• Close contact with a person with COVID-19 in the last 14 days

Students with symptoms should not attend school and parents should consult their healthcare provider and follow CDC considerations regarding their return to school. For students who are diagnosed with COVID-19, either by a laboratory test or based on their symptoms, return to school is permissible when the student is at least 10 days from symptom onset, has had three days with no fever and has improving symptoms. Return to school for children with an alternate diagnosis is at the discretion of their healthcare provider and/or the school nurse. Children with a known close contact with COVID-19 (or an adult with symptoms compatible with COVID-19) should stay home for 14 days from their last contact and until return to school is approved by the local health department in accordance with the CDC guidance.

· Students with the above symptoms should remain at home and the parent should call the school with details that morning.

· Staff and students will be screened prior to entering the buildings. Students and staff with a fever (100 or higher without fever-reducing medication) and/or cough (of an unknown origin) will be directed to return home.

· If a student or staff member is showing signs of COVID-19, the school may ask for a negative COVID-19 test prior to returning to school.

• The district will limit the number of visitors at school. The school still wants parents to be engaged in their child’s education. When possible, parent meetings will be held through conference calls or videoconferencing. When it is necessary for an in-person meeting the visitor will be screened for the above symptoms.

PRE-K THROUGH 12 IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION

· Students that walk or are car riders will line up outside their building to have their

temperature taken and complete a quick questionnaire. The building will not open up before

7:30 a.m. Classes begin at 7:45 am and school releases at 3:15 pm. (Please note the new

release time).

· Students with a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or above and/or that show signs

of the Coronavirus during the questionnaire will be sent home. Students that were

dropped off by a parent or guardian will go to a designated area to wait for the ride to

return.

· Students that pass the temperature check and questionnaire will be allowed to enter the

building and go to their designated area.

· Classroom protocols will include assigned seating and other measures to minimize

contact. We will make reasonable best efforts to minimize risk of exposure.

· At this time, all large gatherings for school assemblies and celebrations, will not

occur.

· All art, music, PE, Library, and other specials/electives will take place.

· All support classes such as Title I, special education, and etc… will take place.

· All attendance policies will be followed as stated in the Student Handbook. Please do

not send your child unless they have been fever free for 24 hours, without any fever

reducing medications. This increases to at least 72 hours if they have a positive

COVID-19 test or have been in close contact with someone that has tested positive.

· All grading practices will follow the student handbook. This format is the same as the

2019-2020 grade card practices.

· Students and staff will be highly encouraged to wear a mask when outside the classroom

and not eating or drinking.

· Every effort will be made to space students apart in the cafeteria. Outside dining,

weather permitting, may be an option used to assist in social distancing during meals.

· Students will be asked to frequently wash their hands and/or use hand sanitizer.

· If your child will be riding the bus, please read that section as well.

* If a doctor feels that your child should not attend school because of his/her health

condition or a member of the household’s health condition, please provide written

documentation signed by the medical professional. This documentation will be

considered by administration and a plan may be developed for an alternative instructional

model for your child. This will be reviewed on a case by case manner.

SYMPTOMS OCCUR DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

Students and staff that are not feeling well during the school day will visit the school nurse. If the nurse determines the student or staff member is symptomatic, he or she will require immediate isolation. Staff members will be sent home and parents will be notified to pick up their child.

TRANSPORTATION

Buses

· When loading the bus, each student will use the provided hand sanitizer from wrist to fingertips.

· The bus driver will then take each students temperature and give each student a quick questionnaire prior to having them take a seat.

· Students with a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or above and/or that show signs of the Coronavirus during the questionnaire will be sent back home. The driver will turn a list of names, of students sent back home, to the office each morning. The office will make every effort possible to contact the parents that were not present at the bus stop.

· Students will be assigned a seat and expected to stay in the seat and follow all bus riding rules.

· Students from the same family or household will sit together during the bus ride.

· Students that refuse to follow the directions of the bus driver will be taken to the office and bus riding privileges may be revoked for a specified amount of time.

· Students riding the bus will be admitted into the building upon release from the bus to go to their designated area.

· The driver will sanitize the bus between routes.

SCHOOL CLOSURE

The decision to close school may be made to prevent the further spread of an epidemic, or in response to the high student and/or staff absenteeism. The Superintendent will make school closure decisions in consultation with the Madison County Health Department and any Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and CDC recommendations provided.

Key Triggers for Possible School Closure

· Student absenteeism is over 30% for two consecutive days.

· Teacher/Staff absenteeism is below what is necessary to maintain a safe learning environment.

· Confirmed case(s) of COVID-19

· To protect the public health and safety by order of the Governor or state and local health authorities.

Instruction During School Closure

When the decision to close school for COVID-19 related reasons, the Marquand-Zion R-VI Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) and/or Alternative Methods of Instruction – Extended (AMI-X) will be initiated. A detailed letter and assignments will be given in early September and a reminder in January. When school is closed the notification will instruct parents and students to refer to the AMI and AMI-X plan. The amount of hardcopy or technology based assignments will depend on the grade level and standards the students are working on at the time. Technology hotspots will be set up to assist students in connecting to the internet. Grade levels requiring technology based assignments will have chrome books available for student check-out/use.

* NOTICE - VIRTUAL EDUCATION: The District will annually permit any eligible student, under the age of twenty-one (21) who resides in the District, to enroll in Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program ("Program") courses as part of the student's annual course load. Course costs will be paid by the District provided that the student:

1. Is enrolled full-time and has attended a public school, including a charter school, for at least one (1) semester immediately prior to enrolling in the Program. However, if the reason for a student's non-attendance in the prior semester is a documented medical or psychological diagnosis or condition which prevented attendance, such as non-attendance will be excused; and

2. Prior to enrolling in the Program course has received District approval through the procedure set out in Regulation 6190 (A). (see regulation in District Policy at request)

Each Program course successfully completed will count as one class and will receive that portion of a full-time equivalent that comparable course offered by the District generates.