Summit School District 54-6

SUMMIT SCHOOL DISTRICT RETURN TO SCHOOL PLAN

 

• The goal of the Summit School district is to empower all students to achieve.  The best way to do that is to offer instruction personally.  However, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to many challenges to our students’ education.  As guidance changes, flexibility is needed and the ability the delivery of instruction could change instantly.
• Health and safety of students and staff is our priority as we make decisions for the 2020-2021 school year.  Our goal is to educate students to make smart choices considering the current pandemic without fearing the virus.  The school setting will look different to reduce exposure to the virus.  Student and staff health screening, increased cleaning protocols, classroom arrangements and safety equipment will all be considered as part of this plan.
• Our goal is to provide on-site instruction for our students on the scheduled start day of Monday, August 17^th.   There are three phases involved in our plan:
  • Traditional – Teachers and students will be on campus and have a normal daily schedule, with modifications to allow for social distancing and safety.  This could be modified to every other day schedule to help promote social distancing if needed.
  • Short term remote instruction – Some students may not be on campus while most of the student body is.  This could be due to exposure to the virus or a quarantine.
  • Long term closure:  Instruction will be provided via technology or instructional packets.  This would look significantly different than it did in April and May of 2020.
• Local health data will be used in decision making.  The change in models could happen very quickly.
• We ask that families have a plan if schools must run on a modified schedule or close for distance learning.
• The Summit School District will do the best job possible to communicate with families when schedule changes are needed.  Updates will be provided via district website, e-mail, the Summit Fog Fest Facebook page, and robo-calls.  Please make sure your contact information is updated in the school office.

 

 

 

 

 

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The Summit School District maintains the following assumptions

• The Summit School District will provide instruction to all students throughout the 2020-2021 school year.
• COVID-19 will continue to spread, with or without a vaccine, throughout the 2020-2021 school year.
• The Summit School District will make decisions based on scientific information available about the status of virus spread in and around the community and the best interests of students, staff, and community.

The Summit School District will make decisions based on what is currently know about COVID-19, understanding that the virus will continue to evolve.

• The rate of infection and mortality of COVID-19 is higher than that of influenza.
• There are no know reliable medications or vaccines for COVID-19.
• The factors listed above necessitate mitigation strategies beyond the normal strategies in place for seasonal influenza.
• Asymptomatic individuals are infectious.
• Children are carriers and susceptible to contracting the virus.  There are different levels of susceptibility throughout the population.
• Measures including social distancing and masks in confined spaces can help reduce transmission.
• Unknowns:
  • If it is possible to contract COVID-19 if one has already been infected.
  • If the seasons of the year affect transmission of COVID-19.
  • How much higher the infection rate of COVID-19 is over influenza.

COVID-19 Community Mitigation Information via the SD Department of Health

Precautions must be taken to protect the public’s health, prevent the spread of COVID-19 to reduce illness, while minimizing disruptions to daily life.  Community mitigation are the actions individuals, families, businesses, employers, communities, and schools can take to slow the transmission. 

Community spread is defined at three levels:

• None:  No cases of community spread in a single area (ex:  city or county).
• Minimal:  1 to 4 cases of community spread in a single area.
• Substantial:  5 or more cases of community spread in a single area.

 

 

Preventative Steps:

No Community Spread

• Develop a plan for students or staff with increased risk factors to allow continued educational services or work.
• Encourage students or staff to stay home when sick and notify school of illness.
• Implement personal protective measures like handwashing.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces daily.
• Have hygiene supplies available in buildings.

Minimal to Moderate Community Spread

• Implement social distancing measures (stagger lunch and recess times, assigned seating, etc.)
• Health checks for students and staff
• Cancel extracurriculars
• Short-term school closures as needed
• Implement distance learning for students at risk.

Substantial

• Long term school closures
• Implement distance learning.

 

 

III.  Expectations for Students/Staff Entering the Building

• Students riding school transportation to school.
  • Parents will be provided a checklist and asked to monitor student health prior to leaving for school.  All students riding the bus will be assigned seats; families who live in the same household will assigned the same seat.  Students are expected to stay in their assigned seat and face forward.
• Entering the school building.
  • The school building will not open until 7:40. All students will enter at the main entrance on the south side of the building.  Students will be visually checked for symptoms as they enter the building.  

IV Monitoring Students Throughout the Day

• Students will be monitored for the following symptoms and will be sent home if they have one or more of the following, without other obvious explanations.
• Any illness should be reported to the office and will be sent to the sick room.  Once the student arrives at the sick room they will be provided with a mask and gloves to protect the spread to others.
  • Anyone attending the suspected contagious person will wear provided PPE equipment.
  • In the case of staff illness, the staff member will be directed to leave work.
  • In the case of student illness, the student’s guardian will be called to have the student picked up.
  • School staff will identify persons who may have come in close contact with the suspected contagious person.  Privacy will remain a priority and names of students and staff members will not be provided.
  • The isolation area and classrooms the student or staff member with suspected illness will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
• If a student or staff member has been positively diagnosed with COVID-19, the Summit School District will work with the South Dakota Department of Health, who will provide further guidance.
• The Summit School District will follow all guidelines from the SD Department of Health, including closure of school facilities.  If facilities are closed, the reopening plan will be determined with guidance from the SD Department of Health.
• Students or staff with a positive diagnosis will be readmitted to the school building upon the guidance of the SD Department of Health.

If a Student/Staff Member Becomes Ill

VI Positive Diagnosis of COVID-19

VII Readmitting students/staff to school who were sent home with COVID-19 symptoms

• Students or staff who were sent home with a COVID-19 symptom can be readmitted if they are given consent by a medical professional, have quarantined for 14 days, or have a negative COVID-19 test result.
• Students and staff who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 may return to school after a period of 10 days with no fever or symptoms and SD DoH approval.
• At least 14 days have passed since being in close contact with a person positively diagnosed with COVID-19.
• Person who came in close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 has a negative COVID-19 test result.

VIII Readmitting students/staff to school after being diagnosed with COVID-19

IX Readmitting students/staff after coming in close contact with another person diagnosed with COVID-19

X Staff Expectations

• Self-screening for symptoms prior to entry to facility
• Wash hands or use hand sanitizer frequently
• Avoid close contact and maintain social distancing
• Maintain confidentiality of student and staff health concerns.

XI Visitors

• All visitors must enter through the main entrance and will be asked to fill out a brief health survey.  Visitors are encouraged to call ahead.
• Visitation rules may be modified in the event of increased COVID-19 cases.

XII Classroom Expectations

• Students and staff are encouraged to wear masks but not required to do so.
• Social Distancing will be encouraged and facilitated.
• Reminders and signage not to touch face, eyes, nose, and mouth will be provided.
• Each child should have his or her own classroom supplies.
• All teachers and students are asked not to visit other classrooms unnecessarily.
• Staff are encouraged to disinfect their own personal workspace throughout the day, especially to common surfaces.
• Seating arrangements should be used where possible if the need for contact tracing arises.

Cleaning Protocols

• Classrooms, bathrooms, and common areas will be cleaned daily by custodial staff.  Emphasis will be:
  • Touchpoints (door handles, light switches, etc.)
  • Bathrooms
  • Desks and tables
• At the end of the day, teachers will clear surfaces of classroom as possible.
• Hand sanitizer will be available in each classroom.
• Hand washing will be encouraged.
• Summit school will provide water bottles
• Deep Cleaning and Disinfection Protocol
  • Deep cleaning will be triggered when and active employee or student is identified as positive for COVID-19.  Deep cleaning will be performed as soon as practical.  The scope of deep cleaning is presumed to be the full site; however, the deep cleaning could be reduced to the footprint of the infected individual if there is sufficient rationale. 

XIV Maintain Health and Hygiene

• Social distancing is an effective way to prevent potential infections.  Students, staff, parents, and visitors should practice staying 6 feet away and eliminating contact with others.  Although it may be impossible to do so in some cases, all attempts should be made.
• Students will be educated and encouraged to do the following:
  • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom, after blowing nose, coughing, sneezing, touching high-contact areas, and before eating.
  • Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Cover mouth and nose with tissue when coughing or sneezing or use the inside of your elbow.
  • District will provide alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not readily available.
  • One-time supplies will be discarded after use.
  • Signage will be posted to remind students of hygiene practices.

XV Food Service

• In the lunchroom, students will be space and expected to follow social distancing policies.  The following guidelines will be used with seating:
• If there is a concerning spike in the virus in our area students could be moved to the classroom for lunch.
• The District may use disposable materials whenever necessary or will sanitize reusable materials thoroughly after each use.
• Students will be told not to share food with one another.
• Cookware, food preparation areas and service stations are sanitized regularly.  The District will plan for food distribution that minimizes handling.
• Tables will be sanitized between lunch shifts.

XVI Administrative Practices

• When possible, stagger students and teachers to be 6 feet apart.
• Post signage at entrances stating that no one with a fever or symptoms of COVID-19 can enter.
• Post age-appropriate information around the building and in classrooms on how to prevent spread of the virus.
• Maintain attendance records for necessary contact tracing.
• Establish plans that allow for remote learning for students who may have been exposed or who become symptomatic.
• Ensure that any outside organizations using school facilities follow the school’s protocols.
• Limit school assemblies where large groups of students gather in one place – consider virtual.
• Make all staff aware of proper safety and hygiene practices.
• Designate a person responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns.
• Communicate reopening plans to parents, students, and community.

XVII

To minimize exposure to COVID-19, PPE may be needed to prevent certain exposures.  PPE can include:

• Masks:  Face masks may be an important part of staff/student protection.  At this time masks are not required but may be worn by students and staff.  Masks will be treated like other clothing items in the dress code.
• Gloves:  Touching face with contaminated hands, whether gloved or not, poses a risk of infection.  Wearing gloves does not diminish the need to wash hands.  Wash hands properly as it is the number-one defense against any virus.
• Face Shields
• Medical gowns

XVIII Academics and Learning

The Summit School firmly believes the best student learning occurs when the student is in the classroom and has contact with the teacher.  Due to the pandemic, the Summit School also realizes there is a need for other types of learning:

• Traditional Instruction: This takes place in the traditional sense, in the classroom with a teacher.
• Remote Instruction:  This can be either short term or long term.  Short term remote instruction is needed due to illness and long-term instruction could be put in place due to illness or parent choice.
• Distance Instruction:  Is needed due to a school closure
• Google Classroom will be used to support potential remote and distance instruction
• To maintain continuous learning, staff and students will be prepared to transition from traditional instruction to distance instruction as needed.
• Alternate delivery methods could be used if needed.

Specials

• Music:  Guidelines will be developed as needed with collaboration of the instructor, professional music educators’ groups, and the SDHSAA
• PE
• Library
• OST

Extra and Co-Curricular Activities

• Activities will be regulated by the school, ECC Conference and SDHSAA.

IXX Tier System

Based on the amount of virus in the area and the risk of exposure and contamination the Summit School will use a tier system to determine any possible closures or levels of human interaction.  Tier 1 is as close to normal as possible, Tier 2 will be a heightened level of virus in the area, and Tier 3 is a high level of possible exposure resulting in closure and distance learning. 

 

Activity	Tier 1	Tier 2	Tier 3
PPE	Strongly Encouraged	Required	Distance Learning
Visitors	Protocol listed previously	Strict limitations on visitors	Distance Learning
Busing and Transportation	Protocol listed previously	To be determined	Distance Learning
Extra-Curricular
Lunch	Students sit in class cohort and consistent groups	Lunch will be held in classrooms.	Distance Learning
Recess
Specials	Regular specials.  All attempts to limit shared materials and sanitize materials	To be determined	Distance Learning
Bathroom	Encourage students to keep moving	Encourage students to keep moving.	Distance Learning
Passing Time	Encourage students to keep moving	Teachers pass from room to room.	Distance Learning

 

XX.  Definitions

Close Contact – Being within 6 feet of another person for 15 or more minutes

COVID-19 – Coronavirus

Community Mitigation – Actions groups can take to slow the spread of the virus.

Community Spread – When the virus is passed without any known contact

Distance Instruction – Instruction provided via Technology or packets

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Equipment one may wear to minimize exposure to any contaminants.  EX:  Masks, Gloves

Remote Instruction:  Distance learning due to illness or choice while cohorts participate in traditional instruction.

Social Distance – Type of mitigation done by keeping an acceptable distance from others.

Traditional Instruction – Classroom instruction with teacher.