Return to School Plan

Return to School Plan

Central CUSD #3

Central School District believes that education is best served by as much in-person learning as possible. However, the safety of both students and staff is our priority. Decisions made regarding all school scenarios will be made in conjunction with the State Board of Education and local health department guidance firmly in mind.

School districts in Illinois have been tasked with developing a plan for both Blended Learning and Remote Learning. Until the state transitions into Phase 5, we will not be able to return to Traditional Learning. While the State Board has argued that in-person learning should take place whenever safely possible, they have also repeatedly stated that districts should be prepared to move back into remote learning if COVID-19 cases rise in our area.

General Principles

These general principles will be in place for both Blended Learning and Remote Learning.

Scheduling

Time Considerations for both Blended and Remote Learning Models.

• 5 clock hour requirement for student learning

Athletics

• School athletics will follow the rules provided by IHSA and IESA in accordance with IDPH and ISBE guidelines.

Physical Distancing

· Students and staff are encouraged to maintain physical distancing (6 feet separation) throughout the school day whenever possible.

· Signage reminding staff and students to maintain physical distancing will be placed at all entrances and throughout other common areas.

· Physical distancing applies to all areas including the classroom, common areas, and the main office.

Face Coverings and P.P.E.

· Physical distancing will not be possible in all circumstances. Staff and students will be required to wear a face mask that fits snugly against the sides of the face with no gaps. Neck gaiters are not acceptable.

· Signage will be placed in areas requiring the use of face coverings.

· Gloves or other PPE must be used as needed when assisting students requiring close contact.

· Central CUSD #3 will provide one reusable mask to employees. Employees may also use their own approved face covering.

· All students must bring their own face covering and wear it at all times, unless eating or outside AND maintaining 6 ft. social distancing. There will be extra masks at each building in case of contamination or damage to the mask.

· If a staff member or student has a doctor’s note stating they are unable to safely wear a mask, a face shield may be worn. If a doctor indicates neither can be worn by a student, it is likely the student will have to learn from home remotely. For staff unable to wear any type of face covering, every situation is different and will be handled on a case by case basis.

Hand Hygiene

· Frequent hand washing and hand sanitizing is key to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

· Staff members must clean hands as often as possible with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer may be used.

· Staff must avoid touching their mouth, eyes, or nose as much as possible.

· Staff and students must sanitize hands upon entering the classroom.

· Each building will place signage reminding everyone of the need for proper hand hygiene in the appropriate areas.

· If assisting a student requires close contact, gloves should be worn and hand washing or sanitizing must be done before and after contact with students.

Health Screenings

· Only students and staff who are healthy should report for in-person learning. Students and staff with any of the following symptoms of COVID-19 must remain home.

• Fever or chills

• Cough

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Fatigue

• A measured temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or greater

• Headache

• New loss of taste or smell

• Sore throat

• Nausea or vomiting

• Known close contact with a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19

· Any student or staff member who begins to exhibit a high fever associated with COVID-19 like symptoms must report to the office, following the building procedure. Students will remain in the quarantine area until a parent or guardian picks the student up or alternative transportation home is arranged. Staff will remain in the quarantine area until they are able to leave. These individuals must self-monitor and return to school according to the IDPH guidelines.

• If a student self-reports symptoms during the school day, the school nurse or other staff member will evaluate. These students will be quarantined in a designated space until they are picked up. They will be referred to their primary care physician or the Adams County Health Department.

· Staff who has had contact with someone who is positive for COVID-19 must notify their building principal or supervisor immediately. IDPH guidelines will be followed.

· Students who have had contact with someone who is positive for COVID-19 should notify their building and contact their primary physician or the Adams County Health Department.

Visitor Plan

· Visitors must be restricted to authorized personnel only.

· Visitors to any building must always wear an appropriate and approved face covering and receive a wellness screening, which includes a temperature check.

· Visitors will remain in the main office or other designated area for the duration of the visit.

· Students or staff will be asked to meet the visitor to conduct business as needed.

· Visitors will not have access to the building in general.

General Classroom Guidance

The following guidelines must be considered for each location.

• Seating must be arranged as far apart as possible.

• Face coverings are required

• Common areas and tables must be clearly marked to show where to sit, stand or line-up for social distancing.

• Restroom and hand washing breaks must be scheduled and coordinated throughout the day to eliminate congregating

• Recess must be scheduled and coordinated by grade level to minimize student mixing

• Hand sanitizing must occur whenever anyone enters the classroom

• School supplies must not be shared between students or staff

• Classrooms will be cleaned frequently

• Staggered transition times and block schedules will be utilized

• Hand washing must be encouraged throughout the day

• Activities must be scheduled and coordinated by grade level to minimize student mixing

Hallways, Main Office, and Common Areas

• Social distancing

• Face coverings are required

• Areas will be clearly marked to indicate safe distancing for students

• Health screens will take place for visitors

• Clearly visible signage reminding everyone of physical distancing and face coverings usage at entryways and common areas

• Only Authorized personnel will have access to buildings. Visitors will be as needed only – and will be restricted to a main office area

• Students will be restricted to specific areas as identified by the building principal

• High touch areas will be cleaned throughout the day

Cafeteria

• Social distancing

• Meals will be plated on the tray and given to each student

• Cafeterias will be cleaned in between use

• Areas will be clearly marked to indicate safe distancing for students

• Clearly visible signage reminding everyone of physical distancing and face coverings (if not eating) at entryways

Restrooms

• Social distancing

• Face coverings are required

• Areas will be clearly marked to indicate safe distancing for students

• Clearly visible signage reminding everyone of physical distancing and face coverings

• Restroom and handwashing breaks must be scheduled and coordinated as feasible

• High touch areas will be cleaned throughout the day

• Restrooms may be assigned to student groups, as feasible

Shared Objects

· Students and staff are restricted from borrowing or sharing any items.

· Electronics, including, but not limited to, tablets, touchscreens, keyboards, remote controls, lunchroom keypads, door entry systems, etc., must be cleaned before and after use.

· Items that must be shared or communally used must be cleaned after use and individuals perform hand hygiene between uses.

· Utilizing hand sanitizer before and after use of books or library material is recommended.

Transportation

• Follow ISBE guidelines, 50 individuals on a bus.

• Temperature check and symptom screening when boarding bus

• Social distancing as much as possible

• Masks required

• No food or drink allowed to be consumed on the bus

• If a student has a fever or symptoms when boarding a bus, parents will be notified immediately to pick up their child.

Blended Learning

A blended model would include a mixture of in-person and remote learning. Students and parents are given the option of in-person learning or remote learning. There may be times a student has to switch from one form to the other, but ideally once a form of learning is chosen, that will be their method for the semester.

Expectations for Teaching Staff

• On-site participation for beginning of year training required to clearly set expectations.

• In-person instruction and duties CES / CMS 8:15 – 1:15; CJHS / CHS 8:10 – 1:30 in-person student attendance day

  • This minimizes the amount of time students are in the building with masks/shields on.

· Remote learning instruction and duties 1:30 to 3:30

• Teacher contact daily in some form with every student, which is especially important for remote learners.

• Sanitizing

Potential Additional Duties for Para Staff

• Sanitizing

• Helping prepare thumb drives/student work packets for those students without internet access

• Bus monitoring

• Temperature checks prior to students entering the building and getting on buses.

• Monitoring quarantined students awaiting pickup

• Contacting Families

Expectations for Student Learning

• New instruction will occur as normally as possible--assignments, quizzes, tests, etc.

• Student work will be graded; students will be held accountable for their work.

Attendance

• When in-person learning, traditional attendance will be taken. When students are remote learning, a check-in system will be utilized for student attendance.

Proactive Health Policies

• Students will be allowed to participate in PE without changing clothes, thereby avoiding having students in a crowded locker room.

• Students will not be using lockers.

• Face masks are state-mandated to be worn at all times except while eating or outside AND maintaining 6 ft. social distance.

• Temperature and symptom checks upon boarding a school bus

• Temperature and symptom checks upon arriving to school

• Frequent sanitizing of heavy traffic areas

• An emphasis on not bringing any non-essential items to school

Remote Learning

Technology

• Teachers will be provided laptops to ensure they have access to devices with cameras and microphones to work from home if necessary.

• Devices will be provided to any student that needs one for a $75 refundable damage deposit.

Platforms

• In order to create a uniform process for learning, especially in the case of remote learning, teachers will utilize the same learning platforms. Staff training is taking place prior to the beginning of school to ensure there is a comfort level in working with these platforms. Teachers are using Planbook.com. CES and CMS will use SeeSaw to deliver and collect work. CJHS and CHS will use Microsoft Teams.

• Those students that are unable to access learning resources through the internet will be given thumb drives for use on District-provided or personal devices.

Expectations for Teaching Staff

• On-site participation for beginning of year training required to clearly set expectations.

• Building available for staff to work in their rooms.

• Staff available on video conference for 2.5 hours daily

• Availability throughout the school day to communicate with students, including contact daily in some form, which is especially important for attendance purposes.

Expectations for Student Learning

• New instruction will occur as normally as possible--assignments, quizzes, tests, etc.

• Student work will be graded; students will be held accountable for their work.

• Students will check in for attendance purposes during remote learning.

Traditional Learning

When the state of Illinois transitions to Phase 5 or we are given clearance by ISBE to return to school in a traditional format, most of the guidelines in this document will not be necessary.

Anticipated Communication with Parents/Community/Stakeholders

• We will continue to communicate updates to the plan through School Messenger, the district website, and Facebook.