COVID-19 PLAN

1. HEALTH AND SAFETY

1.1 Masks

1.1.1 Wearing a mask indoors is optional for School Meeting Members, Staff and Visitors approved by School Meeting unless Ulster County changes to a ‘CDC Community Level’ of High, at which point Masks will be required inside until our ‘CDC Community Level’ returns to Low. The Medical Clerk will check county level weekly and update the community as needed.

1.1.2 Masks will be provided to any School Meeting Member who would like one.

1.1.3 The Medical Clerk may from time to time require the use of kn95 type face masks or other medical type masks inside school buildings, so long as that Clerk is able to provide at least one such mask to each School Meeting Member per week. The requirement to wear kn95 masks, or other masks specified by the Medical Clerk, should be discontinued when reasonably possible

 

1.2 Social Distancing

1.2.1 Indoors

1.2.1.1 There are no social distancing requirements indoors. 

1.2.1.2 Room capacity limits will be set by the Medical Clerk when necessary.

1.2.1.3 If social distance requirements are in place, Individuals must have permission from SM to watch/play on a phone, tablet, or personal handheld gaming device at the same time as another individual while inside.

1.2.1.4 Measuring distance between people in cases of social distancing is to be done from lips to lips.

1.2.2 Outdoors

1.2.2.1 There are no social distancing requirements outdoors. 

 

1.3 Screenings/Testing

1.3.1 Weekly In-School Testing

1.3.1.1 The Medical Clerk can decide if testing is required.

1.3.2 Testing and Returning to School with Symptoms:

1.3.2.1 If a SMM develops symptoms while at school, The Medical Clerk will provide them with an over the counter test which must be negative to remain at school. If the test is positive the management of ill person policy will be followed. 

1.3.2.2 If at home any SMM’s is experiencing one or more symptoms of Covid 19, without explanation, they must have a negative test to return to school. 

1.3.2.3 The Medical Clerk, or designee, is empowered to decide if an individual must test to return to school.

1.3.2.4 If the SMM’s symptoms worsen or new symptoms develop, they must test again before returning to school.  

1.3.2.5 Direct Exposure:

1.3.2.5.1 If a SMM has a direct exposure, as defined by the CDC, to a positive Covid 19 case, They must test negative to return to school and must test again on day 3 and day 5 after exposure. During these 5 days they must wear a mask. 

1.3.2.6 No parent or visitor (instructor, interviewing family etc) may come on campus if they have a temperature over 100 degrees F or have unexplained Covid symptoms. 

 

1.4 Management of Ill Students/Staff

1.4.1 If a School Meeting Member is experiencing symptoms of COVID while at school, with no other explanation, or a temperature of 100 degrees or higher they will be sent home immediately.

1.4.2 Appropriate PPE will be provided to the school nurse or any staff member interacting with a School Meeting member presenting with symptoms.

1.4.3 If the only symptom is a fever they may return once they have been fever free (without a fever reducer) and feeling well for 24 hours. 

1.4.4 If a student/staff tests positive for Covid19, they may return to school five days later (or five days after the onset of symptoms, if symptoms began after a positive test was received). They must wear a mask at school through day 10 after the initial positive test/onset of symptoms. Students and staff may choose to stay home for 10 days.

 

1.5 Positive Case Policy

1.5.1 If the school receives information that a community member has tested positive for Covid19 the following action will be taken:

1.5.1.1 If school is open and the positive individual is at school:

1.5.1.1.1 All individuals at school will be notified that there is a positive case and masks will be required indoors for the remainder of the day. 

1.5.1.1.2 Within the hour a text and email will be sent out to the Assembly notifying families of the positive case. The Medical Clerk will decide if school will close immediately.

1.5.1.2 If school is closed and the positive individual had been at school within 48 hours:

1.5.1.2.1 Within the hour a text and email will be sent out to the Assembly notifying families of the positive case.

1.5.1.2.2 Once everyone has been notified the The Medical Clerk in consultation with the staff will make a decision about how to proceed. The following will be considered:

• When the individual was in school
• The ease of informal contact tracing and who they had possible direct contact and proximal contact with
• The number of cases currently in the area
• If the positive individual has a signed waiver. 

1.5.1.2.3 Informal Contact Tracing will be completed by the Medical Clerk or their designee(s). Unofficial contact tracing will entail discussing with the positive individual who they believe they may have had direct contact (as defined by the CDC) with, and contacting these families, as well as the families of those who the staff believe may be at risk. 

1.5.1.2.4 A follow up email will be sent to the Assembly with further information including:

1.5.1.2.4.1 If the individual has signed a Covid waiver, we will share with the assembly:

• The name of the individual, the last time they were in school, if they were showing symptoms, and that we will directly           contact any individuals who may have had direct contact.

1.5.1.2.4.2 If the individual has NOT signed a Covid waiver, we will share with the assembly:

• The last time the individual was in school, if they were showing symptoms, and that we will directly contact any individuals       who may have had direct contact.
•The Medical Clerk will contact any individuals who may have had direct contact. 

1.9 Air Flow

1.91 Air purification will be used and windows will be opened when the weather allows for it.

 

2. COMMUNICATION

2.1 The Medical Clerk, Official Authorities Clerk and Office Clerk will be responsible for overseeing the COVID policy and for communicating with parents, students, staff and outside authorities.

2.2 Families will be notified via text and email of any cases among students and staff as known to the school (with information anonymized unless permission has been granted).

3. ATTENDANCE OPTIONS & POLICIES/STAFF SICK LEAVE

3.1 Attendance Policies have returned to pre-covid policies. This means that all students over the age of 5 are required to be in school for 5 hours per day.

3.2 The Attendance Clerk may from time to time and for specified periods declare attendance to be “optional.” Such periods should be discontinued as soon as reasonably possible.

3.3 Time that staff members are out of school due to personal issues related to COVID is considered unlimited paid leave.