ROE #40 Plan for Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services
Introduction
Beginning in January and February of 2020, the Coronavirus Pandemic began to sweep the world. By March of 2020 Governor Pritzker, via an executive order, sent schools into remote instruction for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Schools reopened in the fall of 2020. In order to safely re-open schools for in-person instruction schools followed strict health and safety protocols. This included required mask wearing by students and staff, shutting down of water fountains, contact tracing, physical distancing, the list goes on. Schools were asked to adapt in ways they had never dreamed of in order to meet these challenges. This created barriers for teaching and learning as well as unique opportunities to overcome those challenges. In response, the US Government made available emergency funds to respond to the significant academic, social, emotional and mental health challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most recently Congress passed the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act requiring schools to develop a “Plan for Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services”. Developed in accordance with provisions set out by Illinois State Superintendent of Education, Illinois Governor Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) the following plan looks to address the needed response of the Regional Office of Education to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ROE #40 is thankful for the input of several stakeholders in this plan which includes but is not limited to: parents, students, staff, administrators, and health department officials. This plan will be made available on the district website which will be ADA accessible.
As the pandemic evolves, so too will be our response. Local conditions, including community transmission, local vaccination rates, availability of screening tools will continue to dictate the response of ROE #40 to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Maintaining the Health and Safety of Students and Staff
In accordance with the Illinois State Superintendent of Schools Jul 9, 2021 declaration, all ROE #40 schools will be open fully for in-person instruction for all students for the 2021-2022 school year. Remote instruction will be made available for non-vaccinated or vaccine ineligible students who are under quarantine as directed by the local health department or the IDPH. ROE #40 will plan on opening in accordance with the CDC’s updated guidance from July 9 and Jul 27, 2021 “Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools” as well as Governor Pritzker’s August 4th Executive Order. Those guidelines are as follows:
- Mask Wearing:
- The indoor use of face coverings by all students, staff and visitors who are over age two and able to medically tolerate a face covering, regardless of vaccination status, is required. Mas use is recommended outdoors during activities that involve sustained close contact with other people who are not fully vaccinated, particularly in areas of substantial to high transmission.
- School staff are to model support for and encourage students to be supportive of people who choose to continue to wear a mask outdoors as a personal choice or because of a medical reason.
- Students who consistently and correctly use well-fitting masks do not need to be quarantined if they maintain more than 3 feet from others who have a recent exposure to someone with COVID-19 who also consistently and correctly uses a well-fitting mask.
- Unless otherwise exempted by CDC order, passengers and drivers must wear masks on school buses.
- The indoor use of face coverings by all students, staff and visitors who are over age two and able to medically tolerate a face covering, regardless of vaccination status, is required. Mas use is recommended outdoors during activities that involve sustained close contact with other people who are not fully vaccinated, particularly in areas of substantial to high transmission.
- Physical Distancing:
- To the extent possible, school staff are to help students commit to physical distancing as much as possible by:
- arranging furniture to model and reinforce physical distancing of at least 3 feet or to the greatest extent possible;
- providing assigned seating for students and encourage students to remain in these seats
- arranging furniture to model and reinforce physical distancing of at least 3 feet or to the greatest extent possible;
- To the extent possible, school staff are to help students commit to physical distancing as much as possible by:
- School staff will maximize physical distance as much as possible while eating indoors.
- Physical distancing measures are to be done in an equitable manner that does not perpetuate academic, racial, or other tracking (e.g., separating people into fully vaccinated and non-fully vaccinated cohorts).
- Handwashing and Respiratory Etiquette
- School staff will monitor and reinforce frequent handwashing and respiratory etiquette by:
- continuing to teach handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
- reminding everyone in the facility to wash hands frequently;
- using hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol) when hand washing is not possible;
- continuing to teach respiratory etiquette (e.g., covering coughs and sneezes); and
- providing adequate handwashing and hand sanitizer supplies that are safely stored
- continuing to teach handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
- School staff will monitor and reinforce frequent handwashing and respiratory etiquette by:
- Facility Cleaning and Disinfection
- School custodial staff and transportation staff will continue to clean surfaces daily. To further reduce the risk of spreading infection, these staff will also use disinfectants on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency COVID-19 “List N” to disinfect spaces occupied by someone who tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 24 hours.
- School custodial staff and transportation staff will continue to clean surfaces daily. To further reduce the risk of spreading infection, these staff will also use disinfectants on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency COVID-19 “List N” to disinfect spaces occupied by someone who tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 24 hours.
- Contact Tracing in Combination with Isolation and Quarantine
- Students and staff who have symptoms of infectious illness, such as influenza (flu) or COVID-19, should stay home and contact their healthcare provider for testing and care.
- Individuals in our school environments who show symptoms of COVID-19 are to immediately report to school staff. Parents should ensure that ill students are picked up from school within a timely manner after being notified. Ill students will not be allowed to utilize the school bus to return home. Local County Health Departments will facilitate COVID-19 diagnosis and inform the need for quarantine of close contacts and isolation with appropriate school personnel.
- Currently the CDC, IDPH and our local County Health Departments have stated that staff and students who are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic and/or have documented COVID-19 infections within the past 90 days are excluded from being quarantined. Fully vaccinated people who were in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 but do not have COVID-19 symptoms do not need to quarantine or be tested unless directed otherwise from the local County Health Department.
- Students who consistently and correctly use well-fitting masks do not need to be quarantined if they are more than 3 feet away from a COVID positive individual after a recent exposure to someone with COVID-19 who also consistently and correctly uses a well-fitting mask. Quarantine decisions will be made and communicated by our local County Health Department officials.
- Student absences related to a COVID-19 isolation or quarantine will be recorded as excused. To ensure continuity of services, school work missed during such an absence can be requested and made up in accordance with the school’s policy.
- Social, emotional, mental health, or other needs will be provided to all students.
- Remote instruction will be made available for non-vaccinated or vaccine ineligible students who are under quarantine as directed by the local County Health Department or the Illinois Department of Public Health.
- Full remote instruction options will not be offered on the same basis as last school year. However, remote instruction may be offered in extenuating circumstances.
- Absent COVID-related leave days previously provided by Federal law, staff absences related to a COVID-19 isolation or quarantine will be recorded in accordance with the ROE’s sick leave policy.
- To the extent allowable by privacy laws and other applicable laws, school staff will continue to collaborate with local County Health Department officials to confidentially provide information about people diagnosed with or exposed to COVID-19, including making notifications to staff and parents as soon as possible regarding those who were in close contact with someone in the school who tested positive for COVID-19.
- Students and staff suspected of having COVID-19, whether they were tested or not, are to follow the CDC guidelines to determine when they can return to school.
- Following quarantine, students and staff returning from illness related to COVID-19 are to call to check in with the school staff.
- Students and staff who have symptoms of infectious illness, such as influenza (flu) or COVID-19, should stay home and contact their healthcare provider for testing and care.
- Screening Testing
- At any level of community transmission, any staff member who has not been fully vaccinated can request COVID-19 screening testing by working with our local health departments.
- At any level of community transmission, any staff member who has not been fully vaccinated can request COVID-19 screening testing by working with our local health departments.
- Vaccination
- ROE #40 will continue to work with our local County Health Departments to provide the community opportunities to become COVID-19 vaccinated.
- COVID-19 vaccines are readily available in our community for anyone 12 years of age and older. To find out where vaccines are available, visit vaccines.gov.
- ROE #40 will continue to work with our local County Health Departments to provide the community opportunities to become COVID-19 vaccinated.
- Disabilities or Other Health Care Needs ●
- Parents of students who need accommodations, modifications, or assistance related to COVID-19 safety protocols, disabilities, underlying medical conditions, or weakened immune systems should contact ROE #40 staff to discuss the need(s).
- Staff members who need accommodations, modifications, or assistance related to COVID-19 safety protocols, disabilities, underlying medical conditions, weakened immune systems, or a sincerely held religious belief or practice (covered by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964) should contact ROE #40 Human Resources. Staff members with weakened immune systems are advised to contact their healthcare professional about the need for continued personal protective measures after vaccination.
- Parents of students who need accommodations, modifications, or assistance related to COVID-19 safety protocols, disabilities, underlying medical conditions, or weakened immune systems should contact ROE #40 staff to discuss the need(s).
- Visitors
- Nonessential visitors, volunteers, and activities involving external groups and outside organizations are discouraged from visiting schools. Virtual options will be made available for both IEP meetings and Parent-Teacher Conferences.
- Nonessential visitors, volunteers, and activities involving external groups and outside organizations are discouraged from visiting schools. Virtual options will be made available for both IEP meetings and Parent-Teacher Conferences.
- Collaboration with Public Health Officials
- District officials will continue to collaborate and consult with local County Health Department officials throughout a pandemic on various logistics and decision-making including, but not limited to, quarantines, school health and safety protocols, screening testing, contact tracing, vaccine clinics, and emergency school closings.
- District officials will continue to collaborate and consult with local County Health Department officials throughout a pandemic on various logistics and decision-making including, but not limited to, quarantines, school health and safety protocols, screening testing, contact tracing, vaccine clinics, and emergency school closings.
- Plan Review
- ROE #40’s reopening plan is very fluid and will continue to be reviewed and updated as CDC, IDPH, or local health department updates become available. If no changes, the ROE will review as warranted through September 30, 2023; this plan will be reviewed no less frequently than every six months and revised as appropriate after seeking and considering public input. Revisions will address the most recently updated safety recommendations by the CDC, provided in an alternative format accessible to parents who are individuals with a disability as defined by the ADA, and made publicly available on the district’s website.
- ROE #40’s reopening plan is very fluid and will continue to be reviewed and updated as CDC, IDPH, or local health department updates become available. If no changes, the ROE will review as warranted through September 30, 2023; this plan will be reviewed no less frequently than every six months and revised as appropriate after seeking and considering public input. Revisions will address the most recently updated safety recommendations by the CDC, provided in an alternative format accessible to parents who are individuals with a disability as defined by the ADA, and made publicly available on the district’s website.
ESSER Use of Funds Plan
The Regional Office of Education is eligible to receive state and federal funding as a part of the American Rescue Plan, also referred to as ESSER III funds.
ROE #40 intends to use the ESSER III funds in the following ways:
- First, monies will be allocated to each of our three alternative school locations to hire additional staff. Alternative Schools in Greene County and Macoupin County will add an additional teacher for the 2021-22 school year and beyond. The Alternative School in Jersey County will be hiring a teacher’s aide for the 2021-22 school year and beyond. The purpose of the additional staff members is to further allow for social distancing by creating smaller class sizes. Additionally, the extra staff member should help with more one-on-one time as well as interventions for students.
- Second, monies will be used to provide after school programming to our area school districts. After school programming is meant to target students needing remediation and/or those that are credit deficient.
- Finally, ROE #40 will be providing summer programming in at least one location in Macoupin, Jersey and Greene Counties. Additional programming may be set up depending on need and allocations as provided by ESSER III funding.
