Reopening Plan Part 1: Health and Safety Strategies

The strategies identified here were included in the district Reopening Plan submitted to the Connecticut State Department of Education in July 2020, but have been updated to reflect new guidance from Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Quinnipiac Valley Health District (QVHD), Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center, and the Hamden Public Schools’ COVID-19 Health and Safety Compliance Liaison.

Medical advisors and district leadership have met weekly since July 17, 2020 to review strategies, policies, and practices in order to provide updated protocols to the district.

Vaccination Clinics

In partnership with Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center and QVHD, clinics have been and continue to be held to support the vaccination of staff and students.

In accordance with CDC guidance, fully vaccinated people:

• If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you should get tested 3-5 days after your exposure, even if you don’t have symptoms. You should also wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until your test result is negative. You should isolate yourself for 10 days if your test result is positive. 
• You should still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others. If your test is positive, isolate at home for 10 days.

For now, fully vaccinated people should continue to:

• Get tested, if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
• Contact the school nurse of a possible exposure. 
  • If symptoms develop, contact the school nurse, their medical provider and stay out of school until either tested or cleared by their medical provider.
• Follow CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations.

Daily Health Assessment

Families will review the Daily Health Assessment with their children every day. This Daily Health Assessment is a very important first line of defense in both ensuring the health and wellness of our students while also protecting our entire school community from the risk of infection.

Students should stay home if they or anyone in their home is ill or is being tested for COVID-19, or if they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.  Families must contact their child’s School Nurse for additional guidance.  Hamden Public Schools references Addendum 5 to CT’s School Reopening Plan for additional recommendations in addressing when a student or staff person has or develops: possible signs and symptoms of COVID-19; a diagnosis of COVID-19; or exposure to a person diagnosed with COVID-19.

Mask and Face Shield Protocols

These protocols have been informed by guidance from the CDC, CSDE, DPH, and QVHD to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 among our students, faculty and staff.  

Expectations for Mask-Wearing

• All adults and students (Pre-K through grade 12) will wear a mask in HPS buildings and on buses.
• Staff are required to model appropriate mask-wearing and reinforce mask-wearing for students
• All staff should review proper use, removal, and washing of cloth face coverings.
• All staff should positively reinforce (incentivize) the use of face coverings, in alignment with the school-wide PBIS plan.
• Each school will develop a consistent plan to address a student’s refusal to wear a mask after repeated occurrences of students’ non-compliance (see the suggested plan in Appendix C). Extreme defiance or violations of mask safety will be addressed on a case by case basis.
• Each school will develop a consistent plan to address mask breaks throughout the day to minimize “mask fatigue”.
• Classrooms can also incorporate lower-risk times for “mask free” breaks during the day. Examples:
  • Remove masks during time spent outside when distancing can be maintained
  • Remove masks if half of the class leaves the room for activities so the remaining students can distance
• Restrictions regarding masks may increase or relax throughout the school year in response to changes in public health data.
• Students must remove masks as requested by school staff for identification purposes at any time.

Exceptions for Mask-Wearing

Exceptions to the mask protocol may be made for the reasons below. These students will not be required to wear a mask or face covering, per CDC guidelines. 

• Students with severe allergies, respiratory challenges or other medical reasons making it unsafe to wear a face covering. Parents should provide the school nurse/administration with medical documentation and request a 504 meeting.
• Where services provided pursuant to an Individualized Education Program (IEP) would require it, including but not limited to for speech and language services, evaluations, language acquisition activities.
• Specific activities such as eating breakfast/lunch, recess/mask break, outdoor Physical Education class, actively playing a sport and other outdoor activities will not require a mask.
• Exceptions to wearing a mask may also be necessary for special populations (see further guidance).

Guidelines for Face Masks

• Students must be able to manage masks independently without adult assistance.

• Parents may supply face masks for their children, and adults can choose to supply their own face masks.  HPS will provide masks for any student or staff member who does not have one.

• Masks may be homemade, purchased cloth or disposable face coverings. A multi-ply tightly woven cotton cloth or multi-ply disposable face covering is recommended.

• Masks should cover the nose and mouth and wrap under the chin.  Bandanas, face gaiters and masks with exhalation valves/vents are not acceptable.

• Masks must comply with the Student Dress Code.  Student masks may not:

  • Advertise or display the symbols of drugs, tobacco products or alcoholic beverages.

  • Be considered racially insensitive or display or imply profane or obscene language or symbols.

  • Include emblems, insignias, badges, tattoos, gang-related or other symbols where the effect thereof is to unreasonably attract the attention of other students or cause disruption or interference with the operation of the school.

• Elementary School students are asked to have three extra masks (in case one becomes wet or dirty) in a zip lock bag labeled with their name on the first day of school.  Each mask also must be labeled with their name.

• Middle and High School students should carry an extra (labeled) mask with them daily to ensure that they have a replacement.

• Face shields are not a substitute for a mask; The CDC does not recommend use of face shields for normal everyday activities as a substitute for masks.  

Guidelines for Face Shields

The CDC does not recommend use of face shields for normal everyday activities as a substitute for cloth face coverings, though there are some times/settings in which face shields are appropriate PPE for staff and/or students.  Please see below: 

• In addition to the cloth face coverings, face shields may be required for students and employees in certain educational settings when sustained close contact with other people is expected (i.e. science labs, some small group lessons, some desk configurations). 

• If medically required or where services provided pursuant to an Individualized Education Program (IEP) would require it, including but not limited to for speech and language services, evaluations, language acquisition activities, staff and/or students may wear face shields.

• Reusable face shields should be cleaned and disinfected after each use.  Students must be trained on how to protect and clean their individual face shields after use.

Mask/Shield Usage and Cleaning Recommendations

The health and safety of all students and staff are a priority.  The following recommendations for the care and usage of masks and face shields is expected and should be  reviewed with all students.

• Wash your hands or use sanitizer on hands before touching the mask or shield.
• Connect the mask to the lanyard to be worn around the neck.
• Touch only the ear loops and place them over your ears.
• Do not touch the face covering except to adjust it to your nose and face.
• The mask should cover the nose and mouth and wrap under the chin.
• Wash or use sanitizer on hands after applying the face covering or mask.
• Cloth face coverings should be washed after each use.

Staff-Related Exceptions

• Teachers teaching phonics, world language and students with hearing issues who lip read, should be provided a clear mask or face shield (given the importance of these students being able to view mouth formation in these situations).

• Staff working with students with special healthcare needs (who are not able to wear masks and who may need assistance with activities of daily living, such as toileting, eating), should be provided face shields.

• Staff working with students who are not wearing face coverings due to one of the exceptions and also cannot maintain social distancing, should be provided increased protective equipment, including but not limited to medical-grade masks and disposable gowns. 
   

Operations - Facilities 

Café and food service:

• Single use, disposable items are not required for food service operations as there is a low risk of transmission from shared items.
• Schools should assess available physical distance in cafeterias and consider whether or not it makes sense to displace instructional activities for additional dining space.
• Consider adding lunch waves to reduce person-density in cafeterias. Emphasize the use of all other available mitigation strategies to minimize risk.

Cleaning Protocols

• Contaminated surfaces are not a significant risk for transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Routine daily cleaning is all that is needed in most areas of school buildings. Prioritize disinfection to bathrooms, health offices/isolation space, and known exposure areas.
• Clean (detergent-based) occupied areas of schools and buses on a daily basis.
• Clean and disinfect restrooms at least once daily.
• Continuous spot disinfection of high touch surfaces is no longer necessary. Electrostatic sprayers, foggers, etc. are not necessary and don’t increase effectiveness.

Distancing

• Physical distancing of at least 3 feet between students when feasible will be employed in accordance with CDC guidance.  Younger students might use “airplane arms” to allow them to visualize social distancing.  When it is not possible to maintain a physical distance of at least 3 feet, such as when schools cannot fully reopen while maintaining these distances, it is especially important to layer multiple other prevention strategies, such as cohorting, improved ventilation, handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes, staying home when sick with symptoms of infectious illness including COVID-19, and regular cleaning to help reduce transmission risk.
• Floor markings will illustrate social/physical distancing.
• Students who are seated at least 3 ft. away from a case do not need to quarantine if exposure was limited to the classroom (assuming contact is asymptomatic with consistent/correct mask use). Recommend creating small group assignments over time (cohorting within classrooms) to reduce transmission among students within classrooms.
• Space between the teacher and students will be maximized due to the risk of increased droplets from teachers while speaking. A distance of at least 6 feet is recommended between students and teachers/staff, and between teachers/staff who are not fully vaccinated.
• Lockers may be used by students. Locker assignments should be spaced apart if possible to create physical distance. Structuring the times when lockers are accessible by students will also reduce density at lockers.
• Classrooms will have access to washing stations, and if necessary, plan for temporary washing stations or hand sanitizer dispensers.
• Distancing should be increased to 6 feet whenever masks cannot be worn such as when eating.
  ○ The District will closely monitor indicators of community transmission to inform the safety of students eating together in school cafeterias.
  ○ Students are recommended to be assigned to consistent lunch tables within classroom groups to facilitate contact tracing if necessary.

Entering the Building

• All staff and students must wash their hands or use hand sanitizer upon entering school.
• All visitors should be aware of, and comply with, mitigation strategies in use inside school buildings. Movement throughout the building should be restricted to areas of need.
• Keep track of attendance at events for contact tracing. District personnel should keep track and log their movement throughout the district.
• Meetings with non-essential visitors/outside individuals can occur virtually or after the school day ends.
• Essential provider visits should continue without restrictions (including based on vaccination status).
• All Open House events will be held virtually for families during the 2021-2022 school year.
• The District’s Health and Medical Subcommittee should assist in determining whether family engagement activities (inclusive of PTA/PTO events) should be in-person or virtual.
• School Teams will continue to offer a virtual option for PPT, 504, and student team meetings.

No-Touch Usage

• The Facilities Department will assist staff in propping doors where appropriate and in accordance with Fire Code such as restrooms and hallways.
• Trash cans will be located near doors and will not have lids.
• Restrooms will have trash cans located near the exit where possible; cans will not have lids.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• The Facilities Department provides PPE pursuant to the following needs, especially for staff working in close contact with students (see National Association of School Nurses guidance):

 

*  Lowest Risk: School personnel and students must interact, and physical distancing cannot always be maintained.

*  Moderate Risk: Tasks include those that require close contact with (i.e., within six feet of) people who are not known or suspected to have COVID-19.  These precautions are recommended since some people with the disease may be asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic at the time of contact.  Although there is risk with these tasks, not all PPE listed may be needed for all situations. 

*  High Risk: Tasks that require close contact with (i.e. within 6 feet of) people who are not known or suspected COVID-19 patients but are undergoing procedures with potential for aerosol generation or body fluid contact.  

Recess and Playgrounds

• Increased supervision to monitor social distancing, as appropriate.
• Students should wash hands or use hand sanitizer upon return to the building.

Reopening of Facilities before First Day of Classes

• Buildings will be cleaned throughout the summer and prior to opening.
• Building Water Systems have been flushed on a regular basis and will be flushed prior to opening.  Selected water testing will be conducted.
• Schools will be ventilated prior to opening.
• Hand sanitizing stations will be located throughout the facility and high touch areas.

Signs and Messages 

• The Facilities Department has installed signage in buildings to ensure messages related to stopping the spread are accessible for students with disabilities and in languages appropriate for the school population.

• Signs are installed in highly visible locations including at all entrances, restrooms and other appropriate areas.  

  • Signage includes: 

  • “Stop the spread”;

  • Efforts to promote everyday protective measures;

  • Providing instruction related to properly washing hands near sinks reminding students and staff to wash hands frequently and before and after using the restroom and eating;

  • Properly wearing a cloth face coverings

Training Related to Facilities

• All Facilities staff will be trained and kept up to date on all cleaning and operation protocols.
• Equipment training of all new equipment will take place to ensure its proper use.
• Building custodial staff will advise other school staff on best practices.

Ventilation

• The Facilities Department complies with Comply with Guidance for School Systems for the Operation of Central and non- Central Ventilation Systems during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Building systems will be inspected during the summer by the Facilities Department and prior to opening to ensure they are operating properly.
• The Facilities Department will replace air filters prior to the start of the year and upgrade to higher effective filters.
• Filters are changed regularly.
• Where possible, opening windows will be encouraged.  Consider, however, how to avoid circumstances where opening a window may pose a health threat, such as asthma or allergy symptoms or creating fall risks for young students.
• The Facilities Department will reprogram building HVAC controls systems to maximize and increase ventilation rates as well as increase the percentage of outdoor air that circulates into the system where possible.
• General building and restroom exhaust fans will be set to run 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
• The Facilities Department will work with Cenegistics and a certified Test and Balance contractor to audit performance and assist troubleshooting of ventilation systems found not performing adequately.
• Maximize use of disposable towels in lieu of hand dryers, due to ventilation considerations.
• Health Office Ventilation:  if a health office does not have a window (Bear Path, Helen Street and HMS), confer with the Facilities Department on ventilation needs.  

Health Office Guidelines

• The School COVID-19 Liaison will work with Building Administration on school specific adaptations to the protocols below.
• Nurses will monitor with building custodians the availability of adequate supplies, including soap, hand sanitizer with at least 60% ethyl alcohol or 70% isopropyl alcohol (for staff and older students who can safely use hand sanitizer), paper towels, tissues, disinfectant wipes, face coverings (as feasible), and no-touch/foot-pedal trash cans.
• Staff must call the health office (or main office if unable to reach the health office) before sending a student.  Staff may also use radios if needed but be mindful of privacy.  
• If possible, Nurses will go to the classroom to assess a student for minor problems.
• Teachers will be provided with band-aids and cleaning cloths (PAWS) for minor problems where a child may administer self-care.  
• A waiting area must be established outside of the health office.
• QVHD and the District Medical advisor will determine if nebulizer treatments will be allowed (The CDC recommends no nebulizer treatments at school).

Infection Control Plan
 

Identification and Monitoring

• Parents, caregivers, or guardians should be strongly encouraged to monitor their children for symptoms of infectious illness every day through home-based symptom screening.  (see Symptoms of COVID-19) using the Daily Health Assessment.  
• Instruct students, families, and staff to inform the school nurse if they are sick with COVID-19 related symptoms, particularly if they had a known contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 and have also had contact with the school population.
• Health Offices with the assistance of school clerks will actively monitor staff and student absenteeism and track the reasons for their absences to identify any trends that would suggest spread of illness such as COVID-19.
• The District will create a communication system for staff and families for self-reporting of symptoms, and for families to notify the school of known or presumed cases consistent with applicable privacy and confidentiality laws.
• Vaccinated students and staff don’t need to quarantine (if asymptomatic); students (only) seated at least 3 ft. away from a case don’t need to quarantine if exposure was limited to the classroom (assuming contact is asymptomatic with consistent/correct mask use).

Containment procedures for a student or staff member suspected of being ill with COVID-19

• Staff members who suspect they are ill with COVID-19 should contact the school nurse and may be directed to leave the school immediately.  HPS staff must report a positive COVID-19 test to the Office of Personnel. 
• School Administration must be notified by school staff of any student whom staff suspect may be ill with COVID-19. 
• At the direction of the school nurse in partnership with the Quinnipiack Valley Health District (QVHD), students in need of isolation or quarantine may be placed in isolation in the health office.  The student must stay in isolation wearing a medical-grade mask and supervised by staff.
• School nurses will call the parent to determine a timeline for pick up.  Parents will be advised of the need for the student to be assessed by a Pediatrician to determine if a COVID-19 test is required. 
• Custodians will be directed to clean the Health Office if necessary.
• The District will consult with QVHD around the signs and symptoms exhibited by students or staff that would require their immediate dismissal from school.
• QVHD will receive notification of a positive COVID-19 test result for a student and will notify the Office of the Superintendent. 
• Procedures to guide the District in identifying and addressing staff members and other students who had close contact (within six feet of distance for 15 minutes or more) with an individual who has been confirmed as having COVID-19 will be continually reviewed by QVHD and the District Medical Advisor.

Returning to School or Work

Guidelines concerning a return to school or work by students or staff members have been developed by QVHD and the District Medical Advisor and are subject to continuous review.  If a student or staff member was suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19, they could be asked to stay at home (with provisions for learning or work to be implemented by the school for students and the Office of Personnel for staff) until the appropriate criteria are met as described below:

• They have been medically cleared to return by a physician. 
• Fever free for 24 hours and symptoms have significantly improved
• Otherwise, if the individual tested positive in a diagnostic COVID-19 test but did not manifest symptoms, they should stay home until:
  • They have been medically cleared by a physician. 
  • AND remain out until the end of their quarantine period in collaboration with the school nurse. 
  • The above should be medically documented.