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2020-2021 New Albany School District Restart and Recovery Plan The New Albany School District, with guidance from the Mississippi State Department of Health, the Mississippi Department of Education, the Mississippi School Board Association, and the Centers for DIsease Control, has developed a three-tiered plan to return to school for the 2021 school year in the safest way to educate our students while keeping students and staff as safe as possible. The New Albany School District’s 2020-2021 Return to School Plan provides a tiered approach with clear, actionable steps that are in place before students and employees return to school buildings and are applicable throughout the 2020-2021 school year.
This approach is built upon the guidance and recommendations of health officials; it is strongly aligned to the reopening guidelines that have been provided by our state and federal leaders; and it’s designed to help our schools prioritize the health and safety of students and teachers as they open school buildings and deliver instruction for the 2020-2021 school year.
The New Albany School District’s 2020-2021 Return to School Plan focuses heavily on the health and physical requirements necessary for reopening school buildings. The New Albany School District will continue to provide guidance and recommendations within our schools on navigating the academic, social, and emotional effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on students and employees.
Addressing Community Spread with the New Albany School District’s
2020-2021 Return to School Plan LEVEL OF COMMUNITY SPREAD (AS DETERMINED BY STATE AND LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS)
Low Spread
Traditional Schedule
Moderate Spread
Hybrid Schedule
Substantial Spread
Distance/Remote Schedule Implement standard operating procedures while
taking preventative measures such as:
● Implement social distancing measures as feasible (see
Transitioning, Group Gatherings, and Teaching and Learning)
● Employees required to wear mask/face covering/shield
● Students encouraged to wear mask or face covering
● Establish and maintain communication with MSDH health officials
● Participate in contact tracing efforts and specimen collection efforts as directed by local health officials (to the extent feasible)
● Post signage in classrooms, hallways, and entrances to communicate how to stop the spread. COVID-19 symptoms, preventative measures (including staying home when sick), good hygiene, and school/district specific protocols
● Establish a protocol for students/staff who feel ill/experience symptoms when they come to school (see When a Student or Staff Member Becomes Sick at School)
● Consider ways to accommodate needs of children, teachers/staff, and families at higher risk for severe illness (see Protecting Vulnerable Populations)
● Thorough cleaning of schools daily
Continuing with previous practices with additions: ● Establish and maintain communication with MSDH
health officials ● Participate in contact tracing efforts and specimen
collection efforts as directed by local health officials (to the extent feasible)
● Employees required to wear mask/face covering/shield
● Students strongly encouraged to wear mask or face covering
● Implement enhanced social distancing measures ● Post signage in classrooms, hallways, and entrances to
communicate how to stop the spread. COVID-19 symptoms, preventative measures (including staying home when sick), good hygiene, and school/district specific protocols
● Establish a protocol for students/staff who feel ill/experience symptoms when they come to school (see When a Student or Staff Member Becomes Sick at School)
● Isolate and deep clean impacted classrooms and spaces ● Consider ways to accommodate needs of children,
teachers/staff, and families at higher risk for severe illness (see Protecting Vulnerable Populations)
Districts have the authority and flexibility to close school buildings and utilize distance/remote learning as needed.
New Albany Schools are closed. ● Coordinate with MSDH health officials
as needed ● Participate in contact tracing efforts and
specimen collection efforts as directed by local health officials (to the extent feasible)
● Implement distance/remote learning (see Serving School Meals and Supporting Teaching and Learning).
● Close off affected areas and if possible, wait 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting.
● Consider ways to accommodate needs of children, teachers/staff, and families at higher risk for severe illness (see Protecting Vulnerable Populations for considerations)
For additional guidance on addressing community spread, see the CDC’s Considerations for School District
Definitions Face Coverings
NASD employees will be required to wear a mask/face covering/shield within any group. Students will be encouraged to wear a mask or face covering. Information will be provided to staff, students, and families on proper use, removal, and washing of cloth face coverings. Avoid touching face. > CDC Guidance
Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizers should contain at least 60% alcohol and only used with staff and children who are old enough to safely use hand sanitizer. Hand soap and water is the first recommendation for hand hygiene. Hand soap and water should be used when possible especially for younger children. > CDC Guidance
Clean/Disinfect
Ensure safe and correct application of disinfectants and keep out of reach of children. > CDC Guidance
COVID-19 Spread
COVID-19 is mostly spread by respiratory droplets released when people talk, cough, or sneeze. It is thought that the virus may spread to hands from a contaminated surface and then to the nose or mouth, causing infection. Avoid touching your face. Personal prevention practices such as handwashing, staying home when sick and environmental cleaning and disinfection are important principles. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html
Social Distancing
Limiting face-to-face contact with others is the best way to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Social distancing means keeping space between yourself and other people outside of your home. To practice social distancing stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people. In addition to everyday steps to prevent COVID-19, keeping space between you and others is one of the best tools we have to avoid being exposed to this virus and slowing its spread. Limit close contact with others outside your household in indoor and outdoor spaces. Since people can spread the virus before they know they are sick, it is important to distance yourself from others when possible, even if you—or they—have no symptoms.
Close Contact
The Mississippi State Department of Health defines close contact as being closer than six feet of someone for 15 minutes or more (aggregate time) without wearing a mask/face covering.
Isolation Isolation keeps someone who is sick and confirmed positive for COVID-19 or tested positive for COVID-19 and has no symptoms (asymptomatic) away from others, even in their own home. Isolation should continue until at least 10days since symptoms first appeared or date of testing if positive for COVID-19, symptoms are improved, and NO fever without fever-reducing medication for a minimum of 72 hours (3 days).
Quarantine
Quarantine keeps someone who has been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 away from others. A quarantine should be for 14 days after your last contact with the infected person, Temperature should be checked twice daily and monitor for symptoms of COVID-19. Contact health care provider if fever or other symptoms occur during this time.
PPE
PPE is personal protective equipment that is needed to decrease exposure to disease causing organisms. Examples of PPE are masks, face coverings, face shields, hand sanitizer, gloves, aprons, etc. Other very important tools to remember to protect self and others are frequent handwashing with soap and water, using tissues and discarding promptly, and maintaining social distancing of six feet.
The New Albany School District’s 2020-2021 Return to School Plan
Low Spread
Traditional Schedule
Moderate Spread
Hybrid Schedule
Substantial Spread
Distance/Remote Schedule Level of Community Spread (as determined by state and local health officials
Practicing Prevention
Implement standard operating procedures while taking preventative measures such as:
● Remove all classroom furniture and accessories
as recommended to assist in social distancing and limit the spread of disease-causing organisms
● Teach and reinforce good hygiene measures such as handwashing, covering coughs, sneezes, and avoid touching face
● Provide hand soap and hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, paper towels, and no-touch trash cans in all bathrooms, classrooms, and frequently trafficked areas
● Post signage in classrooms, hallways, and entrances to communicate how to stop the spread. COVID-19 symptoms, preventative measures (including staying home when sick), good hygiene, and school/district specific protocols.
● Clean/disinfect frequently touched surfaces at least daily and shared objects after each use
● Provide masks/shields and other appropriate PPE to staff
● Allow students and staff to bring hand sanitizer and face masks/face coverings to use from home
● Require staff to wear face masks/covering/shield, as well other appropriate PPE as desired
● Encourage students to wear mask/face covering ● Turn off water fountains and allow students
and staff to bring water bottles from home ● Take steps to ensure all water systems and
features are safe
● Ensure ventilation systems operate properly and increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible, as long as this does not pose a safety or health risk to students or staff
● Conduct deep cleaning of schools prior to students/staff returning; schedule periodic cleanings during weekends or school holidays/breaks (to the extent practicable)
● Teach and reinforce good hygiene measures such as handwashing, covering coughs, and face coverings
● Provide hand soap and hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, paper towels, and no-touch trash cans in all bathrooms, classrooms, and frequently trafficked areas
● Post signage in classrooms, hallways, and entrances to communicate how to stop the spread. COVID-19 symptoms, preventative measures (including staying home when sick), good hygiene, and school/district specific protocols.
● Clean/disinfect frequently touched surfaces at least daily and shared objects after each use
● Provide masks/shields and other appropriate PPE to staff
● Allow students and staff to bring hand sanitizer and face masks/coverings to use from home
● Require staff to wear face masks/covering/shield, as well other appropriate PPE as desired
● Strongly encourage students to wear mask/face covering
● Take steps to ensure all water systems and features are safe
● Water fountains remain turned off and allow students and staff to bring water bottles from home
● Ensure ventilation systems operate properly and increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible, as long as this does not pose a safety or health risk to students or staff
● Conduct deep cleaning of schools prior to students/staff returning; schedule additional cleanings during weekends or school holidays/breaks
New Albany Schools are closed.
Use social media and other communications to inform parents, students, and staff about COVID-19 symptoms, preventative measures, good hygiene, and school/district specific protocols
Encourage COVID-19 testing
CDC Guidance How to Protect Yourself and Others
COVID-19 Symptoms
COVID-19 and Children
Communication Tools
Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) Coronavirus Hotline (7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. daily) 877-978-6453 Website Coronavirus COVID-19 CDC COVID-19 Self-Checker Crisis Contacts https://mentalhealthms.com/ Counselors are available on all school campuses to serve students and staff in times of crisis.
CDC Guidance
Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting School District Guidance for Reopening Buildings After Prolonged Shutdown
Low Spread
Traditional Schedule
Moderate Spread
Hybrid Schedule
Substantial Spread
Distance/Remote Schedule
Level of Community Spread (as determined by state and local health officials)
Transporting Students
Implement standard operating procedures while taking preventative measures such as:
● Providing hand sanitizer for students and
bus drivers ● Provide and require bus drivers to wear
face masks/coverings/shield ● Strongly encourage students to wear
face masks/coverings ● Educate students and utilize spaced
seating to the extent practicable ● No field trips until further notice ● Inspecting buses prior to students
returning and as part of a regular rotation
● Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces on the bus at least daily
● Airing out buses when not in use
*Parents are strongly encouraged to make arrangements for students to be transported to/from school by means other than school bus during this time.
Implement standard operating procedures while taking preventative measures such as:
● Providing hand sanitizer for students and bus
drivers ● Provide and require bus drivers to wear face
masks/coverings/shield ● Strongly encourage students to wear face
masks/coverings ● Educate students and enhance utilizing of
spaced seating to the extent practicable ● No field trips until further notice ● Inspecting buses prior to students returning
and as part of a regular rotation ● Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched
surfaces on the bus after each route ● Airing out buses when not in use
*Parents are strongly encouraged to make arrangements for students to be transported to/from school by means other than school bus during this time.
New Albany Schools closed Buses used to deliver meals, as well as deliver and pick up educational packets to and from students and families
District/School Considerations: ● Reduce contact by delivering
multiple days of meals during a designated time (ex: delivering multiple days of meals one or two days per week)
Low Spread
Traditional Schedule
Moderate Spread
Hybrid Schedule
Substantial Spread
Distance/Remote Schedule
Level of Community Spread (as determined by state and local health officials
Entering School
Buildings
School Calendars: Local school districts have authority over school calendars – meaning they have full authority to set start and end dates, holidays/breaks, and school hours, provided instructional requirements are met.
Implement standard operating procedures while taking preventative measures such as:
● Provide hand sanitizer for students and
staff ● No congregations of students and staff ● Post signage in classrooms, hallways,
and entrances to communicate how to stop the spread. COVID-19 symptoms, preventative measures (including staying home when sick), good hygiene, and school/district specific protocols
● Designate specific locations for staff and students to enter the building and designate entrance and exit flow paths
● Screen students and staff (to the extent practicable):
○ Take temperatures ○ Isolate and send home if
internal temperature =/>100.0°F
○ Consider safety and privacy concerns (confidentiality should be maintained)
● Establish a protocol for students/staff who feel ill/experience symptoms when they come to school (see When a Student or Staff Member Becomes Sick at School)
● Allow only essential visitors: call the front office before entering, NO dropped off items, screen visitors, require use of face coverings/masks, etc.
● Restrict nonessential visitors and volunteers
Continuing to:
● Provide hand sanitizer for students and staff ● No congregations of students and staff ● Post signage in classrooms, hallways, and
entrances to communicate how to stop the spread. COVID-19 symptoms, preventative measures (including staying home when sick), good hygiene, and school/district specific protocols
● Designate specific locations for staff and students to enter the building and designate entrance and exit flow paths
● Screen students and staff (to the extent practicable):
o Take temperatures o Isolate and send home if internal
temperature =/>100.0°F o Consider safety and privacy concerns
(confidentiality should be maintained) ● Establish a protocol for students/staff who feel
ill/experience symptoms when they come to school (see When a Student or Staff Member Becomes Sick at School)
● Allow only essential visitors: call the front office before entering, NO dropped off items, screen visitors, require use of face coverings/masks, etc.
● Restrict nonessential visitors and volunteers
New Albany Schools are closed District should require only that staff report in-person to carry out functions that are necessary as defined by the school district. District/School Considerations:
● District/school leaders must remain vigilant and purposeful as they determine roles, responsibilities, and reporting to building requirements for staff
● District/school leaders should leverage virtual tools and platforms wherever possible to conduct essential business and keep in-person reporting to an absolute minimum
Low Spread
Traditional Schedule
Moderate Spread
Hybrid Schedule
Substantial Spread
Distance/Remote Schedule
Level of Community Spread (as determined by state and local health officials
Serving Meals
Implement standard operating procedures while taking preventative
measures such as:
● All food service workers required to wear mask/face covering and other PPE such as gloves and aprons while preparing food
● Allow student hand washing before and after meal service
● Provide hand sanitizer for students and staff
● Require staff and encourage students to wear face masks/coverings while in group gatherings such as picking up meals
● Mark spaced lines to enter the cafeteria and serving lines (to the extent practicable); designate entrances and exit flow paths; stagger use
● Use disposable covered plates, utensils, etc.
● Conducting cleaning of cafeterias and high-touch surfaces throughout the school day
● After picking up meals. students will return to classroom to eat
● No sharing of utensils or food items
● Garbage removal and disposal of meal items should be accomplished timely
Continuing to:
● All food service workers required to wear mask/face covering and other PPE such as gloves and aprons while preparing food
● Allow student hand washing before and after meal service
● Provide hand sanitizer for students and staff
● Require staff and students to wear face masks/coverings while in group gatherings such as picking up meals
● Mark spaced lines to enter the cafeteria and serving lines (to the extent practicable); designate entrances and exit flow paths; stagger use
● Use disposable covered plates, utensils, etc.
● Conducting cleaning of cafeterias and high-touch surfaces throughout the school day
● After picking up meals. students will return to classroom to eat
● No sharing of utensils or food items ● Garbage removal and disposal of meal
items should be accomplished timely
New Albany Schools are closed.
Buses will be used to deliver meals, as well as deliver and pick up educational packets to and from students and families
District/School Considerations: ● Reduce contact by delivering multiple
days of meals during a designated time (ex: delivering multiple days of meals one or two days per week)
Low Spread
Traditional Schedule
Moderate Spread
Hybrid Schedule
Substantial Spread
Distance/Remote Schedule
Level of Community Spread (as determined by state and local health officials
Transitioning
Implement standard operating procedures while taking preventative
measures such as:
● Require staff to wear face masks/coverings/shield especially in transition
● Strongly encourage students to wear mask/face coverings especially in transition
● Conducting cleaning of hallways and high-touch surfaces throughout the school day
● Designating areas of the hallway (i.e. lanes) to walk to keep students separated and to minimize congregation of students (to the extent practicable)
● Provide additional time for transitions (utilizing state seat time waiver to extend transition period)
● Have the same group of students stay with the same staff (all day for young children and as much as feasible for older children)
Continuing to:
● Require staff to wear face masks/coverings/shield especially in transition
● Strongly encourage students to wear mask/face coverings especially in transition
● Conducting cleaning of hallways and high-touch surfaces throughout the school day
● Designating areas of the hallway (i.e. lanes) to walk to keep students separated and to minimize congregation of students (to the extent practicable)
● Provide additional time for transitions (utilizing state seat time waiver to extend transition period)
● Have the same group of students stay with the same staff (all day for young children and as much as feasible for older children)
School buildings are closed.
Low Spread
Traditional Schedule
Moderate Spread
Hybrid Schedule
Substantial Spread
Distance/Remote Schedule
Level of Community Spread (as determined by state and local health officials
Conducting Group
Gatherings
Implement standard operating procedures while taking preventative measures such
as:
● Providing hand sanitizer for students and staff
● Require staff and encourage students to wear face masks/coverings
● Limiting unnecessary congregations of students and staff
● Abide by the maximum number of people allowed to congregate as defined by the Governor’s current statewide Executive Order
● Discourage the congregation of students in parking lots and common areas
● Stagger the schedule for group gatherings (i.e. recess and school meals)
● Identify and utilize large spaces (i.e. gymnasiums, auditoriums, outside spaces – as weather permits) for social distancing
● Follow Mississippi High School Activities Association guidelines for sporting events and practices
Continuing to:
● Providing hand sanitizer for students and staff ● Require staff and encourage students to wear
face masks/coverings ● Limiting unnecessary congregations of
students and staff ● Abide by the maximum number of people
allowed to congregate as defined by the Governor’s current statewide Executive Order
● Discourage the congregation of students in parking lots and common areas
● Stagger the schedule for group gatherings (i.e. recess and school meals)
● Identify and utilize large spaces (i.e. gymnasiums, auditoriums, outside spaces – as weather permits) for social distancing
● Follow Mississippi High School Activities Association guidelines for sporting events and practices
New Albany Schools are closed.
Low Spread
Traditional Schedule
Moderate Spread
Hybrid Schedule
Substantial Spread
Distance/Remote Schedule
Level of Community Spread (as determined by state and local health officials
Supporting Teaching
and Learning
Implement standard operating procedures while taking preventative measures such as:
● Providing hand sanitizer for students and staff
● Conducting cleaning of classrooms and high-touch surfaces each day
● Limiting physical interaction through partner or group work
● Surveying families’ interest in continuing online learning to reduce number of students requiring face-to- face, traditional instruction
Establish an academic baseline: ● Administer formative assessments
at the school year ● Conduct meetings with teachers to
identify where students are academically
Target interventions and supports--- Provide additional instructional supports to:
● students at-risk of not graduating on time
● students with disabilities (compensatory services)
● students who struggled in the prior distance/remote learning environment
● other students identified as being behind academically by teachers and parents.
Address learning loss:
● Help students catch up/get ahead through virtual school (Credit Recovery)
● Provide extended learning opportunities as much as possible through before/afterschool programs.
District/School Considerations: ● Implement hybrid instructional model. ● Survey families to gauge which students may
want to conduct their schooling virtually for the 2020-2021 school year. Traditional Instructional Model
● Use the master schedule to balance class numbers as much as possible – remove unused desks and furniture in classrooms; maximize social distancing (to the extent practicable)
● Limit physical interaction through partner or group work
● Establish distance between the teacher’s desk/board and students’ desks
● Identify and utilize large spaces (i.e. gymnasiums, auditoriums, outside spaces – as weather permits) for social distancing
School buildings are closed.
● Implement a robust Distance Learning Plan
● Distribute printed instructional packets/ materials and district/school communications along with meals; designate and communicate collection/drop off points
Prepare for potential future distance/remote learning by increasing current blended learning:
● Develop a digital learning plan Integrate virtual learning practices:
● digitizing lessons ● record lessons daily ● requiring a certain number of online
assignments for each grading period
● Provide virtual learning-specific professional development teachers.
Low Spread
Traditional Schedule
Moderate Spread
Hybrid Schedule
Substantial Spread
Distance/Remote Schedule
Level of Community Spread (as determined by state and local health officials
Protecting Vulnerable
Populations
Vulnerable Populations -- Elderly individuals and/or individuals with serious underlying health conditions, including high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, and those whose immune system is compromised such as by chemotherapy for cancer and other conditions requiring such therapy.
Implement standard operating procedures while taking preventative measures such as:
● Establish a point-of-contact with the local
health department ● Identify local COVID-19 testing sites ● Provide hand sanitizer for students and staff ● Provide PPE to vulnerable students and staff
as appropriate ● Allow vulnerable students to complete their
coursework virtually ● Require staff and strongly encourage
vulnerable students to wear PPE throughout the school day (to the extent practicable)
● Establish a process for regular check- ins with vulnerable students and staff
● Limit group gatherings/ interactions for vulnerable students and staff
● Provide remote/distance learning opportunities for vulnerable student populations in consultation with parents and public health officials
● Adhere to FERPA and HIPPA requirements
Continue to:
● Provide remote/distance learning opportunities for vulnerable student populations in consultation with parents and public health officials
● Adhere to FERPA and HIPPA requirements
New Albany Schools are closed.
When a
Student or Staff Member Becomes Sick
at School
● Work with school administrators, school nurses, and other
healthcare providers to identify an isolation room or area to separate anyone who exhibits COVID-like symptoms.
● School nurses and other healthcare providers should use Transmission-Based Precautions | Basics | Infection Control when caring for sick people. See: COVID-19 What Healthcare Personnel Should Know about Caring for Patients
● Notify local health officials, staff, and families immediately of a positive case while maintaining confidentiality consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable federal and state privacy laws.
● Close off areas used by a sick person and do not use before cleaning and disinfection. Ensure safe and correct application of disinfectants and keep disinfectant products away from children.
● Advise sick staff members and children not to return until they have met MSDH criteria to discontinue home isolation
● Students and staff testing positive for COVID-19 must be isolated at home for 14 days from onset of symptoms or date of testing. There should be no fever for at least the last 72 hours of the 14 days.
● Inform those who have had close contact to a person diagnosed with COVID-19 to stay home and follow MSDH guidance if symptoms develop. If a person does not have symptoms, follow appropriate MSDH guidance for home quarantine. Close contact is defined as =/> 15 minutes at less than six feet distance without a mask.
● Students and staff testing positive for COVID-19 should have a note from a health care provider that he/she may return to school. Release should be faxed directly to 662-534-1886.
CDC Guidance Symptoms of Coronavirus
Standard Precautions
Utilizing guidance from the Mississippi State Department of Health, the Mississippi Department of Education, and the Mississippi School Board Association, we created these guidelines to give our school a blueprint for a safe reopening that is realistic in the K-12 setting. We take seriously our responsibility to keep our students, teachers, school staff, and families safe while providing the best possible education for our children.
Dr. Lance Evans NASD Superintendent
For additional information, go to the Mississippi State Department of Health:
Coronavirus COVID-19
