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Monadnock Regional School District & SAU #93 School Board Agenda June 15, 2021 7:00pm
Zoom/Hybrid Register in advance for this webinar: https :/ / mrsd-org.zoom.us / webinar/ regis ter/ WN_oJ WO_DFRQDWqVcGH0aqaGA
The public is encouraged to attend MRSD Board meetings. Comments are welcome during the ‘Public Comments’ portions of the agenda. Input on other agenda items is welcome upon recognition of the Board Chairman.
“We collaborate not just to teach, but also to engage and educate every student in our district in an environment that is challenging, caring, and safe, while fostering lifelong learning.”
1. CALL TO ORDER 7:00pm 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS 7pm-7:15pm 3. MATTERS THAT REQUIRE BOARD ACTION
a. * District Mask Policy b. * Fall 2021 Reopening Concept c. * Bids for MRMHS 4 Classroom Addition d. * Motions to Encumber Unallocated Funds e. * Budget Transfers f. * Manifest g. * Rate of Pay for Summer School Faculty and Staff (policy IHCA) h. * Approve Data Governance Plan (Policy EHAB) i. * June 1st, 2021 Minutes
4. MATTERS FOR INFORMATION & DISCUSSION a. 2021/2022 Instructional Plan b. Preview of Educational Spec Survey c. Operations/Superintendent’s Report d. Demo of BoardDocs e. Policy Committee Progress & Plan to review referred Motion f. Policies for First Read
i. EEAEA/EEAEA-R - Mandatory Drug and Alcohol Testing ii. IJOC/IJOC-R - Volunteers
iii. IKFA - Early Graduation 5. SETTING NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA 6. PUBLIC COMMENTS 7. NON-PUBLIC SESSIONS under RSA 91-A:3. II as needed 8. ADJOURNMENT
*Indicates an item requiring Board action. The order of the agenda is subject to change.
SINGLE DISTRICT SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS
RSA 94-C:3 – Single District School Administrative Units; Exemption. Single district school administrative units shall be considered the same as a single school district and shall be exempt from meeting the requirements of this chapter, except that they shall provide superintendent services pursuant to RSA 194-C:4
NONPUBLIC SESSIONS
RSA 91-A:3– II. Only the following matters shall be considered or acted upon in nonpublic session:
(a) The dismissal, promotion, or compensation of any public employee or the disciplining of such employee, or the investigation of any charges against him or her, unless the employee affected (1) has a right to a meeting and (2) requests that the meeting be open, in which case the request shall be granted.
(b) The hiring of any person as a public employee.
(c) Matters which, if discussed in public, would likely adversely affect the reputation of any person, other than a member of the public body itself, unless such person requests an open meeting.
(d) Consideration of the acquisition, sale, or lease of real or personal property which, if discussed in public, would likely benefit a party or parties whose interests are adverse to those of the general community.
(e) Consideration or negotiation of pending claims or litigation which has been threatened in writing or filed by or against the public body or any subdivision thereof, or by or against any member thereof because of his or her membership in such public body, until the claim or litigation has been fully adjudicated or otherwise settled.
(i) Consideration of matters relating to the preparation for and the carrying out of emergency functions, including training to carry out such functions, developed by local or state safety officials that are directly intended to thwart a deliberate act that is intended to result in widespread or severe damage to property or widespread injury or loss of life.
(j) Consideration of confidential, commercial, or financial information that is exempt from public disclosure under RSA 91-A:5, IV in an adjudicative proceeding pursuant to RSA 541 or RSA 541-A.
(k) Consideration by a school board of entering into a student or pupil tuition contract authorized by RSA 194 or RSA 195-A,
(l) Consideration of legal advice provided by legal counsel, either in writing or orally, to one or more members of the public body, even where legal counsel is not present.
CALENDAR OF UPCOMING MRSD MEETINGS: 6/15/2021 Community Relations Committee 5:30 pm Zoom 6/15/2021 MRSD/SAU 93 School Board 7:00 pm Webinar 6/22/2021 Budget Committee 7:00 pm Zoom 7/1/2021 Extra-Curricular Committee 6:30 pm Zoom 7/5/2021 Education & Technology 7:00 pm Zoom 7/6/2021 Legislative Committee 6:00 pm Zoom 7/6/2021 MRSD/SAU 93 School Board 7:00 pm Webinar 7/13/2021 Finance & Facilities Committee 6:30 pm Zoom 7/20/2021 Community Relations Committee 5:30 pm Zoom 7/20/2021 MRSD/SAU 93 School Board 7:00 pm Webinar Please Note: If your meeting is not listed at the time of sending the Board Packet, it is not on any of the district calendars and has not been posted. If you need to cancel or change your meeting, please contact me immediately. Thank you, Lillian Sutton
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2021
Contact: Angela Adams
(603) 271-0448
New Hampshire Department of Education and Division of Public Health Services
Issue Joint Statement Regarding Masks in Schools
CONCORD - "As we wrap up the school year and look forward to some of our great summer
programming, it is important that we implement policies that will support student learning and overall
health.
With levels of COVID-19 in our communities decreasing around the State, the New Hampshire Division
of Public Health recommended last week that schools can safely remove masks in outdoor settings,
regardless of a person’s vaccination status. As we enter the summer months, it is becoming more
difficult for people to wear masks in settings that lack climate control.
While K-12 schools continue to have the ability to set face mask policies for COVID-19 prevention, the
New Hampshire Department of Education and Division of Public Health Services recommend that there
should be flexibility in school face mask policies so that if situations arise where it becomes potentially
unsafe to wear a face mask for prolonged periods of time (e.g., due to the potential for heat exhaustion,
dehydration, significant discomfort or inability to wear a face mask, etc.) that steps be taken to allow
masks to come off, even in indoor environments. The New Hampshire Division of Public Health Services
is in the process of updating their general face mask guidance.”
Dr. Benjamin Chan, State Epidemiologist
Frank Edelblut, Commissioner of Education
* * * * * * *
6/7/2021 11:18:42 AM 2nd Draft
Fall 2021 Reopening Concept
2nd Draft 6/7/2021
MRSD School Reopening Concept - Fall, 2021 Index
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Fall 2021 Reopening Concept
Table of ContentsExecutive Summary 1Timeline and Teams 3Guiding Principles 4Student Services 5Guidance 7Mitigation 9Buildings and Grounds 10Survey Results 11Survey Comments 16
MRSD School Reopening Concept - Fall, 2021 Executive Summary
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Executive Summary and RecommendationsThe 2020/21 Year in ReviewWe have navigated the 2020/21 school year under the guidance of our original Reopening Concept. We opened in a Hybrid Model in the fall, and on May 3rd, 2021, we transitioned back to in-person learning at all grade levels. Throughout the school year, we had between 80-85% of our students engaged with in-person learning (first in hybrid and then fully in-person), with the remaining 15-20% accessing the Remote Support option outlined in our Reopening Concept. On occasion, we shifted classrooms, cohorts, or entire schools to fully Remote Learning as warranted due to COVID-19 related issues. With some modifications and restrictions, students were able to engage in extracurricular and athletic activities throughout the year, including prom. While this year has been different and difficult, our community has been unwavering in its support and commitment to the health and safety of our students, families, and employees.
Finding the good in the midst of the not-so-great can be a challenge, and this year's prom theme of 'Silver Linings' encouraged everyone to pause and do just that. As we look back and reflect on the past year and a half, some of the things we have identified as best practices to continue as we move forward include:
Soft OpeningWe started the 2020/21 school year with four 'soft opening' days, in which families would make appointments with the child(ren)s teacher(s) and principal to visit the school and have 1:1 time to ask questions, tour the building, and simply spend time in the school environment. Participation by families was very high (over 90% in all of our elementary schools) and exceeded attendance at traditional Open House by a wide margin at all grade levels. We will continue this practice in the fall of 2021/22 and for years to come.Leveraging TechnologyTechnology was a critical component of the Remote Support model we were able to maintain for the 2022/21 school year. While that learning mode will not be an elective option for the future, we will continue to leverage certain aspects of the model to assist students who must be absent from school for extended periods of time. Social and Emotional SupportFor students, families, and employees alike, balancing life and school in the midst of the pandemic was no easy task. As a District, we started the school year with a focus on social and emotional well-being with a kick-off workshop for our employees with Lynn Lyons, a leader in the area of self-care and social emotional needs of children and adults. We increased the number of school counselors for students at the elementary level, and increased our outreach to families and employees to provide information and resources throughout the pandemic. Moving forward, the District will maintain the increased level of school counselors at our elementary schools and continue to provide resources and support for the social and emotional wellness needs of our community.
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MRSD School Reopening Concept - Fall, 2021 Executive Summary
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Summer 2021 and the 2021/22 Year to ComeWhile we would like to say everything will be 'back to normal' for our return to school in the fall of 2021, the reality is that we don't really know for sure what 'normal' is going to look like in the future. Any plan we make must be fluid and adaptable, as updated guidance seems to be issued almost daily with local and state governments shifting policies and rules just as frequently. A key element of the Fall 2021 Reopening Concept is a commitment to follow prevailing guidance issued by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (NH DHHS) unless the Monadnock Regional School Board (MRSB) takes action to adjust elements of that guidance to best meet the needs of the Monadnock community.
The following pages address four broad categories related to school operations. Student services includes models for instruction, student support, nutrition, and student activities.Guidance includes policies for prevention related to COVID-19.Mitigation includes strategies for reducing the risk of illness and general best hygiene practices.Buildings and grounds includes policies for facilities (including busses and transportation).
"Back to normal" has yet to be defined - and it will be moving target for some time to come. Perhaps saying 'we will return to as normal as possible' would be a more accurate way to approach the upcoming school year. No matter how we define it and no matter what happens, over the past year and a half we have demonstrated that no matter what happens, the Monadnock community will rise to the challenge. #celebrateMRSD
MRSD Reopening Concept - Approved August 4, 2020
January 26, 2021 DHHS Decision MatrixNH DHHS Resources for Schools
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MRSD School Reopening Concept - Fall, 2021 Timeline and Team
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Timeline and TeamsMay 30th - Community survey closes
June 1st - School Board review of survey input, first draftJune 3rd - Full Administrative Team review of first draft
June 7th - Second draft shared with School Board and posted on webpageJune 15th - School Board review of second draft, discussion and vote
June 23rd - Approved plan due to the New Hampshire Department of Education
SAU Leadership TeamLisa A. Witte, Superintendent of Schools
Jeremy Rathbun, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and AssessmentCatherine Woods, Director of Student Services
Janel Morin, Business Administrator
Full Administrative TeamLisa A. Witte, Superintendent of Schools Kathryn Schnare, Special Education CoordinatorJeremy Rathbun, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Lisa Spencer, PrincipalCatherine Woods, Director of Student Services Melissa Suarez, PrincipalJanel Morin, Business Administrator Audrey Salzmann, PrincipalDavid Lapointe, Director of Facilities Lori Stevens, PrincipalTom Walsh, Director of Nutrition Services Kevin Stone, PrincipalFrannie Ashworth, Director of Project Beyond the Bell Adrienne Noel, Teaching PrincipalChris Czifrik, Director of Technology Patrick Dowsett, Assistant PrincipalLinda Health, Assistant Director of Project Beyond the Bell Ryan Schafer, Assistant PrincipalDeb Davis-Young, Special Education Coordinator Tom Cote, Athletic Director
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MRSD School Reopening Concept - Fall, 2021 Guiding Principles and Beliefs
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Guiding Principles/Beliefs (Adopted in August, 2020)Safety First - Prioritizing the health and safety of our students and families, our employees, and our community.Recognizing the need for face-to-face interaction and communication for social and emotional connections and direct instruction.Addressing the myriad of emotions and reactions that accompany the current pandemic situation, creating a level of comfort and feeling safe for our students and families, our employees, and our community around returning to school.Developing appropriate expectations and accountability structures for learning.Implementing consistent expectations for learning platforms and communication.Understanding that the current pandemic situation continues to evolve and that we may need to adjust plans or modify models as things change.
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MRSD School Reopening Concept - Fall, 2021 Fall 2021 Reopening - Student Services
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2021/22 Reopening Concept - Student Services
Instructional ModelAll students will return to full, in-person learning.The District will no longer provide Remote Support (as defined in the August, 2020 reopening plan).
Students with DisabilitiesStudent needs will be addressed on an individual basis as determined by their IEP teams and within the guidelines of the NH Standards for the Education of Children with Disabilities. Students with disabilities will receive specially-designed instruction, related services and accommodations/modifications as prescribed in their IEPs or 504 plans, within the school building and in-person.
Chorus, Band, and Music
Chorus, Band, and Music programs will resume during the 2021/2022. Groups will be distanced as much as possible and, when appropriate, rehearsal and other performances will be held outside. Care will be taken to ensure shared materials and space are cleaned and sanitized to the extent possible and appropriate.
Physical EducationPhysical Education activities have already resumed. Special care and effort has been taken to ensure any shared equipment is cleaned and sanitized. Social distancing practices are used throughout classes.
Classroom SuppliesClassroom supplies may be shared between students provided necessary cleaning and/or sanitizing occurs between classes or cohorts.Individual supplies will be provided when cleaning and/or sanitizing is not feasible.
Outdoor Activities (School Day)Students will be encouraged to use hand sanitizer before and after recess.Weather permitting, the use of outdoor space for educational purposes will be encouraged.
Extracurricular Activities
All extracurricular activities will strive to maintain social distancing in accordance with current and prevailing NH DHHS guidance.All students and employees may be required to wear face masks outdoors when social distancing in accordance with current and prevailing NH DHHS guidance cannot be maintained.Whole school physical assemblies and other large group activities may occur with the approval of the school Principal. All activities are subject to modifications and guidelines to ensure appropriate social distancing and include the potential mandatory use of face masks.Performers in drama may be allowed to participate without the use of face masks or approved facial covering in accordance with current and prevailing NH DHHS guidance. All audience members should strive to maintain social distance in accordance with current and prevailing NH DHHS guidance. Face masks may be required when social distancing in accordance current and prevailing NH DHHS guidance cannot maintained.
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MRSD School Reopening Concept - Fall, 2021 Fall 2021 Reopening - Student Services
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Athletics
The Principal will make recommendations to the Superintendent and Board regarding seasonal sport offerings. The School Board reserves the right to limit athletic offerings based on COVID-19 impact and current guidance.MRSD will align with NHIAA recommendations regarding the wearing of face masks during athletic competitions.MRSD will align with NHIAA recommendations regarding the wearing of face masks during practices and when not actively engaged in an athletic contest or competition.Student athletes and coaches may be required to wear face masks on busses while traveling to/from events if social distancing cannot be maintained in accordance with current and prevailing NH DHHS guidance.
Student Wellness - Anxiety, Trauma, and Mental Health
Host several 'soft opening' days in the fall for parents and students to have individual time to visit schools and meet with teachers and administrators to ease anxiety.Continue to implement social emotional learning opportunities at all grade levels, leveraging our internal capacity (e.g. school counselors, social workers, psychologists) and wrapping around with outside agencies as appropriate.Share information with families regarding available resources for families and children.Maintain increased level of school counselors at our elementary schools.
Food Service
Pre Prepared/pre packaged meals based on menu options will continue to be provided.Hand sanitizer use will be encouraged when entering the lunch space/cafeteria.Social distance will be observed while eating in accordance with current and prevailing NH DHHS guidance. If this is not feasible, dividers or shields may be utilized.Students may be required to eat meals in their classroom, alternative space, or an outdoor space when necessary.
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MRSD School Reopening Concept - Fall, 2021 Fall 2021 Reopening - Guidance
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2021/22 Reopening Concept - Guidance
Quarantine Provisions
In the event of a student’s need for quarantine related to COVID-19 infection or exposure, the District will support student learning remotely in times of absence from in-person learning if quarantine is indicated in accordance with current and prevailing NH DHHS guidance.While differing classrooms and grade levels may be able to provide a range of potential instructional options for students in quarantine, instruction for those in quarantine or isolation is not to be considered or expected to be synchronized learning. Students engaged in remote participation may be required to complete alternate activities or receive additional instruction to develop their knowledge and understanding or demonstrate their learning competency
Social Distancing and Mask Requirements
We will follow NH Department of Health and Human Services guidance pertaining to COVID-19 with any duly voted local decisions or exceptions made by the Monadnock Regional School Board as noted below.Social distancing protocols will continue to be followed in accordance with NH DHHS guidance unless a local decision/vote has been made.All students and employees may be required to wear face masks indoors only when social distancing cannot be maintained in accordance with current and prevailing NH DHHS guidance.Visitors may be required to wear masks in accordance with current and prevailing NH DHHS guidance.Any student, employee, and/or visitor may elect to wear a face mask at their personal discretion.We will provide face masks as needed or requested.
MRSB Voted Decisions/Exceptions to NH DHHS Guidance
MRSB voted to continue the use of masks during athletics for the remainder of the spring season and limit the use of masks outdoors to situations only where a minimum of 3' social distancing cannot be maintained. Remaining mask usage policy remains in effect. 5/18/2021MRSB voted to continue the current mask policy through the end of the school year, for all students, staff and visitors. 4/20/2021MRSB voted to follow NH DHHS guidance as released except for close contact identification (voted to contact trace for less than 6' instead of DHHS guidance of less than 3') for the duration of the current school year. 4/6/2021
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MRSD School Reopening Concept - Fall, 2021 Fall 2021 Reopening - Guidance
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2021/22 Reopening Concept - Guidance
Illness Response
If a student or employee shows symptoms of COVID-19, the individual may be isolated and sent home as soon as practicable in accordance with current and prevailing NH DHHS guidance. The individual may need to either provide documentation of a negative test or complete quarantine in accordance with current and prevailing NH DHHS guidance.
If a student or employee reports a positive test for COVID-19, they will provide documentation to the School Nurse. The School Nurse will report the positive case on the report form for the Superintendent who will update the local tracker. The School Nurse will contact NH DHHS to report the case. The School Nurse and Principal will conduct contact tracing and identify and notify any close contacts that need to quarantine in accordance with current and prevailing NH DHHS guidance. Individuals identified as close contacts cannot test out of quarantine - the entire quarantine period must be completed unless otherwise indicated in accordance with current and prevailing NH DHHS guidance.
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MRSD School Reopening Concept - Fall, 2021 Fall 2021 Reopening - Mitigation
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2021/22 Reopening Concept - Mitigation
State Ordered or Recommended Closures
In the event of an increase in positive cases that results in a state-recommended closure, the District will shift to a temporary remote learning environment.Students will be issued a technology device to be used for learning (if one is not already assigned) in the event of a state-recommended closure.Students will receive instruction at the beginning of the year to assist them to fully utilize online learning tools in the event a closure and temporary shift to remote learning becomes necessary. Monadnock educators will continue to identify essential curriculum and competencies which will be essential components in the event of a closure and temporary shift to remote learning.
Hand Washing/HygieneFrequent hand washing and/or the use of sanitizer will be encouraged.Hand sanitizer stations will be readily available.
Cleaning and SanitizationHigh-traffic and high-touch surfaces will be cleaned on a regular schedule.Training for buildings and grounds employees will occur prior to the start of the new school year.Students will be asked to use sanitizer prior to leaving the classroom.
Indoor Air Quality and VentilationWeather permitting, the use of outdoor space for educational purposes will be encouraged.Weather permitting, opening windows to improve air flow and exchange will be encouraged.HVAC systems will utilize the highest level of filtering that the individual unit can accommodate.
COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination
The District will not conduct on-site testing or diagnosis of either staff or students for COVID-19. As part of the process of self-assessing symptoms, parents and staff will continue to be required to report any positive test results to their school nurse.The District will continue to work with our health partners and refer individuals for testing at area locations as appropriate.The District may hold on-site COVID-19 vaccinations in a fashion similar to our flu shot clinics, dependent on provider and vaccine availability.
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MRSD School Reopening Concept - Fall, 2021 Fall 2021 Reopening - Buildings and Grounds
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2021/22 Reopening Concept - Buildings and Grounds
Indoor Facility Access
Signs identifying the symptoms of COVID-19 will be posted at all entrances. Visitors will sign in at the office for contact tracing purposes. On-site screening attestation will not be required unless in accordance with current and prevailing NH DHHS guidance.Employees should self-assess their health prior to reporting to work each day. No screening attestation will be required unless in accordance with current and prevailing NH DHHS guidance.Parents and guardians should self-assess their/their child(ren)s health prior to reporting to school each day. No screening attestation will be required in accordance with current and prevailing NH DHHS guidance.
Facilities Use (Indoor and Outdoor) Requests for facilities use by outside groups will be considered. Additional fees or restrictions may apply based on social distancing requirements and/or cleaning requirements.
Transportation
We will continue to work collaboratively with First Student to maximize social distancing on school busses and internally on District-owned transportation.All bus occupants may be required to wear face masks while on busses if social distancing cannot be maintained in accordance with current and prevailing NH DHHS guidance.Weather permitting, bus windows will be kept open to maximize air flow and exchange.
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Fall, 2021 Survey - Comments
"The end of the global pandemic" has a nice ring to it.
90 % of elementary children have no concern for covid the children are all over each other on the bus they RIP off their masksand throw them on the floor even after they have been told they have to wear them
a soft opening with supports and acclimation activities for the students and faculty
Academics has been significantly affected!
Adults wearing masks is a security risk for students and staff in the building.
All guidance from NH DHHS and CDC should be followed moving forward.
All social distancing and mask mandates should be dropped. If people want to choose to social distance or wear masks, fine,but it should not be a requirement. Let’s get things back to normal.
All teachers and staff should have to get the vaccine students as well and anyone who does not needs to wear masks
Any guidance that is issued that responds to the late summer 2021 data needs to be considered and reconsidered by localschool boards. A minimum standard needs to be established at the state level in order to control local "cowboys" from imposingpolitically driven views on local school boards.
Appreciate all of you!
At this point, I think following guidelines set forward by NH DHHS is the best we will be able to do in most instances. It isimportant that we work toward getting students, faculty, and staff back to as typical a routine as possible in the most safe waywe possibly can. I think it may also be important to start looking at producing different guidance about safety measures forstudents who are in the age bracket who could receive vaccinations vs. students who are too young to do so.
By the fall everyone at the high school level will have had the opportunity to receive the vaccine if they so choose. I believe thatwe should get back to normal in the fall and those that want to wear masks should be able to but those that are vaccinated anddon't want to wear masks, shouldn't have to.
COVID has destroyed people’s lives!!!!! Masks don’t work!!!! This has all been a huge fraud made by the government!!!Unmask our kids!!! It’s child abuse, they can’t breath!!!!
COVID-19 pandemic and disruption of normal life has impacted the staff SOCIAL and EMOTIONAL well being as well.
Do not force employees or students to wear masks and end social distancing.
Do not force students or employees to wear masks and end social distancing.
Done with MASKS!!!! Done with DISTANCING!! Back to NORMAL at all levels!!
During flu season or if another sickness comes up then masks should be considered otherwise let the kids live!
End mandatory mask mandates and social distancing.
Equity in responsibilities with students. What is the role of the reading specialist in regards to students who struggleacademically (significant challenges) beyond reading stories in the classroom with students or time consuming data collection?In the past, reading specialists worked with teams and teachers -teaching specific strategies to kids with specific readingchallenges. This seems to be more in line with the role of a reading specialist as there effective resources such as Title 1 andother support staff that can really support schools/classrooms/families, to help keep students on grade level and exposed tospecific areas of academics in which students may need support with.
Everything needs to go back to normal including dances and extra curricular activities.
Follow the guidelines and be smart about this, do what is right despite what others say
For our Children's health and the importance of a proper education, school should return as normal in the fall with no
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Fall, 2021 Survey - Comments
restrictions.
Full return with optional mask wearing for anyone who wishes to wear them. Everyone will be able to be vaccinated by then ifthey choose to.
Full time in person schooling is needed. The district’s 40% educational instruction model last year was a joke.
Full time, no masks
Get rid of the masks. This absolutely should NOT be a requirement. Totally unacceptable.
Go back to normal and teach children how to think not what to think.
Guidelines should be met. Students should space 3" to 6" apart and wear masks unless they are outside 3 to 6 feet apart. Kidsshould wear masks inside unless told otherwise. Hand cleaner and washing should be followed and if students do not washhands or look as if their hands and desk area need to be cleaned, they should be told to do so.
Hope we’re able to return to a more normal non masked atmosphere as long as cdc recommends that as the safe thing to do.
Hopefully back to new normal!!!
I am all for the school year in the fall of 2021, to go back to full in school. I believe the kids have lost enough academically andsocially and need to get back to enjoying their childhood and all the fun and exciting things that go with growing up.
I am comfortable with my child attending school full time in the fall, I don't think she should have to wear a mask outside and ifinside only if someone is within 3 feet of her
I am hopeful for a better school year ! I hope everyone has a great and healthy summer ! !
I am not comfortable with any kids wearing a mask
I am not sure why anyone's opinion would trump the NH guidelines... those are definitely created by people more equippedthan us.... I hope we continue to take advice from the people doing the work as it tries to consider the safety of all. Thanks forthe dedication to our community this year. My son had a great experience even though it was hard!!
I believe all windows and doors should be open at all times because there is NO circulation in that building. with that being saidit's ok to mask if you want to-up to the person.
I believe that masks should be worn indoors but outside in the open air should be optional. This past year while wearing masksour family did not get colds or the flu. It would benefit every child if they were not exposed to those infections as it would allowthem to be in school more and not be absent because they were sick. I also do not think that Covid is just going to go awaybecause we want it to and want it to be over. So having masks being worn and still keeping up with cleanliness of hands andschool classrooms would remain a positive impact for everyone.
I believe we should do more training for employees with anxiety and teaching students how to manage it. This pandemic hascaused distress in families and our community.
I concerned with the different educational levels of individuals learning on different levels for so long
I do hope we can be as close to normal as possible for students. I appreciate the level of normal that was provided this yearwhile being cautious for everyone’s health and safety.
I do not believe students should be made to wear masks anymore.
I feel as if masks should be the staffs personal preference as well as the parents preferences regarding their children
I feel common sense has flew out the window. If a child has been exposed quarantine them for 72 hours get a PCR COVID 19test and when the results come back negative allow them back to school. This 10 day quarantine is ridiculous. The childrenhave missed so much already.
I have never seen so much hypocrisy around a topic as I have this year--complete hypocrisy and more double standards than I
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Fall, 2021 Survey - Comments
care to list.
I have seen improvement in my child when in person learning became 100%. I appreciate the school district doing their best toaccommodate our students.
I hope that as cases continue to decrease we can return to normal school life in the fall
I hope that the NH DHHS and other guidance indicate that we can safely have students and staff without masks andworking/playing as normal.
I hope the district decides to discontinue the wearing of masks at all times. If not, I will be withdrawing my child from the schooland homeschooling.
I hope to see life pre pandemic return.
I hope to see mask policies and social distancing guidelines be used around the student populations (pre-k - 6th grade) thatare not yet able to receive vaccines. The older age groups will hopefully be vaccinated by the fall so perhaps they could bemore flexible. To be honest though masks don't hurt with a few exceptions like speech therapy. They also seem to help stopthe spread other nasty things like the flu. I wouldn't be disappointed to see a cautious approach with masks at the start the yearand roll it back if this COVID does not return in the winter.
The email this survey was attached to started "As we continue to move toward the end of the global pandemic, we are beingasked by the New Hampshire Department of Education to complete a Fall 2021 Reopening Plan." I found it funny how itassumes we are nearing the end of the pandemic and not just its first act. Hopefully its optimistic view ends up true.
I just want the kids back to normal.
I know that requiring masks for all is a hot-topic, especially since guidance on vaccinated people and masks has changed.BUT, to not require masks to some capacity could be unsafe since becoming vaccinated is not requirement for anyone and notan option for much of our student population. So to hope that folks aren't infected or hope that folks do the right thing (like stayhome if not feeling well, continue to take daily temperatures, keep a mask on when social distancing isn't possible) seems tobe a foolish approach. We have gone through so many different protocols/ guidance and everyone is confused. This is notunique to this school building, but everywhere you go. Each person has a different opinion, perception, or practice regardingsafety with the pandemic. Whatever the protocol that we opt for, can it please be clearly articulated and frequently reviewed (ormaybe incorporate more visual reminders that could be put throughout the buildings?
I selected that we follow the guidance, since I have no idea how bad the pandemic/covid 19 will be at the time of the nextschool year.
I thank you for all that has been done and the communication throughout! I am glad we are planning ahead and I am lookingforward to returning to some normalcy, but we don't know what the summer will bring or the fall. I think it would be wise toconsider in our plan what if things are not good.
i think all students and faculty should be vaccinated
i think everyone needs to be back in the fall. The grades my student had during the pandemic were terrible and i do not thinkthere was a whole lot of support from teachers during this time.
I think if an employee or student at MRMHS has been vaccinated they should have the option of whether or not they want towear a mask. Students at the elementary schools don't have that option to be vaccinated yet so masks should be required.Everyone should do their part to get back to normal. The only way for that to happen is If schools require the COVID - 19vaccine like they do the MMR and chicken pox, for example.
I think if parents are concerned about the impact of Covid on their child, they can take the initiative to get vaccinated. It shouldno longer be a burden on the school system
I think if restrictions are lifted - one way direction should continue to help maintain close contact - the 3' distance is a good idea
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Fall, 2021 Survey - Comments
anyways, it helps with boundaries in general.
I think if you have been fully vaccinated you should not have to wear a mask if you don’t want to.I still think we should sanitize frequently and strongly encourage people to stay home when sick. If someone comes to schoolwith symptoms they should be sent home. This past year we did not have any illnesses at all due to the enforcement of stayinghome when sick, mask wearing, social distancing and the extra cleaning that was happening.I also think teachers should continue to update Google classroom in case students are home sick and miss class.
I think if you have been fully vaccinated you should not have to wear a mask if you don’t want to.I still think we should sanitize frequently and strongly encourage people to stay home when sick. If someone comes to schoolwith symptoms they should be sent home. This past year we did not have any illnesses at all due to the enforcement of stayinghome when sick, mask wearing, social distancing and the extra cleaning that was happening.I also think teachers should continue to update Google classroom in case students are home sick and miss class.
I think mask wearing should be dependent upon vaccinations. Buildings where students do not have a vaccination available(elementary) should have all students and teachers in masks both inside and outside like we currently have. Buildings wherestudents have access to the vaccine could follow different guidelines.
I think school should go back to normal. No masks and no social distance.
I think that a big factor should be whether or not there is a vaccine available for younger children. If all school age childrenwere able to get vaccinated if desired then I think that policies around social distancing and mask wearing could be loosened.
I have been surprised at how well my second grader and pre-schooler have been about wearing masks. They do not seem tomind and when I ask them about it they say they forget that they are wearing it most of the time and that they only don't like it ifit gets wet.
Another factor that you did not include in your survey is increased cleaning of surfaces and the importance of not coming toschool when sick. I believe that both are necessary to maintain a safe and healthy school.
I think that full return has been a welcome change for these students. They seem to really enjoy being back with all of the kidsand seem to crave even more interaction (other classes etc). I think they have done a good job wearing masks especially atthe elementary level but I feel like they need a break from those masks.
I think that my opinions on this can vary depending on the number of staff and students who have are fully vaccinated by ourreturn to school.
I think the cleaning protocol that is in place, should remain in place indefinitely. I think it has helped, and it should have alwaysbeen done in schools and other public places as well. There is no excuse really. Cleaning should have always been done tothis extent everywhere!! My children are constantly sick when they are in school, and since they have been remote, they havebeen absolutely fine! Go figure... it’s really disgusting if you think about it.
I think this past year has proved that even the most academically gifted children struggled with the hybrid and remote learning.The emotional toll was too much for quite a few. In person learning is and will always be best
I think we all feel the same about the pandemic, as it has been more than a year of constant change for students, teachers andfamilies...I think MRMHS has done a tremendous job trying to keep our children and teachers safe; the school clean andadhering to all of the new guidelines...I hope this fall will bring some normalcy so the children can have a locker again and notcarry their full day in their backpack...It would be wonderful if we got to a point where they could take their masks off andrelax...I hope everyone will consider being vaccinated so we can look forward to a healthier fall without the constant worry oftransmission.
I think we always need to follow what the CDC recommends, we need to listen to the professionals who know what they'retalking about
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Fall, 2021 Survey - Comments
I think we need to handle Covid as another variation of the flu - no contact tracing or quarantining.
I want my life back
I want to be safe, but I also can't take another year of teaching with a mask on. I would be happy if we went back to the waythings were at the beginning of the 20-21 school year. As long as everyone is socially distanced, teachers and students shouldbe able to take their masks off.
I work in the medical field and having the kids back in school, has been extremely helpful as in for working on school work,worrying about child care due to having to work, social emotions for my children as to learning growths.I sincerely hope that the children can continue to return to school full time this coming year as well as keeping everyone safe.
I would be comfortable with my son not wearing a mask indoors/outdoors as he is now fully vaccinated. This is what currentguidelines suggest. Ultimately, I believe we should be looking to the CDC and NH DHHS.
I would like all windows to be open and I also would like to see more info in refrence to covid cases
I would like school to look as normal and pre-Covid as possible.
I would like to have my child be able to have after school help if she needs. Also the choice of wearing a mask. Our childrenneed to have some kind of normalcy. This past year was the most difficult year of our life’s.
I would like to see masks as optional based on people's comfort level.
I would like to see masks being worn by the younger students (Pre-school -2nd grade) until a vaccination is approved for thoseages. Even then, masks need to be worn by students and staff to prevent COVID from spreading, because unless it ismandated by schools that students and staff have to show proof of vaccination this virus is going to keep spreading.
I would love for our schools to take what we learned during the pandemic and apply the remote work to reduce disruptions toschool calendars based on weather. (Remote work be made available so the school day can count.)
I’m not sure if my child will be returning to in person school - so first question should have a “maybe” option. Is the school goingto make the vaccine mandatory for all returning staff and students?
I’m not sure if my child will be returning to in person school - so first question should have a “maybe” option. Is the school goingto make the vaccine mandatory for all returning staff and students?
If a teacher or staff member or student would like to wear a mask that is their right, to force others is simply unAmerican.
If a teacher or staff member or student would like to wear a mask that is their right, to force others is simply unAmerican.
If at all possible, I would like to see specials classes at the elementary level return to their room and no longer be on a cart.
If employees and students over age 12 are vaccinated, they need not wear masks. That makes masks optional in the MS/HS,as at that point anyone who wanted to be vaccinated will have been. In schools that have students younger than 12, somelevel of masks should possibly remain in place depending on the levels of covid in the fall. If we want to encourage vaccinationin the schools, we have to give them a carrot, and not having to wear a mask is that carrot.
If everyone who can and wants to get vaccinated is then school should go back to normal. We lost so much these last 2 schoolyears and we just want our regular/normal school life back.
If mask wearing is part of the plan when we return I would like to see it enforced more than it is now. I see maintenanceworkers in my building with no masks routinely, and more and more teachers and paras are not wearing them even aroundstudents. It worries me given that we do have COVID going around our schools. Staff needs to understand that no matter theirpersonal views this is a district wide expectation.
If possible I would like to remain doing remote and a could zoom meetings a couple days a week
If students and employees are vaccinated then mask and social distancing should be optional
If the concerned staff and students are vaccinated school should go back to being 100% normal!
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Fall, 2021 Survey - Comments
If you can now enter buildings without masks and there have been so few cases and deaths within our district, then please let'sbe realistic and let these children have a normal life. They should have free choice to decide to cover their mouths from air,facial expressions and life if that is their own choice. Please let the children and employees breath again.
Important for kids to be in school and if vaccinated free to not wear masks
In regards to mask wearing and social distancing there is increasing research from doctorate level professionals and scientiststhat suggest that mask wearing for adults when teaching children can hinder social and language development aswell ascause pychological problems for children. Social distancing goes against the basics of teaching most social skills. Childrenshould never have to wear a mask. I will not send my child if masks and social distancing are a requirement in the fall at anytime of the day.
In the high school, where staff and students have the opportunity to be vaccinated, masks should be optional and socialdistancing should not impact the school day. Things should return to a more normal routine. In elementary buildings, wherestudents do not have access to the vaccine, schools should remain as they are now. Both students and staff masked andsocial distancing in place.
It is hard to fill this out as the fall 2021 school year is still three months away and a lot can happen in three months. But Iunderstand having to put a plan in place now.
It would be good to have another committee to look at reopening plans for the fall. It should include nurses who are well versedin the ongoing pandemic and precautions/protocols which are always changing. It is a medical pandemic and should includethe medical professionals in the district.
It would be helpful if everyone who is able to get vaccinated do so! This is one way we can protect those who are unable to getvaccinated!
It would be helpful to compare CDC guidelines with DHHS guidelines. CDC guidelines seem to have been more reliable.
It’s hard to predict 4 months from now, if those that are able to be vaccinated are they shouldn’t have to wear masks maybejust be socially distant, I guess this goes for the students that are able to be vaccinated as well
It’s hard to predict 4 months from now, if those that are able to be vaccinated are they shouldn’t have to wear masks maybejust be socially distant, I guess this goes for the students that are able to be vaccinated as well
Kids are not at risk and need to be around other kids.
kids are permitted to work in small groups so the distancing is a little bit of a myth. However, I believe the district shouldcontinue to clean and sanitize as other illnesses have been reduced and kids should continue to wash their hands a lot...whichin years past- they weren't even asked to wash their hands before lunch even after recess.
Let kids and adults live as they wish no judgments on vaccinated or non vaccinated students. Let them be kids reduce theirdepression from all of this.
Let's get back to normal. So we as parents aren't worrying about our children education and metal health in the future!!!!!!!!
Let’s get back to normal for everyone in the school.
Let’s get back to normal in the schools. This virus effected a certain population, the elderly. The teachers and students werenot in that demographic. I know other schools like St. Joseph was open all this year. We played sports last summer outside andfall winter and spring this year with no problem. The one lessen that we all learned is we need to take care of ourselves better.We need to get back to go basic habits and we need to teach our kids by example. Like someone once said “ food should beour medicine and medicine should be our food”.
Life needs to get back to what it was.
Looking forward to a little more normalcy again.
looking forward to it
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Fall, 2021 Survey - Comments
MIT released a calculator on infectious spread, which shows that the 6 ft rule is really unreliable. I would encourage the districtto consider this, especially since we have outdated MERV filtration at schools. https://indoor-covid-safety.herokuapp.com/
Move forward. Those who have chosen to get vaccinated with have done so. Allow masks as an option if someone isconcerned, but enough is enough. Children are falling behind in their education and social growth. Homes with abusivesituations are able to stay disguised & those should be the more pressing concerns at this point.
My child will not return if masks are required.
My comments here may be differently depending where we are in a pandemic, and vaccinations for everyone
My hope is that we can achieve normalcy this fall. I do believe that Covid-19 has had a significant impact on all of us. And, Iwould love it if we could move forward, as safely as possible.
My responses to mask wearing are due to the fact that by the fall all students at MRMHS will have had to opportunity to fullyvaccinate if they wish to be.
n/a
No mandatory vaccinations, no mandatory masks
None of these questions address the vaccination issue other than the possibility that it might be included in the DHHSguidelines, which we don't know. There is 2+ months between now and then. We don't know what scientific information will beknown between now and then. I think this survey is premature.
Our district has been absolutely amazing with every step that has needed to be taken. I pray we can start school again afterthe summer with everything being back to normal like before covid. No mask, no spacing. Just pure normal for these kids. Ibelieve if something is to pop up along the way it will be taken care of in the absolute best way.
Our district has been absolutely amazing with every step that has needed to be taken. I pray we can start school again afterthe summer with everything being back to normal like before covid. No mask, no spacing. Just pure normal for these kids. Ibelieve if something is to pop up along the way it will be taken care of in the absolute best way.
Our school has handled this pandemis as well as we could.
Please do everything possible to have the school open every day and don't require masks.
Please end mandatory mask mandates and social distancing.
please focus on basics -- reading writing math play/free time;
Please get rid of masks. Also please don't make the covid vaccine mandatory or I will pull my children
Please let these children go back to school and have it feel as normal as can safely be maintained.
Please protect vulnerable students and families regardless of what the white ignorant hillbillies want
Please return to what a normal school setting should look like for kids! No masks, no social distancing requirements etc
School has done a remarkable job navigating these issues-thank you
Send the kids back full time and with the option to wear masks if they want. It’s time for the kids to get their education back!!
Since I'm no expert, my thought is to always defer to NH DHHS. However, I'm also hopeful for a more normal return to school.Depending on vaccine progress with the youngest kids, I recognize that we might still need masking in the fall, or that if anoutbreak pops up, we'd go back to masking for a bit. Whatever keeps the staff and students safest, we're for!
Students need to remain in school, and be allowed back following negative Covid test just as hospital employees are.
Students should wear masks Indoors, If not vaccinated
Thank you for doing all that you can!
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Fall, 2021 Survey - Comments
Thank you to all teachers and staff for your hard work and dedication. Please continue doing what is safe for all involved.
Thanks for all of your hard work this year!
The children should not have to wear masks indoors or outdoors. Children also need to see the faces of adults/all children forvarious developmental and social emotional reasons.
The mask questions are a bit challenging to answer without more information. It depends on our covid status as a community. Ianswered the questions as if we were in the same situation we are now (one of the highest rates of covid in the state). If ourcases decrease dramatically and more people continue to get vaccinated, my answers would change dramatically.
We should have a PLAN in place to welcome kids back in a positive way, while simultaneously not reducing our expectationsor lowering the bar. One of the things kids need most is to return to a normal schedule. But they'll also need academic andorganizational support. I'd love to see a united way of incorporating these learned skills into our routines. The more we doconsistently, the better it will be for the students.
The masks have become the normal for our students and they are used to wearing them. In terms of keeping students apartnext year, I don't think that is a big deal. Our students are together on the playground and in the classrooms they are closetogether because of lack of space. Things have gone well even as we are full-return. It will be interesting if we see illnessesnext fall if we do not wear masks, but I don't have a strong opinion on that. We should continue hand washing after everytransition, that has been helpful.
The questions on emotional and social health can be taken many ways. There are children on each side experiencing issues.Some because they're not feeling safe and some that want normal back.
The questions/opinions presented do not account for #’s of those who have received vaccinations, active cases in ourcommunity (school), nor the #’s of cases in the state. Safety first, do no harm
There should not be a mandate on wearing a mask if you are not vaccinated. People have the right to decide to have thevaccine or not and should not be made to feel like they are different because they didn't have the vaccine and are now beingmade to wear a mask because they choose not to be vaccinated.
These kids should be able be kids and NOT wear masks and should not have to social distance anymore. If people still feelunsafe, than stay home and keep your family home. Enough is enough and our kids deserve some normalcy. We have beencompliant long enough with these masks. Vaccines are completely available, let's move on already.
They should not have sent all the kids back full time after spring break of all times. Continue hybrid for the rest of the yearwould have been better. Considering almost every week we get a notice about another case, why the rush to get back to 5days of schooling?? The kids only have few weeks of school left & my child said the wearing of masks is not strictly enforced insome classes. This will never end if everyone isn't all on the same page. We still don't know everything about "Covid 19". Let'shope Fall 2021 goes a little better & there are still protocols in place. You've asked for parental & student input, please listen!!!
this is really too early to be making this type of decision -- a lot depends on vaccinations and availability to younger populationand what percentage of staff and students received one
Time to get back to living and normalcy. If students or parents are scared they can choose other options.
Under 12 yrs old consider same precautions as prior to vaccine being they may not have vaccine avail to that age group
Unless the students get vaccinated, I think masks should be worn if less than 6 ft..
Very pleased with the schools overall handling of pandemic related issues
We are very excited to be back full time in person, we hope everyone feels save and cared for like we do!
We have to see what the outbreak numbers look like in the fall. We all know that they will spike up. All teachers should bevaccinated also, no exceptions! It should NOT be voluntary. Unless there is an underlying reason that they cannot receive thevaccine. Parents should also be aware and help out, and not be anti vax as I have already been seeing.. they will spread it
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Fall, 2021 Survey - Comments
from their households to others through their children who attend school. We can’t end the pandemic this way.
We should follow the CDC and DHHS in all aspects. To place additional controls would affect the students' willingness toengage in the school, certainly at MRMHS.
We should return to normal. If someone feels the need to wear a mask to make themselves feel better it should be allowedhowever it should also work the other way. If someone chooses to not wear a mask it should also be allowed. A return to"normal " should be left to personal choice. Everyone has different comfort levels. For some people wearing a mask wasextremely uncomfortable and pretty near unbearable. Personal choice should always be at the top of concerns and recently itdoesn't seem like it was. IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON!
We want a full return next year!!
We want normalcy with out requirements!
We want normalcy without requirement!
Whatever the CDC mandates for mask wearing and Social distancing I agree with.
When available, the COVID-19 vaccine should be required the way other vaccinations are. If my daughter is required to bevaccinated against Hep-b (which she is significantly less likely to contract), the covid vaccine should also be a requirement.
While I feel we should follow the suggestions of NH DHHS, returning to a normalcy within safe parameters is quintessential tothe health and wellbeing of our children. If students and staff choose to wear a mask, let them, but there should be noperception of ill intent or disregard for those individuals that choose to not wear one. Reminders of kindness and generalrespect should be built into this process and the updated school guidelines. This is another teaching moment for staff andstudents, seize the moment openly and transparently. And please don't make this a political endeavor or larger than it needs tobe.
Why do these survey's represent ultimatums? Asking me now if my kids will return to school is foolish. I would like them to, butwhat does the world look like then? What are the DHHS guidelines for if we don't follow them? Why would we expect the staffto wear masks and not the kids?
Would recommend to continue following six feet distance and to wear mask as there is no vaccine yet for kids and always agood practice to keep kids safe and out if risk.
You are all doing a great job
You didn’t ask about vaccines. I’m more comfortable with my answers if I know more employees and students are vaccinated
You guys are heroes
You have done a wonderful job with everything you have done so far. I trust that you will continue moving in the right directionto get all of our kids back to a normal routine and school atmosphere. Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do.
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NH Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Public Health Services Education Partner FAQ COVID-19
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control -1- May 10, 2021
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Education and Childcare PartnersMay 10, 2021
This document provides recommendations from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services,
Division of Public Health Services. In some cases, childcare and Educational institutions may implement additional
measures to meet the needs of their institution. If you need additional support, please do not hesitate to reach out to NH DHHS at 603-271-6996 or 603-271-5300, after regular business hours, and ask to speak to the Public Health Professional on call.
NH DHHS hosts a weekly Childcare and Educational Institution Partner Call every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month
beginning in April. All our childcare and educational partners are invited to attend. This includes childcare staff, school
nurses, administrators and staff:
• BEGINNING APRIL: 1st and 3rd WEDNESDAY of the MONTH at 3:30-4:30
• Zoom link: https://nh-dhhs.zoom.us/j/98062195081
• Call-in phone number: (646) 558-8656
o Meeting ID: 980 6219 5081
o Passcode: 197445
This FAQ document for Childcare and Educational Institutions can be found under “Schools” on our COVID-19 Website:
https://www.nh.gov/covid19/resources-guidance/schools.htm
NH DHHS hosts a weekly Healthcare Partner Call every Thursday that focuses on new science, medical, and vaccine updates.
• Every THURSDAY 12:00–1:00
• Zoom link: https://nh-dhhs.zoom.us/j/98062195081
• Call-in phone number: (646) 558-8656
o Meeting ID: 948 4125 9025
o Passcode: 003270
PLEASE NOTE: This document will be updated frequently and new information will appear in orange text.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Can NH DHHS review our school’s re-opening school plan?
We are unable to review every school plan; however, we included our public health guidance in the NH Grade K-12 Back School Guidance. Guidance from the NH Department of Education Post –Secondary Workgroup can be found here.
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NH Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Public Health Services Education Partner FAQ COVID-19
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control -2- May 10, 2021
How does the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) apply to contact tracing? The U.S. Department of Education released FERPA & Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to assist K-12 school officials in protecting student privacy and clarifying allowable disclosures of PII from education records under FERPA. The document highlights the FERPA exception “to disclose, without prior written consent, PII from student education records to appropriate parties in connection with an emergency, if knowledge of that information is necessary to protect the health or safety of a student or other individuals.” In the event the K-12 school determines that there is an “articulable and significant threat to the health or safety of the student or another individual,” such as may be the case during a public health emergency, this information may be disclosed to public health authorities without prior parental consent. This applies to contact tracing for COVID-19.
CLINICAL INFORMATION
How is the COVID-19 virus spread?
COVID-19 is primarily spread from person-to-person:
1. Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). Closer contact and longerdurations of contact increase the risk of getting COVID-19 from someone who is infected.
2. Through breathing air into the lungs when close to an infected person who is exhaling small droplets andparticles that contain the virus.
3. When respiratory droplets and particles that contain the virus land on the eyes, nose, or mouth of anothernearby (within 6 feet), especially through splashes and sprays like a cough or sneeze.
4. Through touching eye, nose, or mouth with hands that have the virus on them, after an infected person hastouched and contaminated that surface.
Aerosol-generating procedures (such as those performed in medical settings) can also spread COVID-19 over further
distances. It may also be possible for a person to get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it
(e.g., a surface that is contaminated by an infected person’s respiratory secretions) and then touching their own eyes, nose, or mouth. This is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
Do other variants of COVID-19 exist? Yes. Viruses constantly change through mutation, and new variants of a virus are expected to occur over time. These
variants seem to spread more easily and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19.
What are the common symptoms of COVID-19?
Symptoms of COVID-19 may include:
• Fever/chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Sore throat
• Runny nose or nasal congestion
• Muscle or body aches
• Fatigue
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea
Older adults and people with certain medical conditions may be at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
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NH Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Public Health Services Education Partner FAQ COVID-19
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control -3- May 10, 2021
How do the symptoms of COVID-19 overlap with other syndromes?
The table below illustrates some of the overlap between the symptoms of COVID-19 and other common illnesses.
Symptoms of COVID-19 Strep
Throat
Common
Cold
Flu Asthma Seasonal
Allergies
Norovirus
Fever or Chills X X X
Cough X X X X
Sore Throat X X X X
Shortness of Breath or
Difficulty Breathing
X
Fatigue X X X X
Nausea or Vomiting X X X
Diarrhea X X X
Congestion/Runny Nose X X X
Muscle or Body Aches X X X X
Loss of Taste/Smell
Headache X X X X X
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/symptom-screening.html
What is the Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)?
The Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a condition that causes inflammation in many parts of the body. Many children with MIS-C have had the virus that causes COVID-19. Symptoms may include:
• Fever
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Neck pain
• Rash
• Bloodshot eyes
• Feeling extra tired
MIS-C can cause serious illness and require hospitalization, but most children recover with medical care. For more information on MIS-C, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/children/mis-c.html
What should I say to a parent/guardian if they think their child is sick with MIS-C? MIS-C can be serious, even deadly, but most children who were diagnosed with this condition have gotten better with
medical care. If a child is sick with MIS-C or you hear they are showing symptoms encourage the parent/guardian to
contact the child’s doctor, nurse, or clinic right away. Seek emergency care right away, if your child is showing any of these emergency warning signs of MIS-C or other concerning signs:
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NH Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Public Health Services Education Partner FAQ COVID-19
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control -4- May 10, 2021
• Trouble breathing
• Pain or pressure in the chest that does not go away
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Bluish lips or face
• Severe abdominal pain
FACILITY PREVENTION
What mitigation measures should we consider for preventing the spread of COVID-19?
There is no single intervention that will stop the spread of COVID-19. Everyone can protect themselves, and others,
through a multi-layered approach. Should precautions in one area decrease, look to implement additional protection in another area by being taught, encouraged and reminded to:
1. Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
2. Use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol when hand washing is not possible.
3. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or inside of elbow then throw the tissue away, and wash hands.
4. Avoid touching one’s eyes, nose, mouth, and cloth face covering.
5. Maintain social distance of at least 6 feet from other adults, and from students when feasible.
6. Wear a cloth face covering especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
7. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, including tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops,
handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
8. Stay home when sick, or after being in close contact with a person with COVID-19.
9. Limit the use of shared objects (e.g., gym or physical education equipment, art supplies, games) when possible,
and clean and disinfect shared objects frequently and after each use.
10. Get vaccinated.
11. Create a plan and way to communicate with the school community should a positive case be identified.
12. Continue to support NH DPHS with reporting positive case(s) and contact tracing, isolation and quarantine.
Find more on prevention here:
NH Universal Best Practices
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html.
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NH Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Public Health Services Education Partner FAQ COVID-19
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control -5- May 10, 2021
What are the physical distancing recommendations for school classrooms?
All schools must still follow the existing NH Grades K-12 Back-to-School Guidance.
New Hampshire allows for a minimum of 3 feet of physical distancing between students in the classroom with a
recommendation to maximize physical distancing to the extent possible. Facemask use in classrooms continues to be strongly recommended, especially if students are seated within 3-6 feet of each other.
Emerging evidence during the COVID-19 pandemic (see CDC Science Brief: Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in K-12Schools and NH DPHS Considerations for Transitioning Between School Instructional Models), and NH’s
experience with contact tracing in schools, continues to show schools are low-risk for spreading COVID-19.
A new study published in the Journal Clinical Infectious Diseases is the first to show that in the setting of
universal facemask use in classrooms, COVID-19 infection rates were no different between schools
implementing a minimum of 3 feet vs. 6 feet of physical distancing. Therefore, NH DHHS will not recommendquarantine for students or staff if an exposure occurs in the classroom setting where students and staff are
seated and spaced at least 3 feet apart with consistent and correct facemask use.
This guidance applies only to controlled and monitored educational classroom settings (including K-12 schools,
colleges, and universities); otherwise “close contact” (i.e., requiring quarantine) for other settings continues to
be defined as a person being within 6 feet of someone with COVID-19 for a cumulative time of 10 minutes orlonger during the person’s infectious period regardless of mask use.
For additional information on physical distancing recommendations, see the NH Grades K-12 Back-to-School Guidance
and HAN #38.
Is it safe for students to participate in extracurricular activities?
The risk of spreading COVID-19 depends on the extracurricular activity, the location, and the ability to maintain social
distance or use face coverings. Activities that involve close or physical contact, crowded conditions, forced
exhalation/breathing, or increased vocal cord vibration (e.g., singing) may increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission if
there is someone present or participating in the activity who is infected with COVID-19. Because of the possible
increased risk, some extracurricular activities may require additional precautions, and schools should consider how to
conduct extracurricular activities as safely as possible.
Should schools conduct sports activities?
The State has issued Universal Best Practice guidance, which should be adapted for athletic activities.
It will be difficult for some close/physical contact sports to operate normally during the pandemic, school districts and
athletics directors will need to consider how to safely conduct sports and competition activities to minimize risks to the
extent possible.
Should student athletes be allowed to use locker rooms? Yes. Schools should create policies and procedures for safe locker room use. Additional information can be found in the
following resources
NH Grade K-12 Back-to-School Guidance
Universal Best Practices
Are school kitchen staff able to remove masks while cooking in the kitchen area with 3-6 foot distance between one another?
Kitchen staff should follow school district staff masking policies. We recommended that all staff, including kitchen staff, wear cloth face coverings when in public settings and potentially within 6 feet of others, even in the kitchen.
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What is best practice for students eating lunch and snacks? Ideally students eating lunch or snacks will be separated by at least 6 feet. While schools may look for creative ways to distance students 6 feet apart (e.g., separate lunch room, eating outside, etc.) some schools may be not be able to accomplish this distance. In those situations, seek other layers of protection, including plastic or other impermeable barriers between students (which should be cleaned and sanitized between use/person). Each school is different, and schools should work within their facility capacity.
DAILY SCREENING
Should schools perform the daily COVID-19 symptom and risk factor screening for students, staff and visitors?
Active screening for symptoms and risk factors for exposure is no longer required, but facilities can choose to continue
to actively screen if desired and resources are available. Childcares and schools are encouraged to continue active screening (or daily self-attestation). At a minimum, facilities should proactively inform and educate staff, visitors,
families, etc. that they should stay home and get tested if they have any new or unexplained symptoms of COVID-19, or high-risk exposures.
Educational facilities may choose to screen students, staff and visitors for symptoms or risk factors of COVID-19 every
day before entry into the school facility. Please refer to the NH Grades K-12 Back-to-School Guidance and the NH COVID-19 Employer Travel, Screening and Exclusion Guidance and Universal Best Practices for more information about
screening.
Who should be excluded from school?
Anybody who meets any of the following criteria should be excluded:
1. Any new or unexplained symptoms of COVID-19; this includes even mild symptoms.
2. Close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the prior 10 days.
3. Reports an international or cruise ship travel-related risk.
What does it mean that someone is “suspected to have COVID-19”?
In the school setting, “suspected” refers to anyone with supportive laboratory evidence (antibody positive) of COVID-19. To learn more about COVID-19 case definitions, please refer to the NH DHHS COVID-19 School Toolkit.
How do we know if a symptom is “new or unexplained” and not due to a chronic condition (e.g., allergies)? Schools should document and verify with parents and healthcare providers before the start of school if a student has any chronic health conditions and the typical symptoms the health condition presents with. This should be performed
through any required annual health exam for school enrollment. If a student presents with symptoms during school, and it is unclear (or undocumented in the student’s medical record) if the symptoms are chronic, than the student should be excluded until they have met the return to school criteria, or a healthcare provider can document a chronic/stable
condition that accounts for the student’s symptoms and that there are not any new or unexplained symptoms of COVID-
19.
Are doctor notes required for a staff member or student that is unable to wear mask or refuse to wear a mask?
The CDC has guidance on the use of cloth face coverings, including who should NOT wear a cloth face covering. Schools/SAUs should develop policies on cloth face covering use and decide whether a healthcare provider note is required to exempt a student or staff member from cloth face covering use. Most students and staff should be able to tolerate cloth face covering use. Schools/SAUs should also develop and communicate policies about how students or staff members who are able to wear cloth face coverings but refuse to do so will be managed if in conflict with school/SAU cloth face covering policy.
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If a student receives a flu shot and develops mild symptoms (muscle aches, low fever, etc.,) is it ok to accept a doctor’s note to explain the new symptoms? This must be a case-by-case decision. You cannot be certain if symptoms are due to COVID-19 without testing. It is reasonable to associate symptoms with recent vaccine administration if the child usually has symptoms after vaccination, but, again, this is not certain. In circumstances where it is not clear whether a person’s symptoms are new and unexplained and in the absence of documentation to explain chronic or recurring symptoms, DPHS recommends exclusion and testing for COVID-19.
TESTING
Where can a staff member or student go to be tested for COVID-19?
Multiple testing options for COVID-19 exist around the State. If a person is having symptoms of COVID-19, we
recommend they first reach out to their primary care provider to seek testing as rapid point-of-care options may exist through primary care. If a person is unable to access COVID-19 testing through their primary care provider, or if the
person does not have a primary care provider, there are multiple other testing options available and a testing location can be identified through the NH COVID-19 website. Multiple options also offer testing for people who are
asymptomatic and want to know if they might be asymptomatically infected.
Should schools accept home COVID-19 test kit results?
FDA EUA approved home test kits for COVID-19 that can be purchased over-the-counter and with or without a
prescription are now widely available. These tests may be accepted as an appropriate at home testing kit for COVID.
Some of these at home test kits use a Bluetooth connected analyzer in conjunction with a smartphone app to provide
results. The app requires individuals to input their name, date of birth, zip code and email address and these results are reported to NH DPHS. Schools and childcare facilities should develop their own policies for accepting at-home test
results.
When should a staff member or student be tested for COVID-19?
Testing is recommended for any person with new or unexplained symptoms of COVID-19 (even if only mild symptoms), and for anybody who is an identified close contact of another person diagnosed with COVID-19. Someone with
symptoms should be tested as soon as possible after onset of symptoms.
Can a student who is quarantining for 10 days because of an international or cruise ship travel related risk factor get a
COVID-19 test and, if negative, return to school sooner?
Yes. People meeting the criteria for high-risk international or cruise ship travel have the option of ending their
quarantine after day 7 by getting a test on day 6-7 of their quarantine to test for active SARS-CoV-2 infection (SARS-CoV-2 is the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19); this test must be a molecular test (e.g., PCR-based test); antigen tests
are not accepted for this purpose. If the test is obtained on day 6-7 of quarantine, the person is asymptomatic, and the test is negative, then the person can end their quarantine after 7 days, but they must still self-observe for symptoms of
COVID-19 and strictly adhere to COVID-19 mitigation measures (social distancing, avoiding social gatherings, wearing a
face mask, practicing frequent hand hygiene, etc.) for a full 14 days after their last day of international or cruise ship. Any new symptoms of COVID-19 should prompt the person to isolate and seek testing again (even if the person recently
tested out of travel quarantine). We do not recommend the use of home-test kits for the purpose of testing to end travel quarantine early.
Is it necessary to extend to a 14 days quarantine in place of the recommended 10 day quarantine, recognizing that the maximum incubation period for COVID-19 is 14 days? If a person on quarantine does not develop symptoms of COVID-19, they can stop quarantine after 10 days from date of their last exposure to a person with COVID-19. Day 0 being day of exposure, day 1 beginning day after exposure.
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Emergency Order #89 states that all education partners, public and private, are to comply with the DHHS requirements, not any other recommendation including that of the CDC’s. The NH DHHS Quarantine guidance provides for a 10-day quarantine period for exposed contacts to a positive case.
Per WHO, whether a preschool/day care has to comply with the school’s protocols is based on the relationship it has with the school and whether it agrees to follow the school’s protocols. However, under EO#89, only K-12 grade levels are required to provide the full-time, in-person learning. So, if the preschool/day care does not have to follow the school’s protocols, then it can extend the exclusions based on exposure or travel.
If a student or staff member is refused to be tested by their PCP what should we encourage the individual to do? There are a multiple testing options available on our website: https://www.covid19.nh.gov/resources/testing-guidance.They may also point the healthcare provider to the Provider Letter Concerning COVID-19 Testing and Exclusion Letter.
If a staff member or student is sent home sick, do we have to notify the entire childcare/school community?
You know your community best and may choose to confront rumors or misinformation, even when there is not a
confirmed case. Suggested language can be found in our School Toolkit.
Is COVID-19 testing able to be conducted at our school facility?
Point-of-care COVID-19 testing (e.g., antigen testing) can only be conducted at the school if you have a CLIA waiver.
There may also be creative ways to collaborate with local health care providers to meet the testing needs of your school
community. We encourage schools to work through their local healthcare system and providers to identify resources for
testing for their school community. More information on testing procedures can be found here.
You may also be interested in learning more about and participating in the New Hampshire COVID-19 Safer at School
Screening (SASS) Program.
VACCINATION
Where can I learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine? NH DHHS has multiple resources available for individuals to reach out to learn more.
NH COVID-19 Vaccine Website NH COVID-19 Vaccine Information Website
Health Alert Network Messages
Email: [email protected] Call 211 (1-866-444-4211 or TTY: 603-634-3388)
How can someone register for a vaccination appointment? Vaccine is currently available to anyone age 16 or older. Anyone can register for an appointment by going to www.vaccines.nh.gov.
Will someone who has been vaccinated test positive for COVID-19 on a rapid test because they received the vaccine? No, COVID-19 vaccines will not cause you to test positive on PCR or antigen tests.
If someone has been vaccinated and develops new or unexplained symptoms should they be excluded and be tested?
If new or unexplained symptoms develop after the first, second or prior to 14 days after the second vaccine, the individual should isolate and seek testing as they may have become infected prior to the vaccine being effective.
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COVID-19 IN CHILDCARES & SCHOOLS
Is DHHS still investigating COVID-19 positive cases in childcares and schools?
Yes. COVID-19 cases identified in childcares and schools remain a priority for NH DHHS investigations. We ask that new cases of COVID-19 in students, educators, and staff be reported to DHHS by calling 603-271-6996.
Will NH DHHS continue to provide end of quarantine and end of isolation letters?
No. As of December 5, 2020 NH DHHS discontinued monitoring infected patients and exposed contacts and will no longer provide end of isolation and end of quarantine letters. NH DHHS will continue to provide start of isolation and
quarantine for those infected patients who we reach including schools, and exposed contacts who are named as part of
those contact investigations.
Will we be contacted by NH DHHS for any COVID-19 positive case in our school?
Most often, a childcare or school becomes aware of a student, educator or staff member who has tested positive for
COVID-19 prior to NH DHHS. For this reason, you are encouraged to reach out to NH DHHS at 603-271-6996 if you
identify a student, educator or staff member who has tested positive for COVID-19 and was present during their
infectious period. These cases require contact tracing.
If a student, educator or staff member, who was not in the school while infectious, tests COVID-19 positive, NH DHHS
will not proactively notify the childcare or school unless NH DHHS requires assistance from the childcare or school to conduct contact tracing and notification.
If a student, educator or staff member tests positive, what should happens next?
The school should reach out to NH DHHS by calling 603-271-6996 or 603-271-5300 (after hours). If the school is in
Nashua or Manchester, please reach out to your respective city health departments (Nashua Division of Public Health
and Community Services 603-589-4500; Manchester Health Department 603-624-6466). Below is an overview of how Case Investigation and Contact Tracing in Childcares and Schools, is conducted:
What will be the school’s role in COVID-19 contact tracing?
Schools should work collaboratively with public health by:
1. Being proactive in contacting NH DHHS when a person is confirmed with COVID-19 in your school community.
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2. Assist in identifying those who had close contacts (see definition of close contact below) while the person
confirmed with COVID-19 is infectious. This might include sharing seating charts, attendance records and bus rosters.
3. Assist in providing contact information for those identified as close contacts (including name, date of birth and phone number of parents/guardians).
4. Communicate with your school community. Examples of these communications can be found in the School Toolkit.
Please refer to the Checklist for Schools Identification of Close Contacts for detailed steps of contact tracing in the school setting. What is considered “close contact” in a controlled and monitored classroom setting? In a classroom setting, a person is considered a “close contact” to a person with COVID-19 if they were within less than 3
feet of the infected person for at least 10 minutes or longer, regardless of mask use. The 10 minutes of contact can be at one time or cumulative over the course of the day.
NH DPHS will not recommend quarantine for students or staff if a COVID-19 exposure occurs in the classroom setting where students and staff are seated and spaced at least 3 feet apart with consistent and correct face mask use. The decision to close schools for in-person learning should take into account a number of factors, such as:
1. The importance of in-person education to the social, emotional, and academic well-being of students
2. The level of community transmission
3. Whether cases have been identified among students and staff
4. Protective measures in place at the school Where can we find state and community transmission data in relation to COVID-19 cases? This information can be found on the new COVID-19 School Interactive Dashboard on the website.
Why is our information on the school dashboard not up to date with our numbers?
Information is added to the dashboard once the investigation is completed therefore it may slightly delayed in reporting
case numbers.
RESIDENTIAL, COLLEGE and UNIVERSITY GUIDANCE
Should we cancel international study abroad programs?
Fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread COVID-19. However, international travel poses additional risks and even fully vaccinated travelers are at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading new COVID-19 variants.
CDC recommends delaying international travel until you are fully vaccinated.
If you are fully vaccinated:
You should continue to follow CDC’s recommendations for traveling safely and get tested 3-5 days after travel.
You do NOT need to get tested before leaving United States unless your destination requires it.
You do NOT need to self-quarantine after arriving in the United States.
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Those overseeing student international travel programs should also be aware that students might face unpredictable
circumstances, travel restrictions, challenges in returning home or accessing health care while abroad. Please check the CDC website for additional guidance regarding international travel.
Where can I find the most up to date travel guidance?
NH DHHS has updated COVID-19 travel and guidance documents:
NH Travel Guidance
Employer Travel, Screening and Exclusion Guidance
CDC Travel Guidance
Will NH DHHS get test results for out-of-state students attending college in New Hampshire?
Yes. An individual, who has come to live in NH for the school year and is tested in NH, will be reflected as a case associated with the NH town in which their school is located. To ensure NH DHHS is able to quickly respond to clusters of illness it is important that out-of-state students who are attending school in NH use their NH school address when being tested for COVID-19. If their out-of-state, home address is used, there will be a delay in NH DHHS receiving the test result(s), which may result in a delay in critical public health response. Schools are encouraged to reach out to NH DHHS once they become aware of any positive case on their campus by completing a NH COVID-19 Case Report Form. You may also call 603-271-6996 or 603-271-5300 (after hours) and ask for the public health professional on call.
QUARANTINE and ISOLATION GUIDANCE
What does it mean to quarantine?
Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others during the period of
time between exposure and when COVID-19 might develop. Quarantine helps prevent spread of disease that can occur before a person knows they are sick or if they are infected with the virus without feeling symptoms. People in self-
quarantine should:
1. Stay home
2. Separate themselves from others
3. Monitor their health
4. Follow directions from health care provider regarding self-quarantine.
What does it mean to isolate?
Isolation is used to separate people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 from others who are not infected. People who are in self-isolation should:
1. Stay home
2. Separate themselves from others in the home by staying in a specific “sick room” or area and using a separatebathroom (if available)
3. Monitor their health
4. Follow directions from the health care provider regarding isolation.
When can a staff member or student return to school after being diagnosed with COVID-19?
Any person diagnosed with COVID-19 can end their isolation and return to school when they have met CDC’s criteria for
ending home isolation, which requires a person with mild to moderate illness, who is not severely immunocompromised, to meet all of the follow criteria:
1. At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first began
2. At least 24 hours have passed with resolution of fever off any fever-reducing medications
3. Other symptoms have improved
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Persons diagnosed with COVID-19 who never develop COVID-19 symptoms (asymptomatic infection) may discontinue isolation after 10 days from the date of their first positive test.
If we identify a staff member or student as a close contact to a positive case do we quarantine them?
It is important to identify those who are considered close contacts to a positive case and to exclude them from school to follow the quarantine guidance that will be provided by NH DHHS. NH DHHS will work with the school to determine
whom NH DHHS need to notify of their need to quarantine.
If a staff member or student is excluded from school due to symptoms of COVID-19, but they have not been tested for
COVID-19, when can they return to school?
Any person with new or unexplained symptoms of COVID-19 should be excluded from school, and instructed to isolate at
home and contact their primary care provider for COVID-19 testing. Symptomatic students or staff can be allowed to return to school when one of the following two conditions is met:
1. Person receives an approved COVID-19 test that is negative, AND the person’s symptoms are improving andthey are fever-free for at least 24 hours off any fever-reducing medications. Approved tests include:
A PCR-based molecular test
Antigen testing is conducted within 5 days of symptom onset
2. Person has met CDC criteria for ending of home isolation (i.e., if person is not tested, they are managed
assuming they have COVID-19).
Can a staff member or student with confirmed COVID-19 get a doctor’s note to return to school before their isolation period ends?
No. NH DHHS is the only entity with the authority to release an individual from quarantine or isolation.
How does isolation and quarantine work within a household with a positive case? Determining isolation period: In the example below, the 10-day isolation period begins the day after symptom onset or, for asymptomatic persons, the day after the date of specimen collection. The case can discontinue isolation on the 10th day following the onset or specimen collection date, as long as they have had an improvement of any symptoms and they have been fever free for at least 24-hours or, for the asymptomatic person, the person remains asymptomatic.
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Determining quarantine period: In the example above, the close contact’s last date of exposure to the COVID-19 positive person is the 11th. The household contact(s) 10-day quarantine period begins the day after the last exposure. In the example above, day 1 of quarantine begins on the 12th. The last day of quarantine is the 21st. Household contact(s) should continue to monitor for days 11-14 as they could still develop symptoms during this infectious period. Should anyone in the household test positive during the quarantine period, the family will transition back to follow isolation/quarantine guidance.
*Symptom onset is defined as the date on which symptoms first began, including non-respiratory symptoms.
When a student has symptoms that may be COVID-19, should their sibling(s) be sent home and attend school remotely until the sick student has tested negative?
Management of Household Contacts (HHCs) of Persons with New and Unexplained Symptoms of COVID-19, Based on the Symptomatic Person’s COVID-19 Risk Factors and Testing Status:
Risk Factor?* Viral
Testing Pending? †
Action:
Present Yes Symptomatic person isolates pending test result.
HHCs quarantine pending test results.
No Symptomatic person must remain on isolation until they have met CDC’s criteria for discontinuation of isolation.
HHCs quarantine for 10 days from last day of exposure.
Absent Yes Symptomatic person isolates pending test result.
HHCs can remain in school/work as long as they remain asymptomatic,
but if test is positive then quarantine.
No Symptomatic person must remain on isolation until they have met CDC’s
criteria for discontinuation of isolation.
HHCs can remain in school/work as long as they remain asymptomatic.
* Risk Factors for COVID-19 exposure include close contact to a person with COVID-19, international or cruise ship travel or other
high-risk activities as identified by an employer or public health in the 10 days before symptom onset.
† Appropriate COVID-19 viral testing includes molecular- (i.e., PCR) or antigen-based tests (antigen tests must be conducted within
an appropriate time frame after symptom onset, as specified in manufacturer instructions). Antibody tests are not appropriate for
diagnosing active infection.
If a student or staff member has tested positive within the last 90 days do they need to quarantine for 10 days upon
return from international or cruise ship travel or following an exposure to someone who has tested COVID-19 positive? No, quarantine is not required, however, monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19, practice social distancing, avoid social
and other group gatherings, always wear a facemask when around other people, and practice good hand hygiene at all times.
If a student or staff member has received the vaccine, do they have to quarantine for 10 days upon return from international or cruise ship travel area or following an exposure to someone who has tested COVID-19 positive?
No, quarantine is not required, however, monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19, practice social distancing, avoid social
and other group gatherings, always wear a facemask when around other people, and practice good hand hygiene at all times.
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If a staff member is looking to travel internationally or by cruise ship prior to completion of their vaccine series (14
days post final vaccine dose) how do we calculate the quarantine period? Calculating the need to quarantine should be done through what is considered their last day of exposure (14-day post
vaccine completion). This will require the individual to start counting their quarantine from 14-day post vaccine
completion. Travel scenario:
A person (Joe) has been vaccinated but is not yet 14 days beyond vaccine completion and he travels internationally. During Joe’s travel (say on day 5), Joe reaches day 14 day beyond vaccine completion. At the end of day 14, Joe is considered fully vaccinated. Joe’s last day of possible exposure, therefore, was day 5. Question: When does Joe’s final 10-day quarantine period begin? Answer: The day after Joe is 14 days from his vaccine completion (day 6 becomes day 1 of their final 10-day quarantine due to international travel).
Are US territories considered foreign countries for the purposes of the travel quarantine recommendation? No, U.S. territories including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, and are NOT considered foreign countries. Therefore, there is no requirement to quarantine after travel to these locations. To learn more, please refer to the New Hampshire COVID-19 Travel Guidance.
Can a staff member or student, who travelled internationally or by cruise ship test to be released from quarantine early?
Yes. An individual may shorten their quarantine as long as they have remained asymptomatic and obtain a PCR test on
day 6-7 of their quarantine (return from international travel). Antigen (rapid) tests and self-reported at-home tests, are
not accepted for this purpose. If the test is negative and symptoms have not developed, they may end their quarantine.
Individuals must self-observe for symptoms and strictly adhere to the mitigation measures (social distancing, avoiding
social gatherings, wearing a facemask, practicing frequent hand hygiene, etc.) for a full 14 days after their last day of travel. To learn more, please refer to the New Hampshire COVID-19 Travel Guidance.
If a staff member or student has tested positive in the past 90 days do they need to quarantine if identified as a close
contact?
No. Individuals who are within 90 days of a prior COVID-19 infection would not need to quarantine unless they develop
new or unexplained symptoms. Should symptoms develop then they should be excluded to isolate, reach out to their medical provider and seek testing.
If a staff member or student who has tested positive in the past 90 days, when does the count start to allow for exclusion from quarantine?
The 90 days from symptom onset date or 90 days from the test date if the individual was asymptomatic at time of infection, is what should be used to determine exclusion from quarantine following travel or an exposure.
Are there exceptions to quarantine requirements? The following people DO NOT need to quarantine after close contact to a person with COVID-19 nor after international or cruise ship travel:
1. Persons who are 14 days beyond second dose of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or receipt of Johnson & JohnsonCOVID-19 vaccine (i.e., 14 days after full vaccination).2.Persons who are within 90 days of a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection that was diagnosed by PCR or antigen testing(if a person had a previous infection that was more than 90 days prior, then they are still subject to quarantine).
Such persons, however, still need to monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 daily, practice social distancing, avoid social and other group gatherings, always wear a facemask when around other people, and practice good hand hygiene at all times. All infection control and other business COVID-19 mitigation guidance must be followed. For health
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care workers, this includes continuing to use all appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when evaluating or treating patients (including patients with suspect or confirmed COVID-19).
For a complete list of exceptions, see the New Hampshire COVID-19 Employer Travel, Screening, and Exclusion Guidance
Can household members of people under quarantine leave their home? Yes. Household members and other close contacts of persons under quarantine are not required to stay home. As long
as the person under quarantine does not show any symptoms, and the household members and other close contacts are
well, those living in the same house as someone on quarantine can leave the home. If the person being quarantined develops illness, household members and other close contacts must then also stay home on quarantine.
If a staff member or student has someone staying at their home who is required to self-quarantine (e.g., due to
international, cruise ship travel, or close contact to someone with COVID-19), does the staff member or student also
need to quarantine for 10 days?
No. There is no recommendation that people who are close or household contacts of people who are quarantining need
to themselves quarantine.
If a close household contact of a staff member or student tests positive for COVID-19 should the staff member or student be excluded from school?
Any person identified as a close household contact to a family member diagnosed with COVID-19 needs to self-
quarantine for 10 days from their last contact to the person while they are considered infectious. They will also be contacted by a public health professional from the NH DHHS to be advised of their need to self-quarantine
Are there any NH DHHS documents that we can send home with students, staff or parents to explain isolation and quarantine? Yes, the following documents are available for reference and distribution:
Self-Quarantine Guidance
Self-Isolation Guidance
NH DHHS COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions
New Hampshire COVID-19 Travel Guidance
MASKS
What is the recommendation on masks in schools?
NH DPHS continues to recommend schools and childcare agencies implement face mask use whenever possible (for
students/children, visitors, volunteers, staff, etc.), including outdoors in group settings. Face masks are strongly
recommended indoors, especially if students are seated within 6 feet of each other.
Whether or not face masks are required in schools has always been left to local school district/board policy.
CDC’s new recommendations are that fully vaccinated people don’t have to wear masks when outdoors meeting in
smaller private gatherings- neither of these criteria apply to childcare or K-12 schools settings.
Through Emergency Order #74, enacted on November 20, 2020, New Hampshire mandated the use of masks for all persons over the age of five when in public places. This emergency order expired on April 16, 2021 and residents are no longer required to mask in public. However, mask use remains a highly effective mitigation strategy in preventing the spread of COVID-19. All New Hampshire residents are still advised to wear a mask or cloth face covering over their noses and mouths any time they are in public spaces, indoors or outdoors, where they are unable to or do not consistently
maintain a physical distance of at least six feet from persons outside their own households.
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Are there people who should NOT be required to wear cloth face coverings?
See CDC guidance on use of cloth face coverings/masks. The CDC states that masks should not be worn by children
under the age of 2; or anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance. However, even people with underlying respiratory conditions, such as asthma, are usually able to tolerate cloth face covering/mask use.
What are the mask recommendations for young children in childcare settings? Children two years of age and older, should wear face masks at all times when within the facility and around other
people unless there is a valid medical or developmental reason a child cannot wear a face mask (per CDC Guidance).
See NH Safer at Home: Universal Best Practices for guidance on use of face cloth coverings/masks.
What is the appropriate way to teach students to take off their masks?
1. Wash hands or use alcohol based hand sanitizer.2. Grasp the ear loops and pull forward over your ears to remove.
3. Do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth when removing.
4. Fold the cloth face covering so that the area facing outward is folded over itself.
5. Store cloth face covering properly in a container or paper bag for later reuse (if
temporarily removed for a mask break, eating, etc.), or for laundering (for re-usablecloth face coverings).
6. Immediately wash your hands or use alcohol based hand sanitizer after removing mask.
For additional masks guidance visit:
• How to Wear Masks https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wearlcloth-face-coverings.html
• Masking in Childcare Guide https://www.nh-connections.org/uploads/2021/02/2.5.21-Masking-Guidebook.pdf
How should masks be stored while at school?
Cloth face coverings should be stored in a space designated for each student when not being worn (e.g., in individually labeled containers or plastic bags, personal lockers, or cubbies). Ideally, store wet or dirty masks in a plastic bag and masks that are not wet or dirty in a paper bag.
Students’ cloth face coverings should be clearly identified with their names or initials, to avoid confusion or swapping. Students’ face coverings may also be labeled to indicate top/bottom and front/back.
Are masks with exhale valves acceptable for students and staff to wear?
No. Masks with exhale valves are NOT appropriate for “source control” because they release a person’s droplets into the
air through the exhale valve.
Can an educator wear a face shield or hooded wrap instead of a cloth face covering/mask?
In general, no. A clear face shield is eye protection for the person wearing the face shield and not intended as source control to prevent spread of a person’s respiratory droplets to others. NH DHHS recommends educators wear cloth face
coverings/masks and if the educator is more than 6 feet away from others and needs to remove their mask, they may temporarily remove and store their cloth face covering/mask.
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NH Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Public Health Services Education Partner FAQ COVID-19
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control -17- May 10, 2021
In certain circumstances, face shields can be used to supplement cloth face coverings use, especially if an educator is
within 6 feet of a student and the student has difficulty controlling respiratory secretions. In this situation the educator can utilize a face shield as eye/face protection (i.e., the face shield is being used as PPE).
Here are some considerations for individuals who must wear a face shield instead of a mask: Although evidence on face shields is limited, the available data suggest that the following face shields
may provide better source control than others.
o Face shields that wrap around the sides of the wearer’s face and extend below the chin.o Hooded face shields.
o Face shield wearers should wash their hands before and after removing the face shield and avoid
touching their eyes, nose and mouth when removing it.
o Reusable face shields should be cleaned and disinfected after each use according to
manufacturer instructions or by following CDC face shield cleaning instructions.o Plastic face shields for newborns and infants are NOT recommended.
For additional information on masks visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-
wearlcloth-face-coverings.html
Is there an approved clear mask for when working with speech and language students? The FDA recently approved the Clear Mask. More information can be found on https://www.theclearmask.com/faq
When masks become a challenge or distraction or students just need a break, can students take them off?
Yes, when students are able to maintain at least 6 feet distance between themselves and others the masks may be removed and properly stored. Students and staff who are required to wear cloth face coverings for prolonged periods of time should be given time for periodic mask breaks. For additional mask guidance please refer to the NH Grade K-12 Back-to-School Guidance.
Can a child have a mask break if seated within 3 feet of each other but divided by a cardboard barrier?
No. Cardboard is not easily cleaned and not favored as a barrier between students seated less than 6 feet apart. Mask
breaks should occur when students are spaced at least 6 feet apart. Outdoor mask breaks are also preferred.
HEALTH CARE IN CHILDCARE AND SCHOOLS
Where can childcare and school health staff stay up to date on current NH DHHS and CDC PPE recommendations?
Health staff are encouraged to sign up for the NH Health Alert Network (HAN). If you are not signed up for the HAN, visit the Health Alert Network documents posted on the DHHS website, and check the CDC PPE webpage often.
What if a student must undergo an aerosol generating procedure while at school?
We recommend avoiding aerosol generating procedures to the extent possible. If a student needs a breathing/nebulizer treatment, for example, see if an albuterol metered dose inhaler (MDI) with a spacer can be used instead of a nebulizer.
If an aerosol generating procedure must be performed on a student at school, even for an existing chronic condition
(e.g., asthma), we recommend the nurse wear full PPE to be maximally protective, including using an N95 or higher level
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NH Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Public Health Services Education Partner FAQ COVID-19
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control -18- May 10, 2021
of respiratory protection, eye protection, gown, and gloves. When the aerosol generating procedure has been performed, the room must be cleaned and disinfected after use.
School nurses should be aware that this NH State guidance deviates from CDC recommendations on PPE use when nebulizers and “breathing treatments” are performed for people with asthma, which specifies that if a nebulizer treatment is necessary at school, that appropriate PPE would include a medical or surgical face mask, gloves, and eye protection. Therefore, there is some flexibility for nursing staff that may not be fit tested for an N95 respirator or for those who do not have access to N95 respirators.
Should school nurses consider delivering student medications to the classroom to keep "healthy kids" out of the health office? Yes, this is consistent with our guidance to minimize the movement of students throughout the school. However, make
all reasonable efforts to maintain student health confidentiality.
What is your position about giving medications (i.e., analgesics) at school during the pandemic?
We suggest you encourage parents/guardians and older children to consider alternative ways to schedule their
medications to be taken at home, whenever possible.
How do I manage a staff member or student who develops symptoms of COVID-19 during the childcare/school day?
NH DHHS recommends that any person with even mild symptoms be excluded from school and tested for COVID-19.
When evaluating a symptomatic person:
1. Mask the symptomatic person (be sure mask is properly covering the nose and mouth).
2. Place the symptomatic person in a private room with the door closed if safe to do so (at a minimum they shouldbe separated from others).
3. Record the symptomatic person’s temperature.
4. Perform a brief assessment of the person’s complaints or symptoms. Keep any assessment brief and stay at least6 feet away to the extent possible.
5. If in the same room as the symptomatic person, the nurse should wear:
a. A surgical facemask at all times.
b. Eye protection (googles or face shield) if the nurse is within feet of the person, OR if the symptomatic
person is unable to wear a facemask (even if more than 6 feet away).
c. If prolonged close contact is anticipated (within 6 feet of the person for 10 total minutes or more), or if
there is contact with the person’s secretions/excretions, then wear all appropriate PPE recommendedbelow, including surgical face mask, eye protection, gown, and gloves.
6. The symptomatic person should go home by private transportation.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
What PPE is recommended for a school health professional evaluating a person with symptoms of COVID-19?
See the NH DHHS Health Alert Network (HAN) messages (specifically HAN Update #18) for most updated
recommendations on COVID-19 PPE for healthcare providers. For outpatient evaluation of persons with symptoms of
COVID-19, NH DHHS generally recommends baseline PPE consisting of a surgical facemask, eye protection, gown, and gloves). An N95 respirator can be considered instead of a surgical facemask if the person has significant frequent
symptoms that may increase the risk of aerosolizing respiratory droplets (e.g., sneezing, coughing). If an aerosol
generating procedure is being performed than an N95 or higher-level respirator should be used in place of a surgical facemask.
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NH Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Public Health Services Education Partner FAQ COVID-19
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control -19- May 10, 2021
Who should wear personal protective equipment (PPE)?
Some roles that may require certain elements of PPE include:
1. School nursing and healthcare staff caring for students and staff.
2. Educators working with special education students who may have difficulty controlling oral and respiratory
secretions or who exhibit behaviors that put educators at risk of exposure (e.g., biting, spitting, etc.).
3. Health employees engaged in symptom and risk factor screening.
4. Staff responsible for deep cleaning and disinfecting of the school facility and grounds should wear a mask andgloves while cleaning and disinfecting. More information can be found on the CDC website.
There are a variety of new types of N95 masks available, how do we know if these options are a good product and acceptable to use?
We continue to encourage cloth masks for source control and N95 masks when needed to be used as PPE for specific situations. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) at CDC offers the following website that
lists approved N95 respirators: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/n95list1.html.
Does NH DHHS provide fit testing for N95 respirators?
No. If fit testing for N95 respirators is needed, schools should look to what occupational medicine resources are offered locally.
Are there state resources for obtaining PPE donations?
As of April 19, 2021, the state will no longer be assisting with PPE supplies. Over the last several months, both the PPE
market and the health care supply market has stabilized and most are able to provide the needed supplies to meet the
demand of New Hampshire providers. Please return to your normal processes for ordering and procurement of all materials for your operational needs.
CLEANING AND DISINFECTING
How do I clean and/or disinfect in a school setting?
CDC provides guidance for cleaning and disinfection and hand hygiene in schools, as well as guidance for operating childcare programs during COVID-19. In addition, CDC has a webpage dedicated to Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility.
How do I disinfect electronics such as tablets, touch screens, remote controls, and ATM machines?
The CDC guidance linked above has recommendations for cleaning and disinfecting electronics:
• Consider putting a wipe-able cover on electronics, which makes cleaning and disinfecting easier.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations for cleaning the electronic device.
• For electronic surfaces that need to be disinfected, use a product on EPA List Nexternal icon that meetsmanufacturer’s recommendations. Many of the products for electronics contain alcohol because it dries quickly.
What is the recommendation for increasing building/classroom ventilation and air filtration?
1. Bring in as much outdoor air as possible
2. Ensure Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) settings are maximizing ventilation.
3. Filter and/or clean the air in your school or childcare program.
4. Use exhaust fans in restrooms and kitchens.
5. Open windows in transportation vehicles.
6. To learn more, check out CDC’s webpage dedicated to Ventilation in Schools and Childcare Programs
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NH Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Public Health Services Education Partner FAQ COVID-19
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control -20- May 10, 2021
Other helpful indoor air resources: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/ventilation.html
CDC: K-12 Schools COVID-19 Mitigation Toolkit
CDC: Operating Childcare Programs
CDC: Ventilation in Buildings
CDC: Improving Ventilation in your Home
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Creating Healthy Indoor Air Quality in Schools
U.S. Department of Education: Strategies for Safely Reopening Elementary and Secondary Schools
Harvard University: 5 Step Guide to Checking Ventilation Rates in Classrooms
CDC: Schools and Childcare Programs: Plan, Prepare, and Respond
National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Childcare and Early Education: Caring For Our ChildrenChapter 5.2.1: Ventilation, Heating, Cooling, and Hot Water
Can I use a fan in my classroom? Yes. The fan should be placed in an open window to increase ventilation of outdoor air (bringing in outdoor air) while avoiding blowing air across students and minimizing recirculation of indoor air.
What is the recommendation on how to clean and disinfect playgrounds and other outdoor areas? • Have student’s clean hands before and after playground use with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use
an alcohol based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap is not readily available.• Outdoor areas generally require normal routine cleaning and do not require disinfection. Spraying disinfectant
on sidewalks and in parks is not an efficient use of disinfectant supplies and has not been proven to reduce therisk of COVID-19 to the public. You should continue existing cleaning and hygiene practices for outdoor areas.
• The targeted use of disinfectants can be done effectively, efficiently, and safely on outdoor hard surfaces andobjects frequently touched by multiple people (e.g., handrails, benches); make sure disinfectant has thoroughlydried before allowing children to play.
• Cleaning and disinfection of wooden surfaces (play structures, benches, tables) or groundcovers (mulch, sand) isnot recommended.
Additional guidance resources: 1. NH Dept. of Education’s New Hampshire Grades K-12 Back-to-School Guidance2. CDC: Cleaning, Disinfection and Hand Hygiene in Schools- a Toolkit for School Administrators
CLASSROOM GUIDANCE
Where can I find guidance for talking to students about COVID-19?
Teachers can play an important role in helping children make sense of what they hear in a way that is honest, accurate,
and minimizes anxiety or fear. CDC has created guidance to help adults have conversations with children about COVID
and ways they can avoid getting and spreading the disease.
Should we discontinue allowing household pets, such as dogs, from visiting the school?
Yes. Unnecessary animals (i.e., non-service animals) should remain home and not be allowed in schools. Please see CDC
guidance related to service/therapy animals: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/animals/service-therapy-animals.html.
Can students work in group settings for activities?
Classroom activities should be conducted to minimize close contact and avoid groups whenever possible.
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NH Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Public Health Services Education Partner FAQ COVID-19
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control -21- May 10, 2021
How should I arrange my classroom?
Classrooms should be arranged to minimize close contact and maximize physical distance between students. For additional guidance please refer to the NH Grade K-12 Back-to-School Guidance.
Can students share supplies in the classroom?
It is recommended that when possible classroom supplies avoid being shared. If classrooms supplies must be shared, then focus on hand hygiene before and after each educational session and properly disinfect between
uses. For additional guidance please refer to the NH Grade K-12 Back-to-School Guidance, and the CDC website for best cleaning and disinfection practices.
What are the thoughts on the use of Plexiglas to create barriers between students?
In areas where it is difficult for individuals to remain physically distanced schools can consider additional strategies such
as installing physical barriers, such as sneeze guards and partitions. Plexiglas barriers might be considered if they can be arranged in a safe and sturdy way.
With Plexiglas is in place will students be identified as a close contact if they are eating and within 3’ of each other?
NH DHHS will not quarantine students seated within 3-6’ to each other with an appropriate barrier (non-porous,
impenetrable to respiratory droplets, rigid and appropriate height) during a controlled lunch setting. As always, it is recommended to look at each scenario case by case.
What are the fire safety recommendations around Plexiglas in the classroom? According to the NH State Fire Marshal’s Office guidance, Plexiglas partition height should not exceed 60” in classrooms.
For further clarification and assistance, please contact the NH State Fire Marshal’s Office 603-223-4289.
With good handwashing, is it safe for students to turn in daily paper journals and classwork to teachers?
Yes. This virus does not survive well outside the human body respiratory tract. There is no need to “quarantine” journals
or classwork, but students and teachers should practice frequent hand hygiene both before and after handling
assignments. Adding in frequent hand hygiene is an appropriate new normal for many of our daily tasks that provides
additional protection.
The librarian travels from classroom to classroom with a small selection of books. Can students check out books to
keep for a week? Do all returned books undergo quarantine for 72 hours?
Upon return, books do not need to be quarantined for 72 hours, and we recommend simply promoting good hand
hygiene before/after handling shared items like books. Students can/should be able to check out books from the library;
access to books is important for students. Mask wearing and social distancing should occur while selecting books and
students should practice hand hygiene before/after handling books. For additional information, see the Universal Best
Practice Guidance.
Can students use hallway lockers?
Yes. Schools should consider how the lockers are assigned and spaced to prevent crowding and congregating. For additional guidance please refer to the NH Grade K-12 Back-to-School Guidance.
Can childcare agencies have more than 20 children in a group? There is no longer a capacity restriction on size of groups in childcare agencies. NH DPHS continues to recommend trying to keep groups as small as possible, ideally 20 or fewer (this may not be possible in all situations). Smaller groups are intended to limit transmission if COVID-19 is introduced into a group, and limit the number of people needing quarantine if exposed.
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NH Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Public Health Services Education Partner FAQ COVID-19
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control -22- May 10, 2021
NH DHHS, DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES (DPHS) RESPONSE
We care deeply about the health and wellbeing of the people of NH. We are committed to sharing accurate information with the public to ensure the optimal health and wellbeing of all NH residents while also ensuring we uphold the highest
privacy standards for individual patients. As an organization, we rely on the best available science and evidence-based practices. In rapidly evolving situations such as this, we will provide updated information as it becomes available.
NH DHHS has been working closely with the CDC since the first case of COVID-19 was detected in the United States. We are working very closely with our healthcare and public health partners. Visit our website for our full case investigation and contact tracing plan.
In outbreaks such as this, public health recommendations may change. We encourage you to check these key resources frequently for updates:
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)• NH Department of Health and Human Services (NH DHHS)• NH DHHS Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)• NH DHHS Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Provider Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)• NH DHHS Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) School Toolkit• NH DHHS Recommendations for Responding to COVID-19 in K-12 Schools• NH DHHS Recommendations for Responding to COVID-19 in Residential Schools, Colleges and Universities• NH DHHS Vaccine Information Page• NH DHHS Vaccine FAQ• Vaccine Registration• NH DHHS Considerations for Transitioning Between School Instructional Models
KEY CONTACTS AND RESOURCES
Topic/Inquiry Contact Phone/Email
General Information
www.nh.gov/covid19
2-1-1 New Hampshire 1-866-444-4211
TTY: 603-634-3388
NH Resources for Families: How
to access resources, links and
services to strengthen families
NH Division for Children, Youth and
Families
NH COVID-19 Parent Resource Guide
Clinical Questions and Reporting a
positive case of COVID-19
Division of Public Health Services
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control
603-271-6996
Media Inquiries
Requests for Media Support
State of NH Joint Information Center 603-223-6169
Questions regarding preventing
COVID-19 in educational settings
Sheryl Nielsen, M.Ed.
NH DPHS Education Liaison
603-271-6591
Questions regarding COVID-19
vaccine
www.vaccines.nh.gov
2-1-1 New Hampshire 1-866-444-4211
TTY: 603-634-3388
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NH Public Health Recommendations for People Who Are Fully Vaccinated When Around Others From Outside the Household
May 17, 2021
On May 13, 2021, CDC released updated Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People. The NH Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) continues to recommend that businesses and organizations implement the mitigation measures outlined in the NH Universal Best Practices, including face mask use and social/physical distancing for all persons (irrespective of vaccination status) as a pandemic control measure, to protect vulnerable individuals who may not be able to be vaccinated or who might only have partial immunity from vaccination, and to protect business operations from introduction and spread of COVID-19. In settings highlighted in the chart below where small groups of fully vaccinated people are gathering, then strict social distancing and face mask use may not be necessary.
Additionally, NH DPHS (similar to CDC), continues to recommend that everybody wear face masks and physically distance in certain settings, including on public transportation, schools, healthcare settings like hospitals and long-term care facilities, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, and other settings that may be high-risk for spread of COVID-19 or where a high proportion of people may not be fully vaccinated.
TABLE: NH recommendations for physical distancing and face mask use for fully vaccinated people in settings where there is potential for close contact with others.
Should I Wear a Face Mask & Physically Distance in Settings Around Other People?
Other Peoples’ Vaccination Status
All fully vaccinated Vaccination status unknown or not all are fully vaccinated
Location
Indoors
NO* YES
Outdoors
NO* NO*
*Unless required to by a business or organization, or a person desires maximal protection
Note: Please note that if you are significantly immune compromised, then the recommendations above may not apply to you; pleasediscuss your risk and protective measures with a trusted healthcare provider.
People who are unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated against COVID-19 should continue to wear face masks and physically distance when around other people indoors, and outdoors if unable to consistently maintain 6 feet of physical separation from others.
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control
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Rationale: A fully vaccinated person is at low risk for acquiring infection and spreading to others. However, because vaccines are not 100% effective and there is still a large number of unvaccinated people, mitigation measures like physical distancing and masking still have an important role to control this pandemic. Compared with vaccination alone, modeling studies from the CDC and academic partners have shown that a combination of high vaccination rates with continued use of population-level mitigation measures (face mask use, physical distancing, etc.) will be more effective at limiting COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths, and decrease community transmission more quickly. NH and most other states around the country continue to have a “substantial” level of community transmission of COVID-19, and a large proportion of the NH population is not yet fully vaccinated. Therefore, the next several weeks are an important time of transition to drive COVID-19 numbers lower. While we know that vaccination is highly effective at preventing COVID-19 (both asymptomatic and symptomatic disease) and limiting transmission to others, population-level mitigation measures will end the pandemic more quickly, protect the vulnerable and people unable to be vaccinated, and enable return to more normal societal functioning. Additionally, current CDC guidance is difficult for businesses and organizations to implement without developing a process to identify which people are fully vaccinated vs. not fully vaccinated. All of these considerations factored into our updated and clarified NH guidance outlined above.
NH DPHS will closely monitor COVID-19 infection rates and vaccination uptake, and will re-evaluate face mask use recommendations in the next 3-4 weeks. As vaccination rates increase and community transmission decreases, NH DPHS expects to fully implement CDC guidance by the end of June. Therefore, it is important for people who have not yet scheduled themselves to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to do so now as we transition from relying on community mitigation measures to vaccination to control and end this pandemic.
Other benefits and recommendations for people fully vaccinated outlined in the CDC guidance are consistent with current NH recommendations, including recommendations that fully vaccinated people:
• Do not need to quarantine after international travel (no persons, vaccinated or unvaccinated, are required toquarantine after domestic travel)
• Do not need to quarantine after a known exposure to another person with COVID-19• Can be exempted from asymptomatic screening testing programs• Can be exempted from testing after a known exposure, or after domestic travel (if they remain asymptomatic)
Fully vaccinated persons still should: • Self-isolate and be evaluated for testing if experiencing any new or unexplained symptoms of COVID-19• Be tested 3-5 days after international travel
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1 Stay home (quarantine) for 10 days* • You should stay at your home and avoid other people for 10 days after you were last exposed to a person with
COVID-19. You should not go out in public places - not even to the grocery store or to run errands. Please do not visit with other people outside of your home, and do not invite others into your house to visit.
• Keep your distance from others in your household (at least 6 feet).• Wear a face mask to protect those around you.
As long as you don’t develop symptoms of COVID-19, you can stop quarantine after 10 days have passed starting from the day of your last exposure to the person with COVID-19. You should continue to practice social distancing, avoid group gatherings, wear a face mask when around other people, and practice good hand hygiene.
3 Monitor for symptoms• Take your temperature. You should do this twice a day for 14 days after you were exposed (even if you end your
quarantine after 10 days), and take your temperature anytime you feel like you might have a fever.• Watch closely for other potential symptoms of COVID-19 such as respiratory illness (cough, sore throat, runny nose,
shortness of breath), body symptoms (fatigue, chills, muscle aches), change in taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, even after you end your quarantine.
• If you develop any symptoms of COVID-19:1. Seek medical advice and get tested – call ahead before you go to a healthcare provider’s office or emergency
room. Tell them you were recently exposed to someone with COVID-19 and have symptoms.2. If you test positive for COVID-19, then you need to follow the Isolation Guide instructions for how long you
need to stay home, which is usually ten days from the start of your symptoms (or ten days from the date ofyour positive test if you don’t have symptoms).
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control
Quarantine Guide for People Exposed to COVID-19 If you have been identified as a close contact to someone diagnosed with COVID-19, then you are at risk of developing
COVID-19 sometime in the 2-14 days after you were exposed, and you should follow these instructions.
Get tested* • Get tested 5 – 7 days after your exposure to a person with COVID-19. This should be a test that detects active
infection using a PCR-based test on a nose swab. You can find testing locations on our COVID-19 testing guidancewebpage.
• A negative test does NOT mean that you can end quarantine early (you still need to quarantine for 10 days), buta test does help to identify infection early even if you’re not showing symptoms, and it can help prevent spreadand protect others around you.
• If you test positive for COVID-19, then you need to follow the instructions found in the Isolation Guide.
Take care of yourself Reach out to your healthcare provider or seek emergency care if you have any concerns about your health. Social isolation can be lonely. Connect with others through phone, video chat, text, and email. Seek help from others to safely provide you and your household food and supplies you need while in quarantine. If you need support to maintain isolation, call 211 (TTY: 603-634-3388). If you have a medical emergency, call 911. Tell them that you are under quarantine for COVID-19 exposure. Please review these resources to help keep your home clean and protect others: • Using face masks to help slow the spread of COVID-19• What to do if you are sick and Caring for yourself at home• Cleaning and disinfecting your home• Coping with stress
This document is available online at: 5/7/2021 https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/covid19/documents/self-quarantine-covid.pdf
* You do NOT need to stay home (quarantine) for 10 days or get tested for COVID-19 if either of the following apply:1. You are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and more than 14 days have passed since you received the last
recommended dose of a COVID-19 vaccine series.2. You have previously tested positive for active COVID-19 infection (by PCR or antigen testing) in the last 90 days (if you
had a previous infection that was more than 90 days ago, then you still need to follow all of these instructions).
4
2
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This document is available online at: v5/7/2021 https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/covid19/documents/self-isolation-covid.pdf
1
2
3
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control
Isolation Guide For People Who Have COVID-19 If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should be tested so you can know if you actually have COVID-19.
If you test positive for COVID-19, please follow these instructions.
Self-Isolation: You must stay at your home and avoid other people, including those you live with. You may not go out in public places - not even to the grocery store or to run errands. You may not visit with other people outside of your home, and you may not invite others into your house to visit.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 with your positive test, you must stay at home until:
At least 10 days have passed since your symptoms first started
AND
At least 24 hours have passed since you had a fever (without using fever-reducing medications likeacetaminophen or ibuprofen), and your symptoms are improving
If you do NOT have symptoms but have a positive COVID-19 test, you must stay at home until:
At least 10 days have passed since the date of collection of your positive COVID-19 test, assuming you don’tdevelop symptoms. If you develop symptoms then follow the instructions above.
Household Contacts: Tell the people you live with about your COVID-19 infection. They need to self-quarantine for at least 10 days starting the day after their last exposure to you while you were able to infect them, which is usually for ten days after the start of your symptoms (or 10 days from your positive test date if you don’t have symptoms). If you don’t stay separate from other people in your household while in isolation, then they may need to self-quarantine for longer than 10 days. You should also clean your home and follow CDC recommendations to protect others.
Other Close Contacts: We encourage you to tell other people about your COVID-19 infection if you were in close contact with them at any point during the two days before you developed COVID-19 symptoms (or two days before you tested positive, if you don’t have symptoms) through your last day of isolation. “Close contact” means you were closer than 6 feet to the person for more than ten total minutes while you had COVID-19. These people should also self-quarantine for at least 10 days following their last exposure to you.
Any person who is identified as a close contact is at risk for COVID-19 and should be provided the public health Quarantine Guide, which has further instructions about how long a person who is exposed to COVID-19 needs to stay home and other steps they should take to protect their families and communities.
If you have questions about talking to your close contacts or if you think you may have become ill as part of a potential outbreak, please call the NH Department of Health and Human Services at 603-271-4496.
Support While in Isolation: Reach out to your healthcare provider or seek emergency care if you have any worsening of symptoms. Isolation can be lonely. Connect with others through phone, video chat, text, and email. Seek help from others to safely provide you and your household food and supplies you need while in isolation. If you need support to maintain isolation, call 211 (TTY: 603-634-3388).
If you have a medical emergency, call 911. Tell them that you have COVID-19.
Please review these resources to help keep your home clean and protect others: Using masks to help slow the spread of COVID-19 What to do if you are sick and Caring for yourself at home Cleaning and disinfecting your home Coping with stress
Stay home
Tell your close contacts
Take care of yourself
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Book I: Instruction
Section Series I
Title Summer School Education Activities and Classes
Code IHCA
Status Active
Adopted June 7, 2011
Last Revised June 12, 2021
SUMMER SCHOOL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES AND CLASSES The board recognizes that student learning is an ongoing process and that it is important for students to engage inlearning activities even when not attending regular school sessions. Therefore, the board strongly encouragesstudents to have a plan for summer activities that support student learning. Such activities may include a summer book reading list, attending an education-themed summer day camp,engaging in extended learning opportunities other activities that support student academic achievement andfulfillment. In addition, secondary school students may also choose to enhance, enrich, and or remediate their learningprograms during the summer to take a college course, visit colleges, explore online learning, careers, communityservice, internships, and/or travel to other countries. Summer school sessions may be held in a district school if approved by the school board. The principals will plan and organize a summer program for their school if desired. The superintendent may invite suggestions from staff members, students, and the school community to determinewhat areas of the curriculum should be offered. All summer programs must be reviewed and approved in advanceby the superintendent. Summer school enrichment classes will be financed through tuition, available federal grants, or non-budgeted funds such as gifts and donations, and tax credit funds, if approved by the school board. Summer schoolsessions to make up course work due to incompletes or failures during the school year will normally be financedthrough the regular budget if approved by voters. Selection of the Summer School FacultySummer school teaching assignments will be posted ten days for qualified district teachers. If no qualified districtteacher applies to teach the class then the assignment will be advertised and may be filled by a certified teacherwho meets the qualifications.
Ideally, summer school teaching assignments will be made by May 15. However, this commitment is contingentupon adequate enrollment in the class. If the high potential to meet enrollment minimums is possible and theteacher is willing to continue the commitment, the administration may delay cancellation of the class until the lastday of the regular school year. The rate of pay for summer school faculty will be set and approved by the school board. Legal References:Ed 306.14(b)(7), Summer Activities That Support Student Learning (until July 1, 2015)Ed 306.141(a)(7), Summer Activities That Support Student Learning (after July 1, 2015)
Last Modified by Kristen Noonan on June 8, 2021
Rev 2 – 6/2020 Reviewed 6/4/2021
Monadnock Regional School District
Data Governance Plan
-1-
Contents Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 3
Data Governance Team ............................................................................................................... 3
Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 3
Scope ........................................................................................................................................... 4
Regulatory Compliance ................................................................................................................ 4
Data User Compliance ................................................................................................................. 5
Data Lifecycle .................................................................................................................................. 6
Identifying Need & Assessing Systems for District Requirements ................................................. 6
New Systems ............................................................................................................................ 6
Review of Existing Systems ...................................................................................................... 7
Acquisition and Creation .............................................................................................................. 7
Management and Storage ............................................................................................................ 8
Systems Security ...................................................................................................................... 8
Data Management .................................................................................................................... 8
Security/Protection ....................................................................................................................... 8
Risk Management ..................................................................................................................... 8
Security Logs ............................................................................................................................ 9
Physical Security Controls ........................................................................................................ 9
Inventory Management ............................................................................................................. 9
Virus, Malware, Spyware, Phishing and SPAM Protection ........................................................ 9
Electronic Access Security Controls.......................................................................................... 9
Securing Data at Rest and Transit ...........................................................................................10
Usage and Dissemination ...........................................................................................................10
Data Storage and Transmission ...............................................................................................11
Training ...................................................................................................................................12
Archival and Destruction .............................................................................................................12
District Data Destruction Processes .........................................................................................12
Asset Disposal .........................................................................................................................12
Critical Incident Response ..............................................................................................................13
Business Continuity .....................................................................................................................13
Disaster Recovery .......................................................................................................................13
Data Breach Response ...............................................................................................................13
Appendix A - Definitions ..................................................................................................................14
Appendix B - Laws, Statutory, and Regulatory Security Requirements ...........................................16
Appendix C - Digital Resource Acquisition and Use ........................................................................18
Appendix D - Data Security Checklist .............................................................................................20
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Appendix E - Data Classification Levels ..........................................................................................21
Appendix F - Securing Data at Rest and Transit .............................................................................23
Appendix G - Physical Security Controls .........................................................................................26
Appendix H - Asset Management ...................................................................................................27
Appendix I - Virus, Malware, Spyware, Phishing and SPAM Protection ..........................................29
Appendix J - Account Management ................................................................................................30
Appendix K - Data Access Roles and Permissions .........................................................................32
Appendix L - Passphrase/Password Security .................................................................................34
Appendix M - Technology Disaster Recovery Plan .........................................................................35
Appendix N - Data Breach Response Plan .....................................................................................37
Appendix O – NH Minimum Standards for Privacy and Security of Student and Employee Data ....41
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Introduction The Monadnock Regional School District is committed to protecting our students’ and staffs’ privacy through maintaining strong privacy and security protections. The privacy and security of this information is a significant responsibility, and we value the trust of our students, parents, and staff.
The Monadnock Regional School District’s Data Governance Plan includes information regarding the data governance team, data and information governance, applicable School Board policies, District procedures, as well as applicable appendices and referenced supplemental resources.
This manual outlines how operational and instructional activity shall be carried out to ensure the District’s data is accurate, accessible, consistent, and protected. The document establishes who is responsible for information under various circumstances and specifies what procedures shall be used to manage and protect it. Definitions of terminology can be found in Appendix A: Definitions.
The Monadnock Regional School District’s Data Governance Plan shall be a living document. To make the document flexible, details are outlined in the appendices and referenced supplemental resources. This document and any future modifications to this document will be posted on the District’s website.
Data Governance Team The Monadnock Regional School District’s Data Governance team consists of the following positions: Superintendent, Curriculum Director, Business Administrator, Facilities Director, Human Resources Manager, Director of Special Services and the Director of Technology. Members of the Data Governance Team will act as data stewards for all data under their direction. The Director of Technology will act as the Information Security Officer (ISO), with assistance from members of the full Technology team. The Business Administrator is the district’s alternate ISO and will assume the responsibilities of the ISO when the ISO is not available. All members of the district administrative team will serve in an advisory capacity as needed.
Purpose The School Board recognizes the value and importance of a wide range of technologies for a well-rounded education, enhancing the educational opportunities and achievement of students. The Monadnock Regional School District provides its faculty, staff, and administrative staff access to technology devices, software systems, network and Internet services to support research and education. All components of technology must be used in ways that are legal, respectful of the rights of others, and protective of juveniles and that promote the educational objectives of Monadnock Regional School District.
To that end, the district must collect, create and store confidential information. Accurately maintaining and protecting this data is important for efficient district operations, compliance with laws mandating confidentiality, and maintaining the trust of all district stakeholders. All persons who have access to district data are required to follow state and federal law, district policies and procedures, and other rules created to protect the information.
It is the policy of the Monadnock Regional School District that data or information in all its forms, written, electronic, or printed, is protected from accidental or intentional unauthorized modification, destruction or disclosure throughout its life cycle. This protection includes an appropriate level of security over the equipment, software, and practices used to process, store, and transmit data or information. All staff and authorized district contractors or agents using confidential information will strictly observe protections put into place by the district.
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Scope The data security policy, standards, processes, and procedures apply to all students and staff of the district, contractual third parties and agents of the district, and volunteers who have access to district data systems or data. This policy applies to all forms of Monadnock Regional School District data and information, including but not limited to:
• Speech, spoken face to face, or communicated by phone or any current and future technologies. • Hard copy data printed or written. • Communications sent by post/courier, fax, electronic mail, text, chat and/or any form of social media. • Data stored and/or processed by any electronic device, including servers, computers, tablets, mobile devices. • Data stored on any type of internal, external, or removable media or cloud based services. • The terms data and information are used separately, together, and interchangeably throughout the policy, the intent is the same. • Any computer, laptop, mobile device, printing and/or scanning device, network appliance/equipment, AV equipment, server, internal or external storage, communication device or any other current or future electronic or technological device may be referred to as systems, assets or resources. • All involved systems and information are considered assets of the Monadnock Regional School District and shall be protected from misuse, unauthorized manipulation, and destruction.
Regulatory Compliance The district will abide by any law, statutory, regulatory, or contractual obligations affecting its data systems (see Appendix B: Laws, Statutory, and Regulatory Security Requirements). The Monadnock Regional School District complies with or exceeds the NH Minimum Standards for Privacy and Security of Student and Employee Data, and standards applicable to data governance are addressed throughout this Data Governance Plan. The Monadnock Regional School District complies with all other applicable regulatory acts including but not limited to the following:
• Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) • Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) • Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) • Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) • Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) • New Hampshire State RSA - Student and Teacher Information Protection and Privacy
NH RSA 189:65 Definitions NH RSA 189:66 Data Inventory and Policies Publication NH RSA 189:67 Limits on Disclosure of Information NH 189:68 Student Privacy NH RSA 189:68-a - Student Online Personal Information
• NH Minimum Standards for Privacy and Security of Student and Employee Data (see Appendix O) • New Hampshire State RSA - Right to Privacy:
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NH RSA 359-C:19 - Notice of Security Breach Definitions NH RSA 359-C:20 - Notice of Security Breach Required NH RSA 359-C:21 - Notice of Security Breach Violation
Data User Compliance The Data Governance Plan applies to all users of Monadnock Regional School District’s information including: staff, students, volunteers, and authorized district contractors or agents. All data users are to maintain compliance with School Board Policies and District administrative procedures JICL/GBEF (Employee and Student Acceptable Computer & Intranet/Internet Use), JICL-R (Information Technology Responsible Use Policy Form) and all policies, procedures, and resources as outlined within this Data Governance Plan and School Board Policy.
A consistently high level of personal responsibility is expected of all users granted access to the district’s technology resources. Any violation of district policies or procedures regarding technology usage may result in temporary, long‐term or permanent suspension of user privileges. User privileges may be suspended pending investigation into the use of the district’s technology resources.
Unless permission has been granted by the ISO or designee, no staff, vendor or other person may remove confidential or critical data from the district's premises or the district's network, remove a device containing confidential or critical data from the district's premises, or modify or copy confidential or critical data for use outside the district. If permission is given, the data may be accessed only on a district‐provided device with appropriate security controls or through a secure virtual private network (VPN). When users access confidential or critical data from a remote location, the user must take precautions to ensure that the confidential or critical data is not downloaded, copied or otherwise used in a manner that would compromise the security and confidentiality of the information.
Staff who fail to follow the law or district policies or procedures regarding data governance and security may be disciplined or terminated. Volunteers may be excluded from providing services to the district. The district will end business relationships with any contractor who fails to follow the law, district policies or procedures, or the confidentiality provisions of any contract. In addition, the district reserves the right to seek all other legal remedies, including criminal and civil action and seeking discipline of a staff member’s teaching certificate.
The district may suspend all access to data or use of district technology resources pending an investigation. Violations may result in temporary, long‐term or permanent suspension of user privileges. The district will cooperate with law enforcement in investigating any unlawful actions. The Superintendent or designee has the authority to sign any criminal complaint on behalf of the district.
Any attempted violation of district policies, procedures or other rules will result in the same consequences, regardless of the success of the attempt.
Possible disciplinary/corrective action may be instituted for, but is not limited to, the following:
• Unauthorized disclosure of PII or Confidential Information. • Sharing your user IDs or passwords with others (exception for authorized technology staff for the purpose of support) • Applying for a user ID under false pretenses or using another person’s ID or password. • Unauthorized use of an authorized password to invade student or staff privacy by examining records or information for which there has been no request for review. • The unauthorized copying of system files. • Attempting to secure a higher level of privilege without authorization. • Installation or use of unlicensed software or software not approved for district technological
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systems. • The intentional unauthorized altering, destruction, or disposal of district information, data and/or systems. This includes the unauthorized removal of technological systems such as but not limited to: laptops, internal or external storage, computers, servers, backups or other media, that may contain PII or confidential information. • The introduction of computer viruses, hacking tools or other disruptive or destructive programs.
Data Lifecycle Data Governance is necessary at each phase in the data lifecycle. This lifecycle starts at evaluating the need for data collection and ends when the data is destroyed. It is important that appropriate safeguards, policies, procedures and practices are in place for each phase of the data lifecycle.
Identifying Need & Assessing Systems for District Requirements To accomplish the district’s mission and to comply with the law, the district may need to maintain confidential information, including information regarding students, parents/guardians, staff, applicants for employment and others. The district will collect, create or store confidential information only when the Superintendent or designee determines it is necessary.
New Systems District staff members are encouraged to research and utilize online services or applications to engage students and further the district's educational mission. However, before any online service or application is purchased or used to collect or store confidential or critical information, including confidential information regarding students or staff, the ISO or designee must approve the use of the service or application and verify that it meets the requirements of the law and School Board policy and appropriately protects confidential and critical information. This prior approval is also required when the services are obtained without charge.
The Monadnock Regional School District will establish a process for vetting new digital resources to ensure that all new resources meet business and/or instructional need as well as security requirements.
Memorandums of understanding (MOU), contracts, terms of use and privacy policy for any system that creates, collects or uses personally identifiable information (PII), student records or confidential data must be reviewed by the ISO prior to initiation.
All new resources shall be properly evaluated against the following criteria, when applicable:
• Impact on technology environment including storage and bandwidth • Hardware requirements, including any additional hardware • License requirements/structure, number of licenses needed, and renewal cost • Maintenance agreements including cost • Resource update and maintenance schedule
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• Funding for the initial purchase and continued licenses and maintenance • Evaluate terms of service, privacy policy, and MOU/contract that meet the following criteria:
o The district continues to own the data shared, and all data must be available to the district upon request. o The vendor's access to and use of district data is limited; the data cannot be used for marketing, targeted advertising or data mining; and the data cannot be shared with third parties unless allowed by law and authorized by the district. If metadata is collected, it will be protected to the same extent as the district's confidential or critical information. o District data will be maintained in a secure manner by applying appropriate technical, physical and administrative safeguards to protect the data. o The provider will comply with district guidelines for data transfer or destruction when contractual agreement is terminated. o No API will be implemented without full consent of the district. o All data will be treated in accordance to federal, state and local regulations o The provider assumes liability and provides appropriate notification in the event of a data breach. Note: Exceptions can be made by the ISO when all the criteria cannot be met for a legitimate reason while still meeting all regulatory requirements for use. Parent permission is requested from parents during the yearly online registration process for district vetted and approved applications and tools.
Review of Existing Systems The District will ensure that data collection is aligned with School Board Policy EHAB. Data systems shall be regularly reviewed to ensure that only necessary data is being transmitted and collected.
Individual student level data is submitted to different approved service providers in order to ensure business operations and instructional services. At times, these imports include PII for staff and students. The District must ensure that each piece of PII is necessary for operations or instruction and that the providers are abiding by their terms of service.
The District will audit data imports annually. These audits should include:
• Review of provider’s terms of service to ensure they meet the District’s data security requirements. • Verification that software imports are accurate and pulling the correct information. • Verification that, when applicable, the staff, students and classes included in the imports are still necessary for instructional purposes (only those that need data collected are included in import). • Determine if the fields included in the imports are still necessary for intended purpose.
Acquisition and Creation After completing the requirements for adoption of any new systems, staff shall complete an online request form for any new digital app/tool that either has an associated cost or collects staff or student data (see Appendix C: Digital Resource Acquisition and Use). All staff must adhere to the following guidelines regarding a new digital resource acquisition:
• Contracts for any system that creates, collects or uses personally identifiable information (PII), student records or confidential data must be reviewed by the ISO prior to initiation. Staff should speak with their building Principal before using ANY new app/online tool with students and seek their assistance with the evaluation/vetting process. This includes any online tool that a student interacts with where they may be creating content and/or any site that requires any student login.
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• It is the responsibility of the staff requesting to use new digital content to properly vet the resource to ensure that it meets district business objectives, is in line with curriculum or behavioral standards, is age appropriate, is instructionally sound, and is appropriate for the intended use. • Digital resources that accompany adopted instructional and/or curriculum materials will be vetted by the Curriculum Director and the ISO, or designee, prior to purchase.
Management and Storage
Systems Security The district will provide access to confidential information to appropriately trained district staff and volunteers only when the district determines that such access is necessary for the performance of their duties. The district will disclose confidential information only to authorized district contractors or agents who need access to the information to provide services to the district and who agree not to disclose the information to any other party except as allowed by law and authorized by the district (School Board Policy EHAB). Therefore, systems access will only be given on an as‐needed basis as determined by the data manager and ISO. Further information regarding Electronic Access Security Controls is contained in the Security/Protection section of this manual.
Data Management The effective education of students and management of district personnel often require the district to collect information, some of which is considered confidential by law and district policy. In addition, the district maintains information that is critical to district operations and that must be accurately and securely maintained to avoid disruption to district operations.
Data Managers are responsible for the development and execution of practices and procedures that ensure the accuracy and security of data in an effective manner. All district administrators are data managers for all data collected, maintained, used and disseminated under their supervision as well as data they have been assigned to manage. Data managers will:
• ensure that system account creation procedures and data access guidelines appropriately match staff member job function with the data on instructional and operational systems. • review all staff with custom data access beyond their typical group’s access. • review district processes to ensure that data will be tracked accurately. • review contracts with instructional and operational software providers to ensure that they are current and meet the district data security guidelines. • ensure that staff are trained in the district’s proper procedures and practices in order to ensure accuracy and security of data. • assist the ISO in enforcing district policies and procedures regarding data management.
Security/Protection
Risk Management A thorough risk analysis of all Monadnock Regional School District’s data networks, systems, policies, and procedures shall be conducted on an annual or biennial basis by an external third party or as requested by the Superintendent, ISO or designee. An internal audit of District network security will be conducted annually by District Technology staff. This analysis shall be completed using the risk management steps outlined in the Data Security Checklist (see Appendix D: Data Security Checklist). The product of the risk analysis will be referred to as the risk assessment. The risk assessment shall be used to develop a plan to mitigate identified
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threats and risk to an acceptable level by reducing the extent of vulnerabilities.
Security Logs The District will maintain a comprehensive list of critical system events that will be logged and monitored to ensure data security. These events will include, but are not limited to, access to critical systems and modification of critical data. When applicable, notifications will be established for critical event triggers.
Physical Security Controls Technology telecommunication closets are housed in secure locations. Access authorization is assigned through the Director of Technology, Network Administrator and or Director of Facilities. In addition, access to areas in which information processing is carried out shall be restricted to only appropriately authorized individuals (see Appendix G: Physical Security Controls).
No technological systems shall be disposed of or moved without adhering to the appropriate procedures (see Appendix H: Asset Management).
Inventory Management The district shall maintain a process for inventory control in accordance to federal and state requirements and School Board policy. All district technology assets will be maintained in inventory and verified through the regular inventory verification process (see Appendix H: Asset Management).
Virus, Malware, Spyware, Phishing and SPAM Protection The District uses a multi‐layered approach to ensure that all electronic files are appropriately scanned for viruses, malware, spyware, phishing and SPAM. These include, but are not limited to, enterprise virus / malware / spyware software, group policy, gateways, firewalls, and content filters. Users shall not turn off or disable district protection systems or install other systems (see Appendix I: Virus, Malware, Spyware, Phishing and SPAM Protection).
Electronic Access Security Controls District staff will only access personally identifiable and/or confidential information if necessary to perform their duties. The district will only disclose this information to authorized district contractors or agents who need access to the information to provide services to the district and who agree not to disclose the information to any other party except as allowed by law.
Mechanisms to control access to PII, confidential information, internal information and computing resources include, but are not limited to, the following methods:
• Identification/Authentication: Unique user identification (user ID) and authentication are required for all systems that maintain or access PII, confidential information, and/or internal information. Users will be held accountable for all actions performed on the system with their User ID. User accounts and passwords shall not be shared. • Authorization: Access controls are maintained through a partnership between the technology department, human resources (HR) and data managers.
Additionally, only members of the District Technology staff will be granted access to domain level administrator and local machine administrator accounts in order to complete their job functions.
Access security is audited annually or whenever access permission requirements are changed for a particular application/software or when an application/software is no longer necessary.
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Staff Users
All new staff accounts are authorized through an HR hiring process (see Appendix J: Account Management). Role‐based permissions and security groups are used to establish access to all systems (see Appendix K: Data Access Roles and Permissions). If a staff member requires additional access, a request must be made directly to the ISO with a clear justification for access.
Contractors/Vendors
Access to contractors/vendors is governed through the same process using School Board Policy EHAB. All contractor/vendor access must be approved by HR and the ISO. All contractors doing business on district premises must also pass a background check unless other security measures are addressed in a vendor contract. All contractors/vendors accessing district data will be considered on premise users. Once the approval has been obtained, the technology department will create the account, only granting access to the server/application that the contractor/vendor supports.
Password Security
The District will enforce secure passwords for all systems within their control (see Appendix L: Password Security). When possible, the district will utilize Single Sign On (SSO) or LDAP/Active Directory Integration to maintain optimal account security controls.
Concurrent Sessions
When possible, the district will limit the number of concurrent sessions for a user account in a system.
Remote Access
Access into the District’s network from outside is strictly prohibited without explicit authorization from the ISO. Remote access will be granted through virtual private network (VPN) connection through the district’s network VPN appliance; no other method of remote access shall be granted without explicit authorization from the ISO. PII, confidential information and/or Internal Information that is stored or accessed remotely shall maintain the same level of protection as information stored and accessed within District’s network.
In the event that VPN access is needed by a contractor/vendor, access must be approved by the ISO. The Network Administrator will establish the contractor account, only granting access to the server/application that the contractor/vendor supports.
All VPN accounts will be reviewed at least annually.
Securing Data at Rest and Transit District data security applies to all forms of data, including data stored on devices, data in transit and data stored on additional resources. All district external hard drives will be maintained in inventory and verified through the regular inventory verification process. Regular transmission of student data to internal and external services is managed by the technology department using a secure data transfer protocol.
Users must ensure that they are securely storing their data. Guidelines have been established for Cloud Storage and File Sharing, External Storage Devices, and File Transmission Practices. (see Appendix F: Securing Data at Rest and Transit). These guidelines are outlined in the following section.
Usage and Dissemination A consistently high level of personal responsibility is expected of all users granted access to the district’s technology resources. All district staff, volunteers, contractors and agents who are granted access to critical and confidential information are required to keep the information secure and are prohibited from disclosing or assisting in the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. All individuals using confidential and critical information will strictly observe protections put into place by the district including, but not limited to,
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maintaining information in locked rooms or drawers, limiting access to electronic files, updating and maintaining the confidentiality of password protections, encrypting and redacting information, and disposing of information in a confidential and secure manner.
All users are responsible for the security and integrity of the data they create, store or access. Users are expected to act as good stewards of data and treat data security and integrity with a high degree of responsibility and priority. Users must follow all guidelines outlined with Board policies, specifically Employee and Student Technology Usage (JICL/GBEF, JICL-R), and Student Records (JRA, JRA-R).
District staff, contractors and agents will notify the ISO or designee immediately if there is reason to believe confidential information has been disclosed to an unauthorized person or any information has been compromised, whether intentionally or otherwise.
Data Storage and Transmission All staff and students that log into district owned computers will be provided with several options for data storage and transmission. Staff and students will need to ensure that they are securely storing their data. Staff and students will be able to store data on the local device. It is important to note that this data is not a part of the district’s continuity plan, and thus will not be backed up by the district’s backup solution. Staff will also have a mapped personal folder. This folder acts as a redirection of document and desktop folders to district file servers. Access to these files is restricted to the folder’s owner (staff who is assigned) and district enterprise administrator accounts. Staff and students using Chromebook devices have limited local storage capabilities. Chromebook users are to store data within their G Suite for Education Drive account.
Cloud Storage and File Sharing The term “Cloud Storage” is used to define all types of remote server storages accessed by users through the internet. All staff and students are provided with a Google G Suite for Education account that provides unlimited storage. Users are responsible for all digital content on their district provided Google G Suite for Education Drive (see Appendix F: Securing Data at Rest and Transit).
File Transmission Practices
Staff are responsible for securing sensitive data for transmission through email or other channels. Staff should not transmit files labeled classified, confidential, or restricted through email or third party file transfer services without district approval. When possible, staff should de‐identify or redact any PII or confidential information prior to transmission. Regular transmission of student data to services such as a single sign on provider is managed by the technology department using a secure data transfer protocol (see Appendix F: Securing Data at Rest and Transit).
Credit Card and Electronic Payment
Users of systems that process electronic payments, including but not limited to processing credit card information, must adhere to strict guidelines regarding the protection of payment information and cardholder data. These users are responsible for adhering to the appropriate level of PCI compliance when handling such data (see Appendix F: Securing Data at Rest and Transit).
Mass Data Transfers
Downloading, uploading or transferring PII, confidential information, and internal information between systems shall be strictly controlled. Requests for mass download of, or individual requests for, information for research or any other purposes that include PII shall be reviewed and approved by the Superintendent or designee. All other mass downloads of information shall be approved by the ISO and include only the minimum amount of information necessary to fulfill the request.
Printing
When possible, staff should de‐identify or redact any PII or confidential information prior to printing. PII and
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confidential information shall not be downloaded, copied or printed indiscriminately or left unattended and open to compromise.
Oral Communications
Staff shall be aware of their surroundings when discussing PII and confidential information. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of cellular telephones in public areas. Staff shall not discuss PII or Confidential Information in public areas if the information can be overheard. Caution shall be used when conducting conversations in: semi‐private rooms, waiting rooms, corridors, elevators, stairwells, cafeterias, restaurants, or public areas.
Training The district shall create and maintain a data security training program. This program will consist of the following:
• Training for all staff on technology policies and procedures, including confidentiality and data privacy. • Additional training for new instructional staff on federal regulations and the use of digital resources and student electronic records. • Training for all instructional staff on federal regulations and the use of digital resources and student electronic records. • Training for district administration on federal regulations, data privacy and security. • All training or professional learning that includes the use of data systems shall include data security.
Archival and Destruction Once data is no longer needed, the ISO or designee will work with the data managers to ensure that it is appropriately destroyed. Special care will be taken to ensure that confidential information is destroyed appropriately and in accordance with law. Confidential paper records will be destroyed using methods that render them unreadable, such as shredding. Confidential digital records will be destroyed using methods that render the record irretrievable.
District Data Destruction Processes The district will regularly review all existing data stored on district provided storage for the purposes of ensuring data identification and appropriate destruction. Data destruction processes will align with School Board Policy EHB and EHB-R. District data managers will regularly review systems and data to ensure that data that is no longer needed is destroyed. The following exceptions will be made:
• Data in an active litigation hold will be maintained until the conclusion of the hold. • Student G Suite for Education account will be deleted after the student’s final date of attendance. • Staff G Suite for Education accounts will be suspended after the final work day, unless HR or the ISO approves a district administrator to maintain access. Accounts will be deleted after they are no longer deemed necessary.
Asset Disposal The district will maintain a process for physical asset disposal in accordance with School Board Policy DN. The district will ensure that all assets containing PII, confidential, or internal information are disposed of in a manner that ensures that this information is destroyed (see Appendix H: Asset Management).
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Critical Incident Response Controls shall ensure that the District can recover from any damage to or breach of critical systems, data, or information within a reasonable period of time. Each school, department, or individual is required to report any instances immediately to the ISO or designee for response to a system emergency or other occurrence (for example, fire, vandalism, system failure, data breach and natural disaster) that damages/breaches data or systems.
Business Continuity The District’s administrative procedure EHB-R, delineates the timeline for data retention for all district data. The District will maintain systems that provide near‐line and off‐site data backup. These systems shall allow for the full recovery of critical systems in the event of a disaster. The district will test near‐line and off‐site backups of critical systems annually.
Disaster Recovery The District’s Technology Disaster Recovery Plan outlines critical staff, responsibilities, and processes in the event of a disaster or critical data loss. The District shall maintain a list of all critical systems and data, including contact information. The Technology Disaster Recovery Plan shall include processes that enable the District to continue operations and efficiently restore any loss of data in the event of fire, vandalism, natural disaster, or critical system failure (see Appendix M: Disaster Recovery Plan).
Data Breach Response New Hampshire’s data breach law (RSA 359-c:19, 20, 21) is triggered when a School District computer system is breached and personal information is acquired without authorization in a way that compromises the security or confidentiality of the information. The law requires a school district experiencing a breach to conduct a good faith and reasonably prompt investigation to determine the likelihood that personal information was, or will be, misused. The Data Breach Response Plan enables the District to respond effectively and efficiently to a data breach involving personally identifiable information (PII) as defined by NH Law, confidential or protected information (i.e.-FERPA), district identifiable information and other significant cybersecurity incident. The Data Breach Response Plan shall include processes to validate and contain the security breach, analyze the breach to determine scope and composition, minimize impact to the users, and provide notification (see Appendix N: Data Breach Response Plan).
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Appendix A - Definitions Confidentiality: Data or information is not made available or disclosed to unauthorized persons.
Confidential Data/Information: Information that the district is prohibited by law, policy or contract from disclosing or that the district may disclose only in limited circumstances. Confidential data includes, but is not limited to, personally identifiable information (PII) regarding students and staff.
Critical Data/Information: Information that is determined to be essential to district operations and that must be accurately and securely maintained to avoid disruption to district operations. Critical data is not necessarily confidential.
Data: Facts or information. Data can be in any form; oral, written, or electronic.
Data Breach, Breach of Security or Breach: A security incident in which there was unauthorized access to and unauthorized acquisition of personal information maintained in computerized form that compromises the security, confidentiality or integrity of the information.
Data Integrity: Data is current, accurate and has not been altered or destroyed in an unauthorized manner.
Data Management: The development and execution of policies, practices, and procedures in order to manage the accuracy and security of district instructional and operational data in an effective manner.
Data Owner: User responsible for the creation of data. The owner may be the primary user of that information or the person responsible for the accurate collection/recording of data. Ownership does not signify proprietary interest, and ownership may be shared. The owner of information has the responsibility for:
• knowing the information for which she/he is responsible. • determining a data retention period for the information according to Board policy and state statute. • ensuring appropriate procedures are in effect to protect the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of the data used or created. • reporting promptly to the ISO the loss or misuse of data. • initiating and/or implementing corrective actions when problems are identified. • following existing approval processes for the selection, budgeting, purchase, and implementation of any digital resource.
Information Security Officer: The Information Security Officer (ISO) is responsible for working with the Superintendent, Data Governance Team, data managers, data owners, and users to develop and implement prudent security policies, procedures, and controls. The ISO will oversee all security audits and will act as an advisor to:
• data owners for the purpose of identification and classification of technology and data related resources. • systems development and application owners in the implementation of security controls for information on systems, from the point of system design through testing and production implementation.
Systems: Any computer, laptop, mobile device, printing and/or scanning device, network appliance/equipment, AV equipment, server, internal or external storage, communication device or any other current or future electronic or technological device, whether hosted by the district or provider.
Security Incident: An event that 1) actually or potentially jeopardizes the confidentiality, integrity or availability of an information system or the information the system processes, stores or transmits, or 2) constitutes a violation or imminent threat of violation of security policies, security procedures or acceptable‐use policies.
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Personally Identifiable Information (PII): Any information about an individual maintained by an agency, including (1) any information that can be used to distinguish or trace an individual‘s identity, such as name, social security number, State Assigned Student Identification, date and place of birth, mother‘s maiden name, or biometric records and (2) any other information that is linked or linkable to an individual, such as medical, educational, financial, and employment information.
Risk: The probability of a loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability of information resources.
User: The user is any person who has been authorized to read, enter, print or update information. A user of data is expected to:
• access information only in support of their authorized job responsibilities. • comply with all data security procedures and guidelines. • keep personal authentication confidential (user IDs, passwords, secure cards, PINs, access codes). • report promptly to the ISO the loss or misuse of data. • follow corrective actions when problems are identified.
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Appendix B - Laws, Statutory, and Regulatory Security Requirements CIPA: The Children’s Internet Protection Act was enacted by Congress to address concerns about children’s access to obscene or harmful content over the Internet. CIPA imposes certain requirements on schools or libraries that receive discounts for Internet access or internal connections through the E‐rate program. Schools subject to CIPA have two additional certification requirements: 1) their Internet safety policies shall include monitoring the online activities of minors; and 2) as required by the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act, they shall provide for educating minors about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms, and cyberbullying awareness and response. https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/childrens-internet-protection-act
COPPA: The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act regulates operators of commercial websites or online services directed to children under 13 that collect or store information about children. Parental permission is required to gather certain information. https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/privacy-and-security/children%27s-privacy
FERPA: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act applies to all institutions that are recipients of federal aid administered by the Secretary of Education. This regulation protects student information and accords students specific rights with respect to their data. http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html
HIPAA: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act applies to organizations that transmit or store Protected Health Information (PII). It is a broad standard that was originally intended to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in health care delivery and health insurance, but is now used to measure and improve the security of health information as well. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/index.html
IDEA: The Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children. https://sites.ed.gov/idea/
PCI DSS: The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard was created by a consortium of payment brands including American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa. It covers the management of payment card data and is relevant for any organization that accepts credit card payments. https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/
PPRA: The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment affords parents and minor students’ rights regarding our conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/faq/what-protection-pupil-rights-amendment-ppra
New Hampshire State RSA 189:65-189:68: Student and Teacher Information Protection and Privacy as defined by the following sections:
• NH RSA 189:65 (http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XV/189/189-65.htm) Definitions • NH RSA 189:66 (http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XV/189/189-66.htm) Data Inventory and Policies Publication • NH RSA 189:67 (http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XV/189/189-67.htm) Limits on Disclosure of Information • NH 189:68 (http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XV/189/189-68.htm) Student Privacy • NH RSA 189:68-a (http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XV/189/189-68-a.htm) Student Online Personal Information
NH Minimum Standards for Privacy and Security of Student and Employee Data
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New Hampshire State RSA Chapter 359-C Right to Privacy:
• NH RSA 359-C:19 (http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/xxxi/359-c/359-c-19.htm) Notice of Security Breach - Definitions • NH RSA 359-C:20 (http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/xxxi/359-c/359-c-20.htm) Notice of Security Breach Required • NH RSA 359-C:21 (http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/xxxi/359-c/359-c-21.htm) Notice of Security Breach Violation
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Appendix C - Digital Resource Acquisition and Use The purpose of the Digital Resource Acquisition and Use process is to:
• ensure proper management, legality and security of information systems • increase data integration capability and efficiency • minimize malicious code that can be inadvertently downloaded
New Resource Acquisition Staff will be required to complete an online request form for any new digital resources that either has an associated cost or collects staff or student data. All staff must adhere to the following guidelines regarding digital resource acquisition:
• Contracts for any system that creates, collects or uses personally identifiable information (PII), student records or confidential data must be reviewed by the ISO prior to initiation. Staff should speak with their building Principal before using ANY new app/online tool with students and seek their assistance with the evaluation/vetting process. This includes any online tool that a student interacts with where they may be creating content and/or any site that requires any student login. • It is the responsibility of the staff requesting to use new digital content to properly vet the resource to ensure that it meets district business objectives, is in line with curriculum or behavioral standards, is age appropriate, is instructionally sound, and is appropriate for the intended use. • Digital resources that accompany adopted instructional and/or curriculum materials will be vetted by the Curriculum Director and the Director of Technology, or designee, prior to purchase.
All new resources shall be properly evaluated against the following criteria, when applicable:
• Impact on technology environment including storage and bandwidth • Hardware requirements, including any additional hardware • License requirements/structure, number of licenses needed, and renewal cost • Maintenance agreements including cost • Resource update and maintenance schedule • Funding for the initial purchase and continued licenses and maintenance • Evaluate terms of service, privacy policy, and MOU/contract that meet the following criteria:
o The district continues to own the data shared, and all data must be available to the district upon request. o The vendor's access to and use of district data is limited; the data cannot be used for marketing, targeted advertising or data mining; and the data cannot be shared with third parties unless allowed by law and authorized by the district. If metadata is collected, it will be protected to the same extent as the district's confidential or critical information. o District data will be maintained in a secure manner by applying appropriate technical, physical and administrative safeguards to protect the data. o The provider will comply with district guidelines for data transfer or destruction when contractual agreement is terminated. o No API will be implemented without full consent of the district. o All data will be treated in accordance to federal, state and local regulations o The provider assumes liability and provides appropriate notification in the event of a data breach. Note: Exceptions can be made by the ISO when all the criteria cannot be met for a legitimate reason while still meeting all regulatory requirements for use. Parent permission may be requested from parents during the yearly online registration process for district vetted and approved applications and tools.
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Approved Digital Resources In order to ensure that all digital resources used meet security guidelines and to prevent software containing malware, viruses, or other security risk, digital resources that have been vetted are categorized as Approved or Denied.
• A list of vetted software will be maintained within the Technology Department • It is the responsibility of staff to submit a request to use a new digital resource if a resource is not listed. • Digital resources that are denied or have not yet been vetted will not be allowed on district owned devices or used as part of district business or instructional practices.
Digital Resource Licensing/Use All computer software licensed or purchased for district use is the property of the District and shall not be copied for use at home or any other location, unless otherwise specified by the license agreement.
All staff must adhere to the following guidelines regarding digital resource licensing/use:
• Only approved district resources are to be used. • District software licenses will be:
o kept on file in the technology office. o accurate, up to date, and adequate. o in compliance with all copyright laws and regulations. o in compliance with district, state and federal guidelines for data security.
• Software installed on Monadnock Regional School District systems and other electronic devices will have a current license on file or will be removed from the system or device. • Resources with or without physical media (e.g. downloaded from the Internet, apps, or online) shall still be properly vetted and licensed, if necessary, and is applicable to this procedure. • Under no circumstances can staff act as a parental agent when creating student accounts for online resources; resources requiring this permission must be approved at the district level.
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Appendix D - Data Security Checklist A thorough risk analysis of all Monadnock Regional School District data networks, systems, policies, and procedures shall be conducted on an annual or biennial basis or as requested by the Superintendent or ISO. The risk analysis will include internal and external vulnerability cybersecurity risk assessments and may include external penetration testing of the District network. An internal audit of District network security will be conducted annually by District Technology staff. The Data Security Checklists examine the types of threat that may affect the ability to manage and protect the information resource. The analysis also documents any existing vulnerabilities found within each entity, which could potentially expose the information resource to threats. Finally, the analysis includes an evaluation of the information assets and the technology associated with its collection, storage, dissemination and protection. From the combination of threats, vulnerabilities, and asset values, an estimate of the risks to the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the information is determined. The product of the risk analysis will be referred to as the risk assessment. The risk assessment shall be used to develop a plan to mitigate identified threats and risk to an acceptable level by reducing the extent of vulnerabilities.
Data Security Checklist for District Hosted Systems □ Inventory and classification of data on system □ Types of potential threats (internal, external, natural, manmade, electronic and non-electronic) □ Physical security of system □ Location within network including network systems protection (firewall, content filter) and if system is externally facing or only allows for district network access □ Access controls including password security (can district password requirements be enforced) □ Authentication methods (LDAP/Active Directory, Single Sign On, District managed account, user managed account) □ Server/system security patch frequency □ Ability to access from mobile devices □ Ability to maintain critical system event logs □ Ability to receive notification for critical system events
Data Security Checklist for Provider Hosted Systems □ Inventory and classification of data on system □ Types of potential threats (internal, external, natural, manmade, electronic and non-electronic) □ Contract, terms of service and privacy policy are current and meet district data security requirements □ Provider has adequate data security measures including data management and incident response □ Ability to ensure proper access controls including password security (ie- can district password requirements be enforced) □ Authentication methods (LDAP/Active Directory, Single Sign On, District managed account, user managed account) □ Server/system security patch frequency □ Ability to access from mobile devices □ Notification practices in the event of a system compromise or security breach
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Appendix E - Data Classification Levels Personally Identifiable Information (PII) PII is information about an individual maintained by an agency, including:
• Any information that can be used to distinguish or trace an individual’s identity, such as name, social security number, date and place of birth, mother’s maiden name, or biometric records. • Any other information that is linked or linkable to an individual, such as medical, educational, financial, and employment information.
Unauthorized or improper disclosure, modification, or destruction of this information could violate state and federal laws, result in civil and criminal penalties, and cause serious legal implications.
Confidential Information Confidential Information is very important and highly sensitive material that is not classified as PII. This information is private or otherwise sensitive in nature and shall be restricted to those with a legitimate business need for access. Examples of confidential information may include: student records, personnel information, key financial information, proprietary information, system access passwords and encryption keys.
Unauthorized disclosure of this information to individuals without a business need for access may violate laws and regulations, or may cause significant consequences for district, its staff, parents, students or other stakeholders. Decisions about the provision of access to this information shall always be cleared through the data manager and/or ISO.
Internal Information Internal Information is intended for unrestricted use within the district and in some cases within affiliated stakeholders. This type of information is already widely‐distributed within the district, or it could be distributed within the organization without advance permission from the information owner. Examples of Internal Information include internal policies and procedures and handbooks.
Unauthorized disclosure of this information to outsiders may not be appropriate due to copyright, legal or contractual provisions.
Directory Information Directory Information is information contained in an education record of a student that generally would not be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed without the consent of a parent or eligible student. The Monadnock Regional School District designates the following items as directory information:
• Students name, address, telephone number, and dates of enrollment; • Parents/guardians name(s) and address(es); • Students grade level, enrollment status and dates of attendance; • Student photographs; • Students participation in recognized school activities and sports; • Weight and height of members of athletic teams; • Post-high school plans; • Students diplomas, certificates, awards and honors received.
This information may only be disclosed as permitted in School Board Policy JRA and JRA-A
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Public Information Public Information has been specifically approved for public release by the Superintendent or appropriate district administrator. Examples of public information may include patron mailings and materials posted to the district’s website.
This information may be disclosed outside of the district.
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Appendix F - Securing Data at Rest and Transit All staff and students that log into a district owned computer will be provided with several options for data storage and transmission. Staff and students will need to ensure that they are securely storing their data. Staff and students will be able to store data on the local device. It is important to note that this data is not a part of the district’s continuity plan, and thus will not be backed up by the district’s backup solution. Staff and students will also have a mapped personal folder. This folder acts as a redirection of document and desktop folders to district file servers. Access to these files is restricted to the folder’s owner (staff or student who is assigned) and district enterprise administrator accounts. Staff and students using Chromebook devices have limited local storage capabilities. Chromebook users are to store their data within their G Suite for Education Drive account.
Confidential and critical information will be saved and maintained in a secure manner using encryption or other password‐protected security measures. Likewise, when data is transmitted, the district will use encryption or password‐protected security measures.
Cloud Storage and File Sharing The term “Cloud Storage” is used to define all types of remote server storages accessed by users through the internet. All staff and students are provided with a G Suite for Education account that provides unlimited storage. Users are responsible for all digital content on their district provided G Suite for Education Drive. When using cloud storage, staff must adhere to the following guidelines:
• Staff and students may not access cloud storage through third party applications outside of approved internet browsers and Google Drive App on Android & iOS. This will ensure that native operating systems do not replace cloud sharing security. • Users need to be aware of default sharing settings on folders when they upload files. Users are required to limit sharing files to an as needed basis. • Staff and students must ensure that any cloud storage providers used are approved by the district and meet district student data and data security standards. • When exiting the district, students should responsibly copy their content to their own personal storage solution. • When exiting the district, staff are prohibited from copying content that contains confidential information, student records or data. • Data with personally identifiable information of staff or students may be posted to users’ district provided Google Drive with appropriate security settings. Users may not post this data to other cloud sharing platforms without consent of district administration. • Staff should never post any documents labeled classified, confidential, or restricted to any cloud storage including district provided Google Drive accounts without district approval. • All users shall immediately report any cloud storage security problems of the district’s technology resources to a teacher or administrator. • Attempting to gain or gaining unauthorized access to cloud storage or the files of another is prohibited. • As with other forms of district technology, district staff, students, and other G Suite for Education drive users have no expectation of privacy on data stored on this platform.
The term “File Sharing” is used to define all activities that share access to digital information whether in the cloud or on district administered mapped drives. When file sharing, staff must adhere to the following guidelines:
• Users must abide by all policies and procedures regarding professional conduct and communication when sharing, reviewing, updating, commenting and re‐sharing. • When sharing content, users must ensure that other users accessing the information in the
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files have appropriate access to the information based on job function. • All users shall immediately report any inappropriate sharing of the district’s technology resources to an administrator.
External Storage Devices The term “External Storage Devices” is used to define all portable storage devices (including USB drives, rewritable CD/DVD, memory cards, and external hard drives) used by staff and students. While the district recognizes the advantages for staff and students to maintain information on these devices, users are strongly encouraged to rely on their district provided G Suite for Education Drive account for all storage needs. When using external storage devices, staff must adhere to the following guidelines:
• Users are responsible for all content on external storage devices that have been connected to district technology resources. • Users must ensure that they will not introduce harmful software including computer viruses, malware, non‐district approved software, or hacking tools to district technology resources. • Users must ensure that the data will remain secure through appropriate encryption or password protection when transferring files containing PII or protected information to an external storage device. Users should only keep the information stored on the external device for the duration of the project, and then promptly remove. • Staff should never transfer any documents labeled classified, confidential, or restricted to any external storage device. • Staff should never transfer or create confidential data or student records on personal storage devices.
File Transmission Practices
• Staff are responsible for securing sensitive data for transmission through email or other channels. When possible, staff should de‐identify or redact any PII or confidential information prior to transmission. • Staff should never include a password in any electronic communication unless directed to do so by Technology Staff. • Staff should not transmit files labeled classified, confidential, or restricted through email or third party file transfer services without district approval. • Regular transmission of student data to services such the District Library Management system, Food Service Management system and Single Sign On Provider system is managed by the technology department using a secure data transfer protocol. All such services are approved by a district/building administrator and the Director of Technology.
Credit Card and Electronic Payment Users of systems that process electronic payments, including but not limited to processing credit card information, must adhere to strict guidelines regarding the protection of payment information and cardholder data. These users are responsible for adhering to the following requirements and appropriate level of PCI compliance when handling such data:
• Never store cardholder data on district systems or in written form. All cardholder data may only be entered in secured payment systems approved by the district. Any cardholder data collected in written form must be shredded immediately after entry into approved system. • The district will never maintain a data system for payment information. All payment information will be stored and processed by a 3rd party accessible through a secure portal. • Never request cardholder information to be transmitted via email or any other electronic communication system. • Payment information shall be entered directly into the approved payment system by individual making payment. If the individual is not able to directly input the payment, designated staff may gain
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verbal approval for the payment process either in person or via phone (after identification is verified). If verbal payment information is received, that information must be entered directly into the payment system and not written down during the process. • If payment information is collected via a physical form, that form must be shredded or payment information redacted immediately upon receipt and entry into payment system.
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Appendix G - Physical Security Controls The following physical security controls shall be adhered to:
• Network systems shall be installed in an access‐controlled area. The area in and around the computer facility shall afford protection against fire, water damage, and other environmental hazards such as power outages and extreme temperature situations. • Monitor and maintain data centers’ temperature and humidity levels. • File servers and/or storage containing PII, Confidential and/or Internal Information shall be installed in a secure area to prevent theft, destruction, or access by unauthorized individuals. • Ensure network systems and network equipment are properly secured to prevent unauthorized physical access and data is properly safeguarded to protect from loss. • Computers and other systems shall be secured against use by unauthorized individuals. It is the responsibility of the user to not leave these devices logged in, unattended, and open to unauthorized use. • Monitor and control the delivery and removal of all data‐storing technological equipment or systems. Maintain a record of all such items entering or exiting their assigned location using the district approved technology inventory program. No technology equipment regardless of how purchased or funded shall be moved without the explicit approval of the technology department. • Ensure that technological equipment or systems being removed for transfer to another organization or being designated as surplus property is appropriately sanitized in accordance with applicable policies and procedures (see Appendix H: Asset Management).
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Appendix H - Asset Management Data security must be maintained through the life of an asset, including the destruction of data and disposal of assets. Any computer, laptop, mobile device, printing and/or scanning device, network appliance/equipment, AV equipment, server, internal or external storage, communication device or any other current or future electronic or technological device may be referred to as a system, asset or device.
All involved systems and information are assets of the district and are expected to be protected from misuse, unauthorized manipulation, and destruction.
Inventory All technology devices or systems considered an asset are inventoried by the technology department. This includes, but is not limited to, network appliances, servers, computers, laptops, mobile devices, and external hard drives. The technology department will conduct annual inventory verification of all district devices. It is the responsibility of the technology department to update the inventory system to reflect any in‐school transfers, in‐district transfers, or other location changes for district technology assets.
Disposal Guidelines Assets shall be considered for disposal in accordance with state/federal regulations and School Board Policy DN. The following considerations are used when assessing an asset for disposal:
• End of useful life • Lack of continued need • Obsolescence • Wear, damage, or deterioration • Excessive cost of maintenance or repair • Salable value
The Director of Technology shall approve disposals of any district technology asset.
Methods of Disposal Once equipment has been designated and approved for disposal (does not have salable value), it shall be handled according to one of the following methods. It is the responsibility of the technology department to update the inventory system to reflect the disposal of the asset.
Discard
All technology assets shall be discarded in a manner consistent with applicable environmental regulations. Electronic equipment may contain hazardous materials such as mercury, lead, and hexavalent chromium. When possible, any reusable hardware that can’t be used as parts to repair and/or maintain district technology assets shall be removed (motherboards, screens, adapters, memory). In addition, systems may contain Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Confidential, or Internal Information. Systems shall be wiped clean of this information prior to leaving the school district.
A district‐approved vendor shall be contracted for the disposal of all technological systems/equipment. The vendor shall provide written documentation verifying the method used for disposal and a certificate stating that no data of any kind can be retrieved from the hard drive or any other component capable of storing data.
Under no circumstances should any technological systems/equipment be placed in the trash.
Donation/Gift
In the event that the district determines that an asset shall be donated or gifted, systems shall be wiped clean of Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Confidential, and/or Internal Information prior to leaving the school district. The Monadnock Regional School District will not support or repair any equipment that is
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donated. In addition, software licenses are not transferred outside the district. Therefore, systems must be returned to factory installation, or drives shall be removed and discarded prior to donation.
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Appendix I - Virus, Malware, Spyware, Phishing and SPAM Protection
Virus, Malware, and Spyware Protection Monadnock Regional School District PC desktops, laptops, and file servers are protected using enterprise virus / malware / spyware software. Definitions are updated daily and an on‐access scan is performed on all “read” files continuously. All files and systems are scanned.
Internet Filtering Student learning using online content and social collaboration continues to increase. The Monadnock Regional School District views Internet filtering as a way to balance safety with learning, letting good content, resources, and connections in while blocking the bad. To balance educational Internet resource and application use with student safety and network security, the Internet traffic from all devices on the district network is routed through the district firewall and content filter. Filtering levels are based on the role of the user, staff or student and student grade level. All sites that are known for malicious software, phishing, spyware, etc. are blocked.
Phishing and SPAM Protection Email is filtered for viruses, phishing, spam, and spoofing using Google services.
Security Patches Server patch management is performed regularly. Security patches are applied on an as needed basis, but at least biweekly.
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Appendix J - Account Management Access controls are essential for data security and integrity. The Monadnock Regional School District maintains a strict process for the creation and termination of district accounts. All new staff accounts are authorized through an HR hiring process prior to creation. Role‐based permissions are used to establish access to all systems. Access security is audited at least annually or whenever access permission requirements are changed for a particular application/software or when an application/software is no longer necessary.
Staff Accounts When a staff member is hired by the Monadnock Regional School District, the following process ensures that each staff member has the correct access and permissions to the resources that are required for their position.
• Notification of new staff member is sent from Human Resources to the Technology Department. This notification includes position, building assignment(s), and start date. • Only after notification has been received from Human Resources, the Technology Department creates user accounts. The user is given access and permissions to the necessary resources based on their position and building assignment(s) (see Appendix K: Data Access Roles and Permissions). • Any exception to permissions must be approved by the district administrator responsible for the system (data manager) and the Director of Technology. When a staff member’s employment is ended, either by termination or resignation, account permissions are revoked in one of two ways.
• In the event of termination, HR will notify the Technology Department via email or phone call requiring the account to be disabled at once, preventing any further access to district resources. • In the event of resignation, HR will notify the Technology Department via email indicating the termination date. The account is disabled at the end of business on the termination date, preventing further access to district resources. • In the event that a user having elevated permissions to any system separates from the district, additional measures are taken to ensure that all elevated accounts to those systems are secure.
Local/Domain Administrator Access Only members of the District Technology staff will be granted access to domain level administrator and local machine administrator accounts in order to complete their job functions.
Remote Access Access into the District’s network from outside is strictly prohibited without explicit authorization from the ISO. Remote access will be granted through virtual private network (VPN) connection through the district’s network VPN appliance; no other method of remote access shall be granted without explicit authorization from the ISO. PII, confidential information and/or Internal Information that is stored or accessed remotely shall maintain the same level of protection as information stored and accessed within District’s network.
In the event that VPN access is needed by a contractor/vendor, access must be approved by the ISO. The Network Administrator will establish the contractor account, only granting access to the server/application that the contractor/vendor supports.
All VPN accounts will be reviewed at least annually.
Contractors/Vendors Access to contractors/vendors is governed through the same process using School Board Policy EHAB. All contractor/vendor access must be approved by HR and ISO. All contractors doing business on district premises must also pass a background check unless other security measures are addressed in a vendor
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contract. All contractors/vendors accessing district data will be considered on premise users. Once the approval has been obtained, the technology department will create the account.
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Appendix K - Data Access Roles and Permissions Student Information System (SIS) Staff are entered into the Monadnock Regional School District’s student information system. Only staff whose roles require access are provided accounts for the system. The following minimum information is entered for each staff member:
• Building/Site location • Status - Active • Staff Type • District Email Address • Primary Alert Phone Number and Cell phone number
Access accounts for the District’s SIS are setup based on staff role/position, building and required access to student data and are assigned by the Director of Technology or designee. Teacher accounts are created for all staff responsible for taking student attendance and entering and maintaining grades. Teacher accounts login to the SIS Teacher Portal. Staff assigned a Teacher account only have access to students they teach or provide services to. Administrative accounts are created based on the staff member’s role/position and function and further restrictions to data are controlled through security groups. Security groups control access permissions to certain data sets such as attendance, demographic data, grades, discipline etc. and whether the staff member can view or maintain data. Additional page level permissions are assigned to the security groups. Administrative accounts log into the SIS Admin Portal.
Financial System All staff members are entered into the District’s financial system for the purpose of staff payroll and HR tracking. Staff access to their individual payroll information is granted through the employee portal. Only staff requiring access are provided accounts for the financial/personnel system.
After basic information and user ID are created, a security role is assigned to the account granting them access to designated areas of the financial system to complete their job responsibilities.
Special Education System The State of New Hampshire provides the District access to the NH Special Education Information System (NHSEIS) that houses all student IEP information. Access accounts to NHSEIS is maintained by the District’s Director of Special Services office through the MyNHDOE single sign on portal. A user role determines the user’s authority and applicable permissions within the NHSEIS system. The established roles are as follows:
• School Administrator • Provider • Case Manager • District IT Administrator • IEP Team Member • District Administrator • SAU System Administrator • SAU System Staff • General Ed Teacher • SAU District Administrator
The following user roles access NHSEIS through the MyNHDOE portal: Case Manager, District Administrator, District IT Administrator, SAU District Administrator, SAU System Administrator, SAU
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System Staff, and School Administrator. The remaining user roles, Provider, General Ed Teacher and IEP Team Member access NHSEIS through a SAU specific web address.
Health Software System School District Nurses, Nurse Substitutes and Technology Staff are the only staff members granted access to the District’s Health Software system. Technology Staff access is for the purpose of upgrades, and technical support for the use of the system. The medical data that is collected and maintained by the school nurses on the system includes immunizations, conditions, medications, and clinic logs (Time in/out of clinic and action taken). School nurses are the only accounts that can view and maintain medical information.
Food Services System The District uses a Food Services software management system to track data and perform functions necessary for the efficient operation of the Food Service Program. Food service staff are granted accounts with access to only the parts of the system that are necessary to complete their job functions. Technology Staff access is for the purpose of upgrades, and technical support for the use of the system and cash registers. Strict security roles and permissions are in place to ensure that confidential information is only viewable by authorized staff.
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Appendix L - Passphrase/Password Security Passphrase’s are generally longer than a password, and can contain spaces such as: “The sun will come out tomorrow!”.
• Passphrases can be much easier to remember. The user has the ability to choose a sentence, the user
can make it logical. By doing this, the users will not have to try and remember a random mix of
special characters, numbers, and upper/lowercase letters.
• Passwords are becoming much easier to crack due to technological advances.
• Passphrases are becoming supported across all major platforms.
• Most password cracking attempts just give up after the 10-character mark. The District requires the use of strictly controlled passphrases/passwords for network access and for access to secure sites and information. All passphrases/passwords to district systems shall meet or exceed the below requirements.
• Passphrases/Passwords shall never be shared with another person. • When possible, user created passphrases/passwords should adhere to the same criteria as required for district network access as outlined below. • Passphrases/Passwords shall never be saved when prompted by any application with the exceptions of single sign‐on (SSO) systems and password managers as approved by the Technology Department. • Passphrases/passwords shall not be programmed into a computer or recorded anywhere that someone may find and use them. • When creating passphrases/password for secure information or sites, it is important not to use passwords that are easily guessed due to their association with the user (i.e. children’s names, pets’ names, or birthdays). • Users and staff who have reason to believe a password is lost or compromised must notify the Director of Technology or designee as soon as possible. The technology department will verify the identity of the person requesting the change before resetting the password.
District network access to resources managed through LDAP/SSO:
• Passphrases/Passwords must be “strong,” and must be a minimum of 12 characters long, must include at least one uppercase character, one lowercase character, one special character (!@#$%^&*(_+{}|[]\:”;’<>?,./ ) • Passwords will only be changed in the event the user shares their password with another staff member or they believe their account has been compromised. • Your password must not be too similar to your username. • Do not use your district password for any non‐district systems.
Where possible, system software should enforce the following passphrase/password standards:
• Passphrases/Passwords routed over a network shall be encrypted. • Passphrases/Passwords shall be entered in a non‐display field. • System software shall enforce the changing of passwords and the minimum length. • System software shall disable the user password when more than five consecutive invalid passwords are given.
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Appendix M - Technology Disaster Recovery Plan Objectives The primary purpose of the Technology Disaster Recovery Plan (TDRP) is to enable the Monadnock Regional School District (Monadnock Regional) to respond effectively and efficiently to a natural disaster or critical failure of the district's data center and/or core systems. The objectives during a natural disaster or critical failure are the following:
• Minimize the loss or downtime of core systems and access to business critical data.
• Recover and restore the district's critical systems and data.
• Maintain essential technology resources critical to the day to day operations of the district.
• Minimize the impact to the staff and students during or after a critical failure.
Planning Assumptions The following planning assumptions were used in the development of Monadnock Regional’s TDRP:
• There may be natural disasters that will have greater impact than others.
• There will be factors that are beyond the department's control or ability to predict during a disaster.
• There is the possibility of complete loss of the current data center.
• We will have adequate storage to recover systems.
• District data is housed at district data center and backed up in the cloud.
• District data is hosted by 3rd party providers.
• In the event of a critical failure to network infrastructure in the datacenter, District networking may
be significantly impacted.
Disaster Recovery/Critical Failure Team The Monadnock Regional has appointed the following people to the disaster recovery/critical failure team, otherwise known as the Incident Response Team: Director of Technology, Network Administrator, IT Support Specialists, Director of Facilities and Maintenance Supervisor.
In the event the TDRP is activated, overall management of the response is delegated to this team. Their primary responsibilities include:
• Determining the impact of the natural disaster/critical failure.
• Communication of impact and or loss, and updates of progress to the Superintendent.
• Communication of outages and updates to district staff.
• Oversight of the TDRP implementation and restoration of critical systems and data.
• Allocation and management of technology staff during the event.
• Working with manufacturers and/or vendors during the recovery and restoration of critical systems
and data.
• Oversight of TDRP implementation debrief.
Activation The TDRP will be activated in the event of the following:
• A natural disaster has occurred and affects the operation of the District’s data center. A natural
disaster includes but is not limited to the following: tornado, earthquake, lightning, and floods.
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• A fire has impacted the data center.
• Water or flooding has impacted the data center.
• Critical system failure.
The Information Security Officer (ISO) will act as the Incident Response Manager (IRM). If the ISO is not able to act as the IRM, a member of the Superintendent’s Leadership Team will assume the role of the IRM, with assistance from the Incident Response Team (IRT). Notification The following groups will be notified in the event the plan has been activated:
• Superintendent
• Superintendent's Leadership Team
• Technology Staff
• District Staff
• Parents and Students
• Vendors
Information will be disseminated to the above groups through whichever means of communication is available at the time. This could include any one or combination of the following:
• Phone
• Social Media/Website
• Radio or Television
The TDRP team will work with the Superintendent on which information will be conveyed to each above group and what means will be used.
Implementation The TDRP team has the following in place to bring the District back online in the least amount of time possible:
• Maintained spreadsheet listing all server names, physical and virtual, and their function.
• Maintained secure application to store all system administrator accounts, passwords and vendor contact information. This will be accessible only to applicable Technology Staff who need access to perform their job functions.
Deactivation The TDRP team will deactivate the plan once services are fully restored.
Evaluation An internal evaluation of the Monadnock Regional’s TDRP response will be conducted. This will entail gathering documentation from the response and feedback from all stakeholders and incorporate into an after action report and corrective action plan. The result will be an update to the TDRP and other emergency response plans as appropriate.
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Appendix N - Data Breach Response Plan Objectives The purpose of the Technology Data Breach Plan (TDBP) is to enable the Monadnock Regional School District to respond effectively and efficiently to an actual or suspected data breach involving personally identifiable information (PII), confidential or protected information, district identifiable information and other significant cybersecurity incident. The objectives of the TDBP are:
• Convene the Incident Response Team (IRT) as necessary.
• Validate and contain the data security breach.
• Analyze the breach to determine scope and composition.
• Minimize impact to the staff and students after a data breach has occurred.
• Notification of data owners, legal counsel, state/federal agencies and law enforcement as deemed necessary.
Planning Assumptions The following planning assumptions were used in the development of Monadnock Regional School District’s TDBP:
• There may be data breaches that will have greater impact than others.
• There will be factors that are beyond the department's control or ability to predict during a data breach.
• District data is backed up.
• Some District data is hosted by 3rd party providers.
Data Breach/Incident Response Team Monadnock Regional School District has appointed the following people to the data breach/incident response team: Director of Technology and the Network Administrator.
In the event the TDBP is activated, overall management of the response is delegated to this team. Their primary responsibilities include:
• Determine the nature of the data compromised and its impact to staff, students and the district itself.
• Communicate impact, the number of affected individuals, the likelihood information will be or has been used by unauthorized individuals and updates of progress to the Superintendent and Business Administrator.
• Coordinate with Superintendent to ensure communication with district staff and or parents as deemed appropriate.
• Oversight of the TDBP implementation and data breach resolution.
• Allocate and manage technology staff resources during the event.
• Work with vendors, 3rd party providers, manufacturers, legal counsel, district data breach insurance provider, state/federal agencies and law enforcement while correcting the data breach and its repercussions.
• Oversight of TDBP implementation debrief.
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Activation The TDBP will be activated in the event of the following:
• A data breach has occurred and affects the district itself. A data breach includes but is not limited to an incident in which sensitive, protected or confidential data has potentially been viewed, stolen or used by an individual unauthorized to do so.
• Personal Health Information (PHI) has been compromised.
• Personally Identifiable Information (PII) has been compromised.
• Confidential or sensitive data has been compromised.
• Network hack/intrusion has occurred.
The Information Security Officer (ISO) will act as the incident response manager (IRM). If the ISO is not able to act as the IRM, a member of the Superintendent’s Leadership Team will assume the role of IRM, with assistance from the IRT. The breach response and reporting process will be documented according to state and federal requirements. The Director of Technology will work with the Superintendent to dispense and coordinate the notification and public message of the breach.
Notification The following groups will be notified in the event the plan has been activated:
• Superintendent
• Superintendent's Leadership Team
• Technology Staff
• District Staff
• Parents and Students
• Vendors
Information will be disseminated to the above groups through whichever means of communication deemed appropriate. This could include any one or combination of the following:
• Social Media/Website
• Radio or Television
• Written Notice
• Phone
The TDBP team will work with district leadership on which information will be conveyed to each above group, timing of that communication and what means will be used.
Implementation The TDBP team has the following processes in place to contain the data breach in the least of amount of time possible:
• Data inventory of all systems containing sensitive data.
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• Data dictionary of all district hosted information systems.
• Maintained spreadsheet listing all server names, physical and virtual, and their function.
• Maintained secure application to store all system administrator accounts, passwords and vendor contact information. This will be accessible only to applicable Technology Staff who need access to perform their job functions.
• The District’s data backup solution includes the use of a backup manager and off‐site file storage, which backs up data locally in the datacenter and offsite.
The following will take place during the incident response:
• The members of the IRT will be assembled once a breach has been validated. The IRT will be comprised of the Director of Technology, Network Administrator and IT Support Specialists. Additional members of the Monadnock Regional School District’s administrative team and technology department may be designated to assist on the IRT.
• The IRT will determine the status of the breach, on‐going, active, or post‐breach. For an active and ongoing breach, the IRT will initiate appropriate measures to prevent further data loss. These measures include, but are not limited to, securing and blocking unauthorized access to systems/data and preserving any and all evidence for investigation.
• The IRT will work with the data managers and data owners to determine the scope and composition of the breach, secure sensitive data, mitigate the damage that may arise from the breach and determine the root cause(s) of the breach to devise mitigating strategies and prevent future occurrences.
• The IRM will work with legal counsel and the Superintendent’s Leadership Team to determine appropriate course of action pursuant to state statute. This includes notification of the authorities, and local law enforcement.
• Collaboration between the authorities and the IRT will take place with the IRM. The IRT will work with the proper authorities to make sure any and all evidence is properly handled and preserved.
• On advice from legal counsel, an outside party may be hired to conduct the forensic investigation of the breach. When the investigation has concluded, all evidence will be safely stored, recorded or destroyed (where appropriate).
• All affected data, machines and devices will be identified and removed from the network as deemed appropriate for the investigation. Interviews will be conducted with key personnel and facts of the incident will be documented and the evidence preserved for later examination.
• The IRT will work with the Superintendent’s office to outline the notification of the data owners and those affected. Communication will be sent out as directed by legal counsel and advised by the district communications team. The types of communication will include, but not limited to, email, text message, postal mail, substitute notice and/or phone call.
• The IRM, in conjunction with the IRT, legal counsel and the Superintendent’s Leadership Team will determine if notification of affected individuals is necessary. Once the determination is made to notify affected individuals, a letter will be written in accordance with all federal and state statutes, and local procedures. If it is determined that identity theft or other fraud is not reasonably likely to occur as a result of the breach, such a determination shall be documented in writing and filed at the Superintendent’s office.
Deactivation The TDBP team will deactivate the plan once the data breach has been fully contained.
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Evaluation Once the breach has been mitigated an internal evaluation of the Monadnock Regional’s TDBP response will be conducted. The IRT, in conjunction with the IRM and others that were involved, will review the breach and all mitigation steps to determine the probable cause(s) and minimize the risk of a future occurrence. Feedback from the responders and affected entities may result in an update to the TDBP and other emergency response plans as appropriate. Information security training programs will be modified to include countermeasures to mitigate and remediate previous breaches so that past breaches do not recur. The reports and incident review will be filed with all evidence of the breach.
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Appendix O – NH Minimum Standards for Privacy and Security of Student and Employee Data
Minimum Standards for Privacy and Security of Student and Employee Data New Hampshire Department of Education
I. Purpose & Applicability
A. This document defines minimum standards (“Standards”) for the privacy and security of student and employee information for Local Education Agencies (“LEA”) that the Department is required to establish according to New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated (RSA) 189:66, V.
B. These Standards apply to “Student Personally-Identifiable Data” and “Teacher Personally-Identifiable Data” (RSA 189:65), as well as “Covered Information” (RSA 189:68) handled by LEAs in both electronic and physical formats. Unless otherwise noted, the terms “Covered Information” shall include Student and Teacher Personally Identifiable Data throughout this document.
C. All LEAs under the purview of the New Hampshire Department of Education are required to implement these Standards. II. Minimum Privacy and Security Standards These Standards have been developed from a subset of basic and derived security requirements from National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-171 Revision 1, “Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations.” More information about each security standard can be found at the reference listed from NIST SP 800-171. LEAs are encouraged to review and incorporate additional security requirements from NIST SP 800-171, as appropriate. A. Access Control
1. Limit system access to authorized users, processes acting on behalf of authorized users, and devices (including other systems). (NIST SP 800-171: 3.1.1) 2. Limit system access to the types of transactions and functions that authorized users are permitted to execute. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.1.2) 3. Employ the principle of least privilege, including for specific security functions and privileged accounts. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.1.5) 4. Limit unsuccessful logon attempts. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.1.8) 5. Employ cryptographic mechanisms to protect the confidentiality of remote access sessions. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.1.13) 6. Authorize wireless access prior to allowing such connections. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.1.16) 7. Protect wireless access using authentication and encryption. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.1.17)
B. Awareness and Training 1. Ensure that managers, systems administrators, and users of organizational systems are made aware of the security risks associated with their activities and of the applicable policies, standards, and procedures related to the security of those systems. (NIST SP 800- 171: 3.2.1) 2. Ensure that personnel are trained to carry out their assigned information security-related duties and responsibilities. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.2.2)
C. Audit and Accountability 1. Create and retain system audit logs and records to the extent needed to enable the monitoring, analysis, investigation, and reporting of unlawful or unauthorized system activity. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.3.1) 2. Ensure that the actions of individual system users can be uniquely traced to those users so they can be held accountable for their actions. (NIST SP 800- 171: 3.3.2)
D. Configuration Management
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1. Establish and maintain baseline configurations and inventories of organizational systems (including hardware, software, firmware, and documentation) throughout the respective system development life cycles. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.4.1) 2. Establish and enforce security configuration settings for information technology products employed in organizational systems. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.4.2) 3. Restrict, disable, or prevent the use of nonessential programs, functions, ports, protocols, and services. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.4.7)
E. Identification and Authentication 1. Identify system users, processes acting on behalf of users, and devices. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.5.1) 2. Authenticate (or verify) the identities of users, processes, or devices, as a prerequisite to allowing access to organizational systems. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.5.2) 3. Enforce a minimum password complexity and change of characters when new passwords are created. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.5.7)
F. Incident Response 1. Establish an operational incident-handling capability for organizational systems that includes preparation, detection, analysis, containment, recovery, and user response activities. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.6.1) 2. Track, document, and report incidents to designated officials and/or authorities both internal and external to the organization. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.6.2)
G. Maintenance 1. Perform maintenance on organizational systems. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.7.1) 2. Provide controls on the tools, techniques, mechanisms, and personnel used to conduct system maintenance. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.7.2) 3. Ensure equipment removed for off-site maintenance is sanitized of any Covered Information in accordance with NIST SP 800-88 Revision 1. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.7.3)
H. Media Protection 1. Protect (i.e., physically control and securely store) system media containing Covered Information, both paper and digital. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.8.1) 2. Limit access to Covered Information on system media to authorized users. (NIST SP 800- 171: 3.8.2) 3. Sanitize or destroy system media containing Covered Information in accordance with NIST SP 800-88 Revision 1 before disposal or release for reuse. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.8.3) 4. Control access to media containing Covered Information and maintain accountability for media during transport outside of controlled areas. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.8.5)
I. Personnel Security 1. Screen individuals prior to authorizing access to organizational systems containing Covered Information. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.9.1) 2. Ensure that organizational systems containing Covered Information are protected during and after personnel actions such as terminations and transfers. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.9.2)
J. Physical Protection 1. Limit physical access to organizational systems, equipment, and the respective operating environments to authorized individuals. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.10.1) 2. Protect and monitor the physical facility and support infrastructure for organizational systems. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.10.2)
K. Risk Assessment 1. Periodically assess the risk to organizational operations (including mission, functions, image, or reputation), organizational assets, and individuals, resulting from the operation of organizational systems and the associated processing, storage, or transmission of
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Covered Information. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.11.1) 2. Scan for vulnerabilities in organizational systems and applications periodically and when new vulnerabilities affecting those systems and applications are identified. (NIST SP 800- 171: 3.11.2) 3. Remediate vulnerabilities in accordance with risk assessments. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.11.3)
L. Security Assessment 1. Periodically assess the security controls in organizational systems to determine if the controls are effective in their application. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.12.1) 2. Develop and implement plans of action designed to correct deficiencies and reduce or eliminate vulnerabilities in organizational systems. (NIST SP 800- 171: 3.12.2) 3. Monitor security controls on an ongoing basis to ensure the continued effectiveness of the controls. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.12.3)
M. System and Communications Protection 1. Monitor, control, and protect communications (i.e., information transmitted or received by
organizational systems) at the external boundaries and key internal boundaries of organizational systems. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.13.1) 2. Deny network communications traffic by default and allow network communications traffic by exception (i.e., deny all, permit by exception). (NIST SP 800-171: 3.13.6) 3. Protect the confidentiality of Covered Information at rest. (NIST SP 800- 171: 3.13.16)
N. System and Information Integrity 1. Identify, report, and correct system flaws in a timely manner. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.14.1) 2. Provide protection from malicious code (i.e. Antivirus and Antimalware) at designated locations within organizational systems. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.14.2) 3. Monitor system security alerts and advisories and take action in response. (NIST SP 800 171: 3.14.3) 4. Update malicious code protection mechanisms when new releases are available. (NIST SP 800-171: 3.14.4)
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Book E: Support Services
Section Series E
Title Data Governance and Security
Code EHAB
Status Active
Adopted March 5, 2019
DATA GOVERNANCE AND SECURITY To accomplish the District's mission and comply with the law, the District must collect, create and storeinformation. Accurately maintaining and protecting this data is important for efficient District operations,compliance with laws mandating confidentiality, and maintaining the trust of the District's stakeholders. Allpersons who have access to District data are required to follow state and federal law, District policies andprocedures, and other rules created to protect the information. The provisions of this policy shall supersede andtake precedence over any contrary provisions of any other policy adopted prior to the date of this policy. A. DefinitionsConfidential Data/Information - Information that the District is prohibited by law, policy or contract fromdisclosing or that the District may disclose only in limited circumstances. Confidential data includes, but is notlimited to, personally identifiable information regarding students and employees. Critical Data/Information - Information that is determined to be essential to District operations and that must beaccurately and securely maintained to avoid disruption to District operations. Critical data is not necessarilyconfidential. B. Data and Privacy Governance Plan - Administrative Procedures.1. Data Governance Plan. The Superintendent, in consultation with the District Information Security Officer("ISO") (See paragraph C, below) shall create a Data and Privacy Governance Plan ("Data GovernancePlan"), to be presented to the Board no later than June 30, 2019. Thereafter, the Superintendent, in consultationwith the ISO, shall update the Data Governance Plan for presentation to the Board no later than June 30 each year. Due to internet security risks, the detailed contents of this governance plan shall be safeguarded. The Data Governance Plan shall include:(a) An inventory of all software applications, digital tools, and extensions. The inventory shall include users of theapplications, the provider, purpose, publisher, privacy statement, and terms of use;(b) A review of all software applications, digital tools, and extensions and an assurance that they meet or exceedminimum standards set by the New Hampshire Department of Education;(c) Policies and procedures for access to data and protection of privacy for students and staff including acceptableuse policy for applications, digital tools, and extensions used on District hardware, server(s) or through the Districtnetwork(s);
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(d) A response plan for any breach of information; and(e) A requirement for a service provider to meet or exceed standards for data protection and privacy. 2. Policies and Administrative Procedures. The Superintendent, in consultation with the ISO, is directed to review,modify and recommend (policies) create (administrative procedures), where necessary, relative to collecting,securing, and correctly disposing of District data (including, but not limited to Confidential andCritical Data/Information, and as otherwise necessary to implement this policy and the Data GovernancePlan. Such policies and/or procedures will may or may not be included in the annual Data Governance Plan. C. Information Security Officer.The Superintendent shall designate a member of his/her administrative team to serve as the District's InformationSecurity Officer (ISO). The ISO is responsible for implementing and enforcing the District's security policies andadministrative procedures applicable to digital and other electronic data, and suggesting changes to these policies,the Data Governance Plan, and procedures to better protect the confidentiality and security of District data. TheISO will work with the both District and building level administrators and Data managers (paragraph E, below) toadvocate for resources, including training, to best secure the District's data. D. Responsibility and Data Stewardship.All District employees, volunteers and agents are responsible for accurately collecting, maintaining and securingDistrict data including, but not limited to, Confidential and/or Critical Data/Information. E. Data Managers.All District administrators are data managers for all data collected, maintained, used and disseminated under theirsupervision as well as data they have been assigned to manage in the District's data inventory. Data managers willmonitor employee access to the information to ensure that confidential information is accessed only by employeeswho need the information to provide services to the District and that confidential and critical information ismodified only by authorized employees. Data managers will assist the ISO in enforcing District policies andprocedures regarding data management. F. Confidential and Critical Information.The District will collect, create or store confidential information only when the Superintendent or designeedetermines it is necessary, and in accordance with applicable law. The District will provide access to confidentialinformation to appropriately trained District employees and volunteers only when the District determines that suchaccess is necessary for the performance of their duties. The District will disclose confidential information only toauthorized District contractors or agents who need access to the information to provide services to the District andwho agree not to disclose the information to any other party except as allowed by law and authorized by theDistrict. District employees, contractors and agents will notify the ISO or designee immediately if there is reason to believeconfidential information has been disclosed to an unauthorized person or any information has been compromised,whether intentionally or otherwise. The ISO or designee will investigate immediately and take any actionnecessary to secure the information, issue all required legal notices and prevent future incidents. When necessary,the Superintendent, ISO or designee is authorized to secure resources to assist the District in promptly andappropriately addressing a security breach. Likewise, the District will take steps to ensure that critical information is secure and is not inappropriately altered,deleted, destroyed or rendered inaccessible. Access to critical information will only be provided to authorizedindividuals in a manner that keeps the information secure.
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All District staff, volunteers, contractors and agents who are granted access to critical or confidentialinformation/data are required to keep the information secure and are prohibited from disclosing or assisting in theunauthorized disclosure of such confidential or critical data/information. All individuals using confidential andcritical data/information will strictly observe all administrative procedures, policies and other protections put intoplace by the District including, but not limited to, maintaining information in locked rooms or drawers, limitingaccess to electronic files, updating and maintaining the confidentiality of password protections, encrypting andredacting information, and disposing of information no longer needed in a confidential and secure manner. Anyattempt to access information by an unauthorized individual, regardless of success, may result in aninvestigation and/or consequences. G. Using Online Services and Applications.District staff members are encouraged to research and utilize online services or applications to engage students andfurther the District's education mission. District employees, however, are prohibited from installing or usingapplications, programs or other software, or online system/website, that either stores, collects or shares confidentialor critical data/information, until the ISO approves the vendor and the software or service used.Before approving the use or purchase of any such software or online service, the ISO or designee shall verify that itmeets the requirements of the law, Board policy, and the Data Governance Plan, and that it appropriately protectsconfidential and critical data/information. This prior approval is also required whether or not the software or onlineservice is obtained or used without charge. H. Training.The ISO will provide appropriate training to employees who have access to confidential or critical information toprevent unauthorized disclosures or breaches in security. All school employees will receive annual training in theconfidentiality of student records, and the requirements of this policy and related procedures and rules. I. Data Retention and Deletion.The ISO or designee shall establish a retention schedule for the regular archiving and deletion of data stored onDistrict technology resources. The retention schedule should comply with, and be incorporated [by reference] intothe data/record retention schedule established under Policy [_____EHB and administrative procedure EHBR],including but not limited to, provisions relating to Litigation and Right to Know holds as described in Policy EHB. J. ConsequencesThe District may end business relationships with any contractor who fails to follow the law, District policies orprocedures, or the confidentiality provisions of any contract.The District may suspend all access to data or use of District technology resources pending an investigation.Violations may result in temporary, long-term or permanent suspension of user privileges. The District willcooperate with law enforcement in investigating any unlawful actions. Category: Priority/Required by LawRelated Policies EHAA, EHB, GBEBD, GBEF,IHBH, JICJ, JICL, JICM, KD, & KDC Legal References:15 U.S.C. §§ 6501-6506 * Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)20 U.S.C. § 1232g * Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)20 U.S.C. § 1232h * Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)20 U.S.C. § 1400-1417 * Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)20 U.S.C. § 7926 * Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESSA)RSA 189:65 * DefinitionsRSA 186:66 * Student Information Protection and Privacy
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RSA 189:67 * Limits on Disclosure of InformationRSA 189:68 * Student PrivacyRSA 189:68-a * Student Online Personal InformationRSA 359-C:19-21 * Right to Privacy/Notice of Security Breach
Last Modified by Lillian Sutton on March 18, 2019
Monadnock Regional School District (MRSD) School Board Meeting Minutes
June 1, 2021 (Not Yet Approved) Zoom Virtual Meeting, Swanzey, NH
Members Present: Kristen Noonan, Winston Wright, Lisa Steadman, Colleen Toomey, Scott Peters, Betty Tatro, Cheryl McDaniel-Thomas, Michelle Connor, Eric Stanley, Karen Wheeler, Brian Bohannon, Nick Mosher and Dan LeClair. Administration Present: L. Witte, Superintendent, J. Rathbun, Director of Curriculum and Student Assessment and J. Morin, Business Administrator. Also Present: L. Aivaliotis, Recording Secretary “We collaborate not just to teach, but also to engage and educate every student in our district in an environment that is challenging, caring and safe, while fostering life-long learning.” Non-Public Session: MOTION: E. Stanley MOVED to enter into Non-Public Session under RSA 91-A:3-II ( c ) Matters which, if discussed in public, would likely adversely affect the reputation of any person, other than a member of the public body itself, unless such person requests an open meeting. SECOND: K. Noonan VOTE: 10.764/0/0/2.235. Motion passes. 1. S. Peters called to recess the meeting until 7:00 PM: S. Peters called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS: E. Stanley reported on the Boys State Championship Track Team, Delaney Swanson Track Champion and the Middle School Boys CDL Title Track Winners. MOTION: E. Stanley MOVED to award the Spring Track Championship Winners with traditional swag including the Middle School CDL Title Winners. SECOND: C. McDaniel-Thomas. DISCUSSION: The Board agreed to vote on this later in the meeting. VOTE: 11.879/0/0/1.122. Motion passes. Shana Thompson of Troy asked what action is taken if a teacher were to go against Board policy. There was a book being read by her child which was titled This Book is Anti-Racist. She asked her child about it and spoke to the teacher, L. Witte and emailed the entire Board. The book is no longer being read. She would like to know what action would be taken so that this is not a problem in the future.
3. CELEBRATE MRSD: L. Witte showed photos of the construction area being fenced in for the new Tech/Ed expansion. It is underway and very exciting. 4. MATTERS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION:
a. Operations/Superintendent’s Report: i. Summer Programs Update: J. Rathbun explained the Summer Programs are up and running and ready to go. There will be Summer School at the high school, Title One tutoring which is 100% free, one on one 2 times a week, Beyond the Bell which has hundreds of students signed up and ESY which also has a huge amount of students signed up. ESY is for grades K-12. All of the summer programs will start July 1, 2021. J. Rathbun explained each program to the Board. He said the pavilion at Wilcox and MTC will be used for summer school. This will allow the students outside space for learning. ii. Draft Fall 2021 Plan and Timeline Review: L. Witte explained the draft today being presented is a federal requirement condition of the CARES grant which is to create a Fall Plan. There is a small time frame. This plan is due June 23, 2021. L. Witte explained a survey was conducted and input was received from various groups. The key points from the survey were to follow DHHS or make masks optional. This draft is a first read. The Board will have the second draft at the June 15, 2021 Board Meeting but will be given prior to the meeting. It was rushed but we were given a late notice. A survey would have been a helpful tool to move forward. iii. ESSER III Program Assurance: L. Witte provided the Board with a copy of the ESSER assurance which they reviewed. This document is a list of things we agree to do and not to do while accepting the funds. b. Budget Committee Update:
i. Summer Meeting Schedule: S.Peters explained the Budget Committee will be meeting through the summer. ii. Budget Tracking Report: The committee received a line by line budget from J. Morin as requested. iii. Bond Strategy: The committee gave a great deal of input for the strategy of the elementary bond. We will send that information to the CRC. The hottest item was a suggestion of a set of talking points. Everyone will have the same information to give to the voters. It was suggested no more than 5 talking points. c. Full Board Summer Meeting Schedule: S. Peters explained the Board usually meets only once in July and August. The calendar for the Board has 2 meetings scheduled for July and August. July 6 and August 6 will be tentative.
5. MATTERS THAT REQUIRE BOARD ACTION: a. May 18, 2021 Minutes: MOTION: W. Wright MOVED to approve the May 18,
2021 School Board Meeting Minutes and Non-Public Meeting Minutes as presented. SECOND: B. Tatro VOTE: 10.915/0/2.0850. Motion passes.
b. Budget Transfers: J. Morin explained there is a change order for the Tech/Ed Expansion. She explained the increase is due to a fire retardant spray for the ceiling tiles. The Fire Marshal would not allow exposed ceilings. The additional amount is $77,125.90. J. Morin suggested the use of the unallocated fund balance. L. Witte explained we have an actual estimate. S. Peters would be looking for a motion. MOTION: W. Wright MOVED to approve the spending of the FY21 unallocated funds to pay for a change order in the amount of $77,126.00 to pay for the fire proofing of the ceiling in the Tech/Ed addition. SECOND: L. Steadman. DISCUSSION: L. Witte explained the administration does not have a final number regarding the unallocated fund balance until the final audit is complete. We still have expenses but there will be a sufficient amount of money to cover this. D. LeClair commented the amount is now $200,000.00 more than the article. L. Witte explained yes they were estimates of pre COVID. VOTE: 11.879/1.122/0/0. Motion passes. c. Manifest: MOTION: C. Toomey MOVED to approve the manifest in the amount of $1,192,976.64. SECOND: B. Tatro. VOTE: 13/0/0/0. Motion passes.
d. Authorize Weekly AP Check & Manifest Signatures: MOTION: B. Bohannon MOVED to authorize the Business Administrator to issue weekly Accounts Payable checks as needed until the Board meets in August without waiting for a Board Meeting approval. SECOND: N. Mosher. VOTE: 13/0/0/0. Motion passes. MOTION: K. Noonan MOVED to authorize B. Tatro, C. McDaniel-Thomas, C. Toomey, M. Connor and E. Stanley to sign the manifest weekly. (2 signatures are required weekly). SECOND: W. Wright. VOTE: 13/0/0/0. Motion passes.
e. Authorize Superintendent to Hire Certified Staff Through Sept.7, 2021: MOTION: B. Tatro MOVED to authorize the Superintendent to hire certified staff until Sept. 7, 2021 without waiting for a Board Meeting to nominate. SECOND: W. Wright. VOTE: 11.879/0/0/1.122. Motion passes. (E. Stanley missing from vote)
f. 2021/22 School Calendar (June 2022 Graduation Adjustment): S. Peters explained graduation 2022 is scheduled for June 4, 2021 at 10:00 AM. L. Witte explained she and T. Cote have been in communication with other Athletic Directors and the athletic event start times are not at 10:00 but she is not sure of the schedules. She has been successful with the other ADs and the NHIAA. The Meet of Champions is a different beast. It is hard to change the schedule. T. Cote had made every effort to change it. There is no change to the schedule for the Meet of Champions. It is very problematic. It is at a college and not feasible. The day and time of graduation can change. L. Witte noted that NHIAA does have Sunday events. L. Spencer would
suggest graduation on Friday night. C. Toomey asked if there were any other students besides the athletes that had asked for the change. L. Witte said there was no survey of the junior class. MOTION: C. Toomey MOVED to move graduation to Friday evening June 3, 2022. SECOND: M. Connor. DISCUSSION: K. Noonan would like to hear from the community. N. Mosher would like feedback. K. Wheeler agrees with both K. Noonan and N. Mosher. MOTION: K. Wheeler MOVED to table the motion until we can conduct a survey to confirm the change. SECOND: K. Noonan. VOTE: 11.925/1.075/0/0. Motion passes. E. Stanley understands there may be issues with people traveling but what about what the seniors and the kids have to say. S. Peters will ask the administration to conduct a survey which probably will not be ready for the next meeting. We will put this on a future agenda when the administration feels it is appropriate. g. 2021/22 Opportunities for COVID Alumni: L. Witte spoke to L. Spencer about this issue and there were a number of concerns which would make the administration not recommend a formal invitation. We would not want the alumni to displace current students and there is a concern with the students being older that is why NHIAA has rules. S. Peters summarized by saying the alumni would have to be volunteers, go through a background check and the principals would have to agree. L. Witte explained the background check is very easy. We have our own system in house. N. Mosher leaves meeting. h. 2021/22 Superintendent Goals: S. Peters explained he has met with L. Witte to discuss her goals for the 2021/2022 school year. Goal #1 Board Educational Goal is an academic growth goal. L. Witte explained the growth goal of 5% is comparing it to us. She can present the growth with the cohort and non-cohort. The State testing is the most public testing. We use the data to see what we do. Looking not at the outcomes. This is a data point to ensure we take it seriously. How we take the test in regards to the students. B. Bohannon would like to see how this works out. Would like to see the results next year and would like to see a focus. Goal #2 Formalize District Responsiveness. L. Witte explained we have a process in place. We have policies. There are a lot of opportunities and it is difficult to know who to contact and address your concerns such as a help desk or maintenance. A tool for parents to guide them through the process. Create a pilot run. This will be summer work and review the data. L. Witte explained if there are concerns and they are solved at the school level there is no reason for the Superintendent to get involved. S. Peters asked what if the concern does not get addressed. L. Witte explained the process will be if a parent calls the school the administrative assistant will ask them to log into the process. Goal #3 Leadership and Development. L. Witte attends the National Certification Program and National Conference (AASA). Her capstone project is on the building project of the elementary schools. She has and will be tracking the entire project. She is on track to graduate in February of 2022. She thanked the Board for the opportunity to attend. MOTION: W. Wright MOVED to adopt the 2021/2022 Superintendent Goals as presented. SECOND: K. Noonan VOTE: 12.787/0/0/.213. Motion passes.
i. Policies for First Read: i. BDA-R-update: ii. IFE-retire: iii. IFC-retire: iv. IGAH, IHAM-recode IGAF to IHAM v. IFD, IGD-recode IFD to IGD
vi. IGAF, IHAE-recode IGAF to IHAE: MOTION: K. Noonan MOVED on behalf of the Policy Committee to adopt the policy changes as presented. SECOND: C Toomey. VOTE: 12.787/0/0/.213. Motion passes. 6. Facebook Post: S. Peters presented D. LeClair’s Facebook Post to the Board. It was in regards to books in the school that children were able to read. S.Peters reminded the Board that there is a Board Member Behavior Policy. The Facebook Post is disturbing. He reviewed the policy on screen with the Board. L. Witte explained she was made aware of this book being read by a parent on May 4, 2021. She agreed with the parent’s concerns. The books are no longer in the school or ever have been in the other schools. This book was never approved and was used as a read aloud. The concerns were resolved by the principal. S. Peters asked D. LeCLair at what point did he contact the principal or the Superintendent. D. LeClair said he addressed a concern at the last Board Meeting but did not contact the principal or Superintendent. The Board Members need to contact the administration before bringing it to the Board Meeting. MOTION: S. Peters MOVED to censure Board Member D. LeClair for his approach to raising criticism of how the administration handled a sensitive matter. SECOND: M. Connor. DISCUSSION: M. Connor thanked S. Peters for this motion. B. Tatro asked if we had a new Board orientation this year. S. Peters said no but each Board Member signed the Ethics Policy. D. LeClair said he never said he was acting as a School Board Member in the post. He was acting as a parent and a community member. He said he can express his feelings as he sees fit. S. Peters said not in a leadership position. We are held at a higher level. It was irresponsible. D. LeClair said it was being taught in the schools. K. Noonan said the post is misleading and irresponsible. VOTE: 10.544/1.122/1.122/.213. Motion passes. L. Steadman asked what if a member did not sign the policy. S. Peters commented whether or not we sign it we are obligated to follow policy. 7. Superintendent’s Response to Public Comments: L. Witte explained at the last meeting D. LeClair had 5 concerns at the MRMHS as well as comments in the Keene Sentinel. The concerns were an assignment given by a teacher, research topics that fit the teacher’s ideology, complaints about the CNN 10 Program and students not giving their opinion because of peer harassment. She explained she has not heard any of this. S. Peters commented that the Board conducts their business on facts, truth, ethics and policy. 8. SETTING MEETING’S AGENDA: a. Committee Meetings-Live
9. Public Comments: S. Thompson commented that she is disgusted with the Board and L. Witte. You are a member of the public and work for us. It is factional information that the books were being read and you are sweeping this under the rug. L. Witte should have said she was not aware of those specific instances but other complaints. It is absolutely disgusting and you do not have our children’s best interest at heart. If circumstances continue she will pull her children out of public school. M. Diven said that L. Witte is the absolute best superintendent we have had in a long time. She will take care of whatever is put on her desk. The Board and the Superintendent have taken care of this issue. She also explained her daughter had missed the trip to Ferry Beach in 6th grade and now is an 8th graders and asked if the administration had thought about something else to help replace the trip that did not happen due to COVID. 10. 9:08 PM Non-Public Session Under RSA 91-A:3-II (b) The hiring of any person as a public employee: MOTION: K. Noonan MOVED to enter into Non-Public Session under RSA 91-A:3-II (b): The hiring of any person as a public employee. SECOND: C. Toomey VOTE: 12.787/0/0/.213. Motion passes. 11. 9:18 PM Non-Public Session Under RSA 91-A:3-II (a) Compensation of any public employee: MOTION: C. Toomey MOVED to enter into Non-Public Session under RSA 91-A:3-II (a) SECOND: K. Noonan. VOTE: 12.787/0/0/.213. Motion passes. 12. Return to Public Session and Sealing of Minutes: MOTION: K. Wheeler MOVED to seal the 9:18 PM June 1, 2021 Non-Public Meeting Minutes until June 17, 2021. SECOND: K. Noonan VOTE: 10.54/0/0/2.45 13. ADJOURNMENT: MOTION: C. Toomey MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 11:09 PM. SECOND: W. Wright VOTE: 10.54/0/0/2.45. Motion passes.
Respectfully submitted, Laura L. Aivaliotis Recording Secretary VOTING KEY:Yes/No/Abstain/Absent
Monadnock Regional School District Non-Public Minutes School Board Meeting Minutes June 1, 2021 (Not Yet Approved) Zoom Virtual Meeting, Swanzey, NH Members Present: Michelle Connor, Scott Peters, Colleen Toomey, Kristen Noonan, Karen Wheeler, Eric Stanley, Nick Mosher, Brian Bohannon, Betty Tatro, Cheryl McDaniel-Thomas and Dan LeClair. Absent: Winston Wright and Lisa Steadman. Administration Present: L. Witte, Superintendent, J. Rathbun, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment and Janel Morin, Business Administrator. Also Present: L. Aivaliotis, MRSD Recording Secretary 6:30 PM Non-Public Session under RSA 91-A:3 II ( c ) Matters which, if discussed in public, would likely affect adversely the reputation of any person, other than a member of the public body itself, unless such person requests an opening meeting.
Issue #1: MOTION: M. Connor MOVED to accept the resignation of Melinda Kosterman and Rob Skrocki as of June 2021 as presented by the Superintendent. SECOND: B. Bohannon VOTE: 10.764/0/0/2.235. Motion passes.
Issue #2: L. Witte explained she had contacted the attorney regarding an employee and unpaid leave. L. Witte felt that she should bring this issue regarding the employee on unpaid leave to the Board. This employee was advised by her doctor that she would be able to return to work after her second vaccine in which she delayed but was attending athletic events with no mask. She said there were multiple attempts to contact her after her approved unpaid leave was over with no response. B. Tatro arrives. S. Peters summarized by saying the Board has to decide to endorse the letter with an immediate termination or agree with no contract renewal. The Board agreed to no motion. They will agree she is out on unpaid leave and there is no contract. MOTION: K. Noonan MOVED to leave non-public session. SECOND: B. Bohannon VOTE: 9.63/0/1.122/2.243. Motion passes. Respectfully submitted, Laura L. Aivaliotis MRSD Recording Secretary
Monadnock Regional School District Non-Public Minutes School Board Meeting Minutes June 1, 2021 (Not Yet Approved) Zoom Virtual Meeting, Swanzey, NH Members Present: Michelle Connor, Lisa Steadman, Scott Peters, Colleen Toomey, Kristen Noonan, Karen Wheeler, Eric Stanley, Brian Bohannon, Winston Wright, Betty Tatro, Cheryl McDaniel-Thomas and Dan LeClair. Absent: N. Mosher Administration Present: L. Witte, Superintendent, J. Rathbun, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment and Janel Morin, Business Administrator. Also Present: L. Aivaliotis, MRSD Recording Secretary 9:08 PM Non-Public Session under RSA 91-A:3 II (b) The hiring of any person as a public employee: Issue #1: MOTION: L. Steadman MOVED to accept the nomination of Jessica Lessard for the MTC Preschool position, Dan Rearick for the MRMHS Math position and Rebecca Russell for the MRMHS Assistant Principal position as presented by the Superintendent. SECOND: C. McDaniel-Thomas VOTE: 12.787/0/0/.213. Motion passes. MOTION: K. Noonan MOVED to leave non-public session. SECOND: C. Toomey VOTE: 12.787/0/0/.213. Motion passes. Respectfully submitted, Laura L. Aivaliotis MRSD Recording Secretary
Last revised: 6/10/2021
Monadnock Regional School District Five Year Curriculum Review Cycle
Updated 7/2/2020 due to COVID-19 Disruption
2018/2019 2019/2020 2020/2021 2021/2022 2022/2023
Math M M M
Science I M M M M
Social Studies I M M M M
ELA R/W I I M M
Health W I I M M
Guidance R W W W/I M
Music R W W I M
Phys Ed R W W I M
Arts R R W I
FACS R R W I
Tech Ed R R W I
World Language R R W I
Key:
R - Review and Research - A committee representing all levels of education in MRSD is formed to assess existing curriculum, research outstanding practices and national/state trends in the content area. The committee will recommend curriculum needs to the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment.
W - Writing/Material Research - The committee then writes the components of the curriculum. This includes research systems/programs/texts/materials that may be needed to implement the new curriculum changes.
I - Implementation - Full implementation at all grade levels will be expected in September of the indicated school year.
M - Monitor - The curriculum will continue to be monitored for its effectiveness. "Mid-course" adjustments will be recommended by staff and discussed by administration prior to any changes.
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GeneralDescription (optional)
What is your role?
Building Project Ed Spec - Group I (BOARD/SAU)
Questions Responses
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Given the current enrollment projections, are those figures regarded as accurate or is there a feeling that the numbers could increase or decrease dramatically?
Is there a desired maximum number of students per classroom?
What do we see as the optimal configurations for our schools? Will multiage classrooms continue to be utilized even if not completely necessary due to enrollment?
Are there any future (beyond 20 years) considerations that should be looked at when planning?
Is there a desired number of teachers, paraprofessionals and volunteers per classroom?
Is there a maximum project cost that the district expects to meet and not exceed
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What if any programs could be added or expanded if given the opportunity of additional space?
List the District's overriding pedagogical philosophy (e.g.: Universal Design for Learning, Professional Learning Communities, Active Learning)?
What do we believe about Universal Design for Learning and it's use in our schools?
What do Professional Learning Communities look like in our schools?
What does STEAM look like in our schools?
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How should the environment (both outside and in) contribute to the overall health and wellbeing of each child?
What is the relationship between the District and the Towns? Are there special agreements that help or hinder the design?
What is the district’s future goal on community use of the school buildings? Will use be encouraged or limited?
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What new or future community activities would the district consider if the facilities were designed to accommodate them?
What are the general design aesthetic preferences of the district?
Is there an expectation that all schools will have relatively equal facilities when the project is
What types of building materials desired on the exterior and interior?
What are the building maintenance goals?
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To what level should High Performance and/or Sustainability measures be followed?
To what level should the ventilation system be designed to remove pathogens?
Are there any special indoor environmental quality issues to consider? Is Air Conditioning required throughout all facilities or only in select areas of each school?
For Safety and Security, what security guidelines should be followed?
What level of technology and communication system is it necessary to achieve to support future methods for delivering education?
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What activities area expected for the site (i.e.; playground, team sports)?
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Policy Motions and Actions from June 2, 2021
EEAEA and EEAEA-R – Mandatory Drug and Alcohol Testing MOTION: To update policy EEAEA with NHSBA sample and refer to administration for a possible van driver’s policy. To also adopt appendix EEAEA-R.
● Outdated policy ● Required by law
IJOC and IJOC-R- Volunteers MOTION: To update policy IJOC with NHSBA sample, adopt NHSBA sample appendix IJOC-R and retire policy IICC.
● Outdated Policy, required by law ● Appendix is a confidentiality agreement for volunteers ● MRSD policy IICC last updated in 1993 and is replaced by IJOC otherwise
duplicative
IKFA- Early Graduation
MOTION: To update policy IKFA with committee edits.
● Outdated policy ● Required by law
Other policy work not requiring board action;
IHBI- Alternative Learning Plans and ILBAA- Competencies and Competency-Based Assessment
MOTION: Refer policies IHBI and ILBAA to Administration.
● Jeremy is currently looking into relevant topics, these are a part of a suite of policies
IHCA- Summer School Education Activities and Classes
MOTION: Update legal references for IHCA only.
● The committee recommends existing MRSD policy ● Only legal references are changed so there is no need to consult the board as
this is clerical and not substantive
IMAH- Daily Physical Activity
MOTION: Update legal references for IMAH only.
● Only legal references are changed so there is no need to consult the board as this is clerical and not substantive
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Book E: Support Services
Section Series E
Title Mandatory Drug & Alcohol Testing
Code EEAEA
Status Active
Adopted November 1, 1999
MANDATORY DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING In compliance with the United States Department of Transportation (49 CFR Part 40), employees of Districtperforming a safety sensitive job or holding a CDL license will be required to submit to drug and alcohol testsin accordance with the Rules and Regulations promulgated by that department. The testing will be done by the Southern New Hampshire Regional Medical Center, Concord Office on PleasantStreet; or by another equally qualified company selected by the District. The Center will review all mandatorydrug testing including pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion and return-to-duty. Alaboratory certified by the Department of Health and Human Services will perform testing in compliance withthe Department of Transportation regulations on the urine samples and delivered to them.at their Random alcohol testing will be conducted at an annual rate of 25% of safety-sensitive positions and will bepreformed on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) approved evidential breath testingdevice. Random drug testing of employees will be done at an annual rate of 50% of the safety- sensitivepositions. Employee numbers will be drawn from a general pool to which the District belongs with a number ofother statewide employers. Arrangements will be made with Southern New Hampshire Medical Center so thatthese employees will go directly for a urine test when their number is drawn. The test site facility will beinformed of the names to be expected. The employee will be required to submit to a reasonable suspicion drug and/or alcohol test if their supervisorsuspects drug and/or alcohol use. Behaviors Believed to be a result of drug and/or alcohol use must be observeddirectly by the supervisor. A medical review officer (MRO) will review any employee test that is positive fromthe Center to determine if the test is confirmed positive. The MRO will refer all employees who have aconfirmed positive test for drugs to a substance abuse professional (SAP). The breath alcohol technician (BAT)
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will refer any employee to a SAP whose breath test is 0.04 or above. Department of Transportation (DOT)regulations outline procedures dealing with employees who test 0.02 to .039. The employee must fulfill theSAP requirements and follow up testing in order to continue in their safety sensitive position. The employee isresponsible for these charges associated with SAP, drug/alcohol treatment, and follow-up testing. Anyemployee who tests positive, meaning a concentration level of 0.02 or greater, will be subject to a secondconfirmation test. If the second test is also positive, the employee will be terminated from employment with theDistrict. The use, possession, sale or transfer of illegal drugs, on or off the job, will be cause for termination. Refusal toparticipate in a drug screen or alcohol testing, whether selected randomly or for cause, will result in immediatetermination. All files on drug and alcohol testing are maintained by the Center. This information is strictly confidential. TheDistrict will be advised immediately if an employee fails the drug or tests above 0.02 on breath alcoholmeasurement and by mail for all negative tests. I have received and understand the drug and alcohol testing policy of the District. Employee Signature: Date:_____________________ Supervisor Signature: Date:_____________________ CC: Personnel file Policy References:Category - Priority
Statutory & Regulatory References:49 Code of Federal Regulations 391.41 – 391.49RSA 200:37 Policy Cross References: » EEAEA-R - Mandatory Drug/Alcohol Testing
EEAEA – MANDATORY DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING – SCHOOL BUS
DRIVERS Category P
1. Statement of Policy
The School Board believes that the safety of students while being transported to and from school or school activities is of utmost importance and is the primary responsibility of the driver of the vehicle. To fulfill such a responsibility, each driver, as well as others who perform safety-sensitive functions with commercial vehicles that transport students, must be mentally and physically alert at all times while on duty. To that end, the Board has established this policy related to the fitness for duty of transportation personnel.
2. Medical Examination of School Bus Operators
In accordance with RSA 200:37, before employing any person as a school bus operator, directly or through a vendor, the School District shall require that such persons submit a certificate signed by a licensed physician setting forth the physician’s findings as a result of the examination to determine the physical condition of drivers in accordance with the requirements of 49 C.F.R. Part 391.41-391.49. Such certificate shall be submitted to the School District prior to the commencement of such employment and the District shall retain a copy of such certification. Every 2 years thereafter, either prior to the commencement of the school year or prior to the reemployment of such persons as a school bus operator, the School District shall require submission of a like certificate, except that school bus operators attaining the age of 70 shall be required to undergo an annual examination and to submit a certificate annually.
3. School Bus Driver’s Certificate
No person shall be employed as a school bus operator, directly or through a vendor, unless the person has received a School Bus Driver’s Certificate from the NH Department of Motor Vehicles as required by RSA 263:29.
4. Criminal Background Investigation
Before employing any person as a school bus operator, directly or through a vendor, the School District shall require a criminal background investigation as set forth in RSA 189:13-a and School District policy. If the school bus operators are employed directly by the District, then the employee will pay for the investigation. If the District contracts with a vendor to provide student transportation services, either the vendor or the bus operator will pay for the investigation at the discretion of the vendor.
5. Mandatory Drug and Alcohol Testing
In compliance with the United States Department of Transportation’s Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 391, all CDL holders and personnel performing safety-sensitive functions related to the transportation of the students of this School District will be required to submit to drug and alcohol testing. Testing procedures and facilities used for the tests shall conform to the requirements of the 49 C.F.R. Part 40. The term “CDL
holder” means someone who is required as part of their job duties to hold a Commercial Driver’s License. The term “safety-sensitive function” refers to all tasks associated with the operation and maintenance of commercial vehicles. A “commercial vehicle” is any vehicle capable of carrying 16 or more passengers including the driver.
If the School District employs the transportation personnel directly, the District will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the Mandatory Drug and Alcohol Testing requirements. If the School District contracts with a vendor to provide student transportations services, the vendor shall be the employer and provide assurance to the District on an annual basis that they are in compliance with the Mandatory Drug and Alcohol Testing requirements.
The Drug and Alcohol Testing will include pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion and post-accident testing as defined by Department of Labor Regulations. The School District supports a zero tolerance policy related to substance abuse. Therefore any personnel who have a confirmed positive test for drugs or a confirmed alcohol concentration of 0.02 or greater will be terminated from employment.
Legal References: RSA 200:37, Medical Examination of School Bus Operators RSA 263:29, School Bus Driver’s Certificate RSA 189:13-a, School Employee & Volunteer Background Investigations 49 C.F.R. § 40.1-40.13 (2001), Transportation Workplace Drug Testing Program 49 C.F.R. Part 391 (1995), Qualifications of Drivers Appendix EEAEA-R Revised: September 2008 New Policy: November 1999, May 2006
DISCLAIMER:This sample policy manual is copyrighted to the New Hampshire School Boards Association and is intended for the sole and exclusive use of NHSBA Policy Service Subscribers. No portion of this manual may be reproduced, copied, transmitted, distributed, in any form, except as needed for the development of policy by a subscribing district. The materials contained in the manual are provided for general information only and as a resource to assist subscribing districts with policy development. School districts and boards of education should consult with legal counsel and revise all sample policies and regulations to address local facts and circumstances prior to adoption. NHSBA continually makes revisions based on school districts' needs and local, state and federal laws, regulations and court decisions, and other relevant education activity.
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Book E: Support Services
Section Series E
Title Mandatory Drug/Alcohol Testing
Code EEAEA-R
Status Active
Adopted November 1, 1999
DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING FOR SCHOOL BUS AND COMMERCIAL VEHICLE DRIVERS
School bus and commercial vehicle drivers shall be subject to a drug and alcohol testing program that fulfillsthe requirements of the Code of Federal regulations, Title 49, Part 382. Other persons who drive vehicles designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, arelikewise subject to the drug and alcohol testing program. Testing procedures and facilities used for the tests shall conform with the requirements of the Code of FederalRegulations, Title 49, §§ 40, et seq.
Pre-Employment Tests
Tests shall be conducted before the first time a driver performs any safety-sensitive function for the District. Safety-sensitive functions include all on-duty functions performed from the time a driver begins work or isrequired to be ready to work until he/she is relieved from work and all responsibility for performing work. Itincludes driving; waiting to be dispatched; inspecting and servicing equipment; supervising, performing, orassisting in loading and unloading; repairing or obtaining and waiting for help with a disabled vehicle;performing driver requirements related to accidents, and performing any other work for the District or paidwork for any entity. The tests shall be required of an applicant only after he/she has been offered the position. Exceptions may be made for drivers who have had the alcohol test required by law within the previous 6months and participated in the drug testing program required by law within the previous 30 days, provided
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that the District has been able to make all verifications required by law. Alcohol and controlled substance tests shall be conducted as soon after an accident as practicable on anydriver:
who was performing safety-sensitive functions with respect to the vehicle, if the accident involved lossof human life; orwho receives a citation under state or local law, for a moving traffic violation arising from the accident
Drivers shall make themselves readily available for testing, absent the need for immediate medical attention. No such driver shall use alcohol for 8 hours after the accident, or until after he/she undergoes a post-accidentalcohol test, whichever occurs first. If an alcohol test is not administered within 2 hours or if a drug test is not administered within 32 hours, theDistrict shall prepare and maintain records explaining why the test was not conducted. Tests will not be givenif not administered within 8 hours after the accident for alcohol or within 32 hours for drugs. Tests conducted by authorized federal, state, or local officials will fulfill post-accident testing requirementsprovided they conform to applicable legal requirements and are obtained by the District. Breath tests willvalidate only the alcohol test and cannot be used to fulfill controlled substance testing obligations.
Random Tests:
Tests shall be conducted on a random basis at unannounced times throughout the year. Tests for alcohol shallbe conducted just before, during, or just after the performance of safety-sensitive functions. The number ofrandom alcohol tests annually must equal 25% of the average number of driver positions. The number ofrandom drug tests annually must equal 50% of the average number of driver positions. Drivers shall beselected by a scientifically valid random process, and each driver shall have an equal chance of being testedeach time selections are made.
Reasonable Suspicion Tests
Tests shall be conducted when a supervisor or District official trained in accordance with law has reasonablesuspicion that the driver has violated the Districts alcohol or drug prohibitions. This reasonable suspicionmust be based on specific, contemporaneous, articulable observations concerning the driver's appearance,behavior, speech, or body odors. The observations may include indications of the chronic and withdrawaleffects of controlled substances. Alcohol tests are authorized for reasonable suspicion only if the requiredobservations are made during, just before, or just after the period of the work day when the driver mustcomply with alcohol prohibitions. An alcohol test may not be conducted by the person who determines thatreasonable suspicion exists to conduct such a test. If an alcohol test is not administered within 2 hours of adetermination of reasonable suspicion, the District shall prepare and maintain a record explaining why thiswas not done. Attempts to conduct alcohol tests shall terminate after 8 hours. A supervisor or District official who makes observations leading to a controlled substance reasonablesuspicion test shall make a written record of his/her observations within 24 hours of the observed behavior or
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before the results of the drug test are released, whichever is earlier.
Enforcement
Any driver who refuses to submit to a post-accident, random, reasonable suspicion or follow-up test shall notperform or continue to perform safety-sensitive functions. Drivers who test positive for alcohol or drugs shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and includingdismissal. A driver who violates District prohibitions related to drugs and alcohol shall receive from the District thenames, addresses, and telephone numbers of substance abuse professionals and counseling and treatmentprograms available to evaluate and resolve drug and alcohol-related problems. The employee shall beevaluated by a substance abuse professional who shall determine what help if any, the driver needs inresolving such a problem. Any substance abuse professional who determines that a driver needs assistanceshall not refer the driver to a private practice, person, or organization in which he/she has a financial interest,except under circumstances allowed by law. An employee identified as needing help in resolving a drug or alcohol problem shall be evaluated by asubstance abuse professional to determine that he/she has properly followed the prescribed rehabilitationprogram and shall be subject to unannounced follow-up tests after returning to duty.
Return-to-Duty Tests
A drug or alcohol test shall be conducted when a driver who has violated the Districts drug or alcoholprohibition returns to performing safety-sensitive duties. Employees whose conduct involved drugs cannot return to duty in a safety-sensitive function until the return-to-duty drug test produces a verified negative result. Employees whose conduct involved alcohol cannotreturn to duty in a safety-sensitive function until the return-to-duty alcohol test produces a verified result thatmeets federal and District standards.
Follow-Up Tests
A driver who violates the Districts drug or alcohol prohibition and is subsequently identified by a substanceabuse professional as needing assistance in resolving a drug or alcohol problem shall be subject tounannounced follow-up testing as directed by the substance abuse professional in accordance with law.Follow-up alcohol testing shall be conducted just before, during, or just after the time when the driver isperforming safety-sensitive functions.
Records
Employee drug and alcohol test results and records shall be maintained under strict confidentiality andreleased only in accordance with law. Upon written request, a driver shall receive copies of any recordspertaining to his/her use of drugs or alcohol, including any records pertaining to his/her drug or alcohol tests.
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Records shall be made available to a subsequent employer or other identified persons only as expresslyrequested in writing by the driver.
Notifications
Each driver shall receive educational materials that explain the requirements of the Code of FederalRegulations, Title 49, Part 382, together with a copy of the District’s policy and regulations for meeting theserequirements. Representatives of employee organizations shall be notified of the availability of thisinformation. The information shall identify:
1. the person designated by the District to answer driver questions about the materials;2. the categories of drivers who are subject to the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Part 382;3. sufficient information about the safety-sensitive functions performed by drivers to make clear whatperiod of the work day the driver is required to comply with Part 382;4. specific information concerning driver conduct that is prohibited by Part 382;5. the circumstances under which a driver will be tested for drugs and/or alcohol under Part 382;6. the procedures that will be used to test for the presence of drugs and alcohol, protect the driver and theintegrity of the testing processes, safeguard the validity of test results, and ensure that test results areattributed to the correct driver;7. the requirement that a driver submit to drug and alcohol tests administered in accordance with Part382;8. an explanation of what constitutes a refusal to submit to a drug or alcohol test and the attendantconsequences;9. the consequences for drivers found to have violated the drug and alcohol prohibitions of Part 382,including the requirement that the driver be removed immediately from safety-sensitive functions and theprocedures for referral, evaluation, and treatment;10. the consequences for drivers found to have an alcohol concentration of 0.02 or greater but less than0.04; and11. information concerning the effects of drugs and alcohol on an individual's health, work, and personallife; signs and symptoms of a drug or alcohol problem (the drivers or a coworkers); and availablemethods of intervening when a drug or alcohol problem is suspected, including confrontation, referral toan employee assistance program, and/or referral to management.
Drivers shall also receive information about legal requirements, District policies, and disciplinaryconsequences related to the use of alcohol and drugs. Each driver shall sign a statement certifying that he/she has received a copy of the above materials. Before any driver operates a commercial motor vehicle, the District shall provide him/her with post-accidentprocedures that will make it possible to comply with post-accident testing requirements. Before drug and alcohol tests are performed, the District shall inform drivers that the tests are given pursuantto the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Part 382. This notice shall be provided only after the compliancedate specified in the law.
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The District shall notify a driver of the results of a pre-employment drug test if the driver requests such resultswithin 60 calendar days of being notified of the disposition of his/her employment application. The District shall notify a driver of the results of random, reasonable suspicion, and post-accident drug tests ifthe test results are verified positive. The District shall also tell the driver which controlled substance(s) wereverified as positive. Drivers shall inform their supervisors if at any time they are using a controlled substance which theirphysician has prescribed for therapeutic purposes. Such a substance may be used only if the physician hasadvised the driver that it will not adversely affect his/her ability to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle.
Policy Cross References: » EEAEA - Mandatory Drug & Alcohol Testing
EEAEA-R
DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING FOR SCHOOL BUS AND COMMERCIAL VEHICLE DRIVERS
School bus and commercial vehicle drivers shall be subject to a drug and alcohol testing program that fulfills the requirements of the Code of Federal regulations, Title 49, Part 382.
Other persons who drive vehicles designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, are likewise subject to the drug and alcohol testing program.
Testing procedures and facilities used for the tests shall conform with the requirements of the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, §§ 40, et seq.
Pre-Employment Tests
Tests shall be conducted before the first time a driver performs any safety-sensitive function for the District.
Safety-sensitive functions include all on-duty functions performed from the time a driver begins work or is required to be ready to work, until he/she is relieved from work and all responsibility for performing work. It includes driving; waiting to be dispatched; inspecting and servicing equipment; supervising, performing, or assisting in loading and unloading; repairing or obtaining and waiting for help with a disabled vehicle; performing driver requirements related to accidents; and performing any other work for the District or paid work for any entity.
The tests shall be required of an applicant only after he/she has been offered the position.
Exceptions may be made for drivers who have had the alcohol test required by law within the previous 6 months and participated in the drug testing program required by law within the previous 30 days, provided that the District has been able to make all verifications required by law.
Post-Accident Tests
Alcohol and controlled substance tests shall be conducted as soon after an accident as practicable on any driver:
who was performing safety-sensitive functions with respect to the vehicle, if the accident involved loss of human life; or
who receives a citation under state or local law, for a moving traffic violation arising from the accident.
Drivers shall make themselves readily available for testing, absent the need for immediate medical attention.
No such driver shall use alcohol for 8 hours after the accident, or until after he/she undergoes a post-accident alcohol test, whichever occurs first.
If an alcohol test is not administered within 2 hours or if a drug test is not administered within 32 hours, the District shall prepare and maintain records explaining why the test was not conducted. Tests will not be given if not administered within 8 hours after the accident for alcohol or within 32 hours for drugs.
Tests conducted by authorized federal, state, or local officials will fulfill post-accident testing requirements provided they conform to applicable legal requirements and are obtained by the District. Breath tests will validate only the alcohol test and cannot be used to fulfill controlled substance testing obligations.
Random Tests Tests shall be conducted on a random basis at unannounced times throughout the year. Tests for alcohol shall be conducted just before, during, or just after the performance of safety-sensitive functions. The number of random alcohol tests annually must equal 25% of the average number of driver positions. The number of random drug tests annually must equal 50% of the average number of driver positions. Drivers shall be selected by a scientifically valid random process, and each driver shall have an equal chance of being tested each time selections are made.
Reasonable Suspicion Tests
Tests shall be conducted when a supervisor or District official trained in accordance with law has reasonable suspicion that the driver has violated the Districts alcohol or drug prohibitions. This reasonable suspicion must be based on specific, contemporaneous, articulable observations concerning the drivers appearance, behavior, speech, or body odors. The observations may include indications of the chronic and withdrawal effects of controlled substances.
Alcohol tests are authorized for reasonable suspicion only if the required observations are made during, just before, or just after the period of the work day when the driver must comply with alcohol prohibitions. An alcohol test may not be conducted by the person who determines that reasonable suspicion exists to conduct such a test. If an alcohol test is not administered within 2 hours of a determination of reasonable suspicion, the District shall prepare and maintain a record explaining why this was not done. Attempts to conduct alcohol tests shall terminate after 8 hours.
A supervisor or District official who makes observations leading to a controlled substance reasonable suspicion test shall make a written record of his/her observations within 24 hours of the observed behavior or before the results of the drug test are released, whichever is earlier.
Enforcement
Any driver who refuses to submit to a post-accident, random, reasonable suspicion, or follow-up test shall not perform or continue to perform safety-sensitive functions.
Drivers who test positive for alcohol or drugs shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.
A driver who violates District prohibitions related to drugs and alcohol shall receive from the District the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of substance abuse professionals and counseling and treatment programs available to evaluate and resolve drug and alcohol-related problems. The employee shall be evaluated by a substance abuse professional who shall determine what help, if any, the driver needs in resolving such a problem. Any substance abuse professional who determines that a driver needs assistance shall not refer the driver to a private practice, person, or organization in which he/she has a financial interest, except under circumstances allowed by law.
An employee identified as needing help in resolving a drug or alcohol problem shall be evaluated by a substance abuse professional to determine that he/she has properly followed the prescribed
rehabilitation program and shall be subject to unannounced follow-up tests after returning to duty.
Return-to-Duty Tests
A drug or alcohol test shall be conducted when a driver who has violated the Districts drug or alcohol prohibition returns to performing safety-sensitive duties.
Employees whose conduct involved drugs cannot return to duty in a safety-sensitive function until the return-to-duty drug test produces a verified negative result.
Employees whose conduct involved alcohol cannot return to duty in a safety-sensitive function until the return-to-duty alcohol test produces a verified result that meets federal and District standards.
Follow-Up Tests
A driver who violates the Districts drug or alcohol prohibition and is subsequently identified by a substance abuse professional as needing assistance in resolving a drug or alcohol problem shall be subject to unannounced follow-up testing as directed by the substance abuse professional in accordance with law. Follow-up alcohol testing shall be conducted just before, during, or just after the time when the driver is performing safety-sensitive functions.
Records
Employee drug and alcohol test results and records shall be maintained under strict confidentiality and released only in accordance with law. Upon written request, a driver shall receive copies of any records pertaining to his/her use of drugs or alcohol, including any records pertaining to his/her drug or alcohol tests. Records shall be made available to a subsequent employer or other identified persons only as expressly requested in writing by the driver.
Notifications
Each driver shall receive educational materials that explain the requirements of the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Part 382, together with a copy of the District’s policy and regulations for meeting these requirements. Representatives of employee organizations shall be notified of the availability of this information. The information shall identify:
1. the person designated by the District to answer driver questions about the materials;
2. the categories of drivers who are subject to the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Part 382;
3. sufficient information about the safety-sensitive functions performed by drivers to make clear what period of the work day the driver is required to comply with Part 382;
4. specific information concerning driver conduct that is prohibited by Part 382;
5. the circumstances under which a driver will be tested for drugs and/or alcohol under Part 382;
6. the procedures that will be used to test for the presence of drugs and alcohol, protect the driver and the integrity of the testing processes, safeguard the validity of test results, and ensure that test results are attributed to the correct driver;
7. the requirement that a driver submit to drug and alcohol tests administered in accordance with Part 382;
8. an explanation of what constitutes a refusal to submit to a drug or alcohol test and the attendant consequences;
9. the consequences for drivers found to have violated the drug and alcohol prohibitions of Part 382, including the requirement that the driver be removed immediately from safety-sensitive functions and the procedures for referral, evaluation, and treatment;
10. the consequences for drivers found to have an alcohol concentration of 0.02 or greater but less than 0.04; and
11. information concerning the effects of drugs and alcohol on an individuals health, work, and personal life; signs and symptoms of a drug or alcohol problem (the drivers or a coworkers); and available methods of intervening when a drug or alcohol problem is suspected, including confrontation, referral to an employee assistance program, and/or referral to management.
Drivers shall also receive information about legal requirements, District policies, and disciplinary consequences related to the use of alcohol and drugs.
Each driver shall sign a statement certifying that he/she has received a copy of the above materials.
Before any driver operates a commercial motor vehicle, the District shall provide him/her with post-accident procedures that will make it possible to comply with post-accident testing requirements.
Before drug and alcohol tests are performed, the District shall inform drivers that the tests are given pursuant to the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Part 382. This notice shall be provided only after the compliance date specified in law.
The District shall notify a driver of the results of a pre-employment drug test if the driver requests such results within 60 calendar days of being notified of the disposition of his/her employment application.
The District shall notify a driver of the results of random, reasonable suspicion, and post-accident drug tests if the test results are verified positive. The District shall also tell the driver which controlled substance(s) were verified as positive.
Drivers shall inform their supervisors if at any time they are using a controlled substance which their physician has prescribed for therapeutic purposes. Such a substance may be used only if the physician has advised the driver that it will not adversely affect his/her ability to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle.
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Book I: Instruction
Section Series I
Title Volunteers
Code IJOC
Status Active
Adopted November 1, 1999
Last Revised March 4, 2008
VOLUNTEERS
The District recognizes the valuable contribution made to the total school program through the volunteerassistance of parents and other citizens. In working with volunteers, the District staff shall clearly explain thevolunteer's responsibility. The Superintendent is responsible for developing and implementing procedures for the utilization of volunteers.The selection of volunteers will be consistent with those policies and procedures under the direction of theSuperintendent or his/her designee. The voluntary help of citizens should be requested by staff through administrative channels to assist inconducting selected activities and/or to serve as resource persons. Staff members shall receive training in theassignment of duties and supervision and evaluation of volunteers. Designated VolunteersDesignated volunteers will be required to undergo a background investigation and criminal records check. “Designated volunteer” means any volunteer who (1) comes in direct contact with pupils on a daily basis forany period of time, (2) meets regularly, e.g., once or twice a week, with students, (3) meets with students on aone-on-one basis, or (4) any other person/s whom the Superintendent believes, by virtue of their duties andcontact with students, should appropriately undergo a criminal records check. Designated volunteers are subject to the provisions of Policy GBCD – Background Investigation and CriminalRecords Check. Volunteer DutiesA. Complete an application form describing their skills, interests, and availability if needed for the task. At a
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minimum the name. address and telephone number of the volunteer should be kept on file at the site wherevolunteering. B. Serve in the capacity of assistants and not be assigned to roles which require specific professional training.Instructional services shall be rendered under the supervision of certified staff. C. Sign a confidentiality agreement, and refrain from discussing the performance or actions of a student exceptwith the student's teacher, counselor, principal, or the Superintendent or his/her designee. D. Refer any student problem that arises, whether of an instructional, medical or operational nature, to thestudent’s teacher, counselor, or principal. E. Receive orientation as appropriate including (1) general job responsibilities; (2) information about schoolfacilities, routines, and procedures, including safety and evaluation; (3) work schedule and place of work; and(4) expected relationship to regular staff. F. The school district employee with whom the volunteer is working should have assignments and activitiesclearly defined and in writing. G. Receive evaluation and acknowledgment for their services. H. Volunteers may be terminated when: 1. Program and/or duties are no longer needed;2. They are replaced by paid staff; or3. In the sole judgment of the administration, their conduct does not meet the standards of the District. CoachesVolunteer coaches of individual sports must be certified in that sport and be in compliance with the standards setby NHIAA. Dates of Revisions: 3/4/2008; 07/2004, 08/2007 Policy References:Legal Reference:RSA 189:13-a, School Employee Volunteer Background InvestigationsAppendix: IJOC-R Policy Cross References: » ABA - Volunteer Involvement
IJOC - VOLUNTEERS Category: Priority/Required by Law See also ABA, GBCD
The District recognizes the valuable contribution made by volunteer assistance of parents and other citizens. The Superintendent is responsible for developing and implementing procedures for the selection and utilization of volunteers. School district employees who desire the assistance of a volunteer should request a volunteer through proper administrative channels.
Designated Volunteers
Designated volunteers will be required to undergo a background investigation and a criminal records check. “Designated volunteer” means any volunteer who:
1. Comes in direct contact with pupils on a daily basis;
2. Meets regularly with students;
3. Meets with students on a one-on-one basis;
4. Any other volunteer so designated by the School Board or Superintendent.
Designated volunteers are subject to the provisions of Policy GBCD – Background Investigation and Criminal Records Check.
Volunteer Application & Selection
Persons wishing to volunteer at the District should complete a Volunteer Application form describing their skills, interests and availability. Such forms will be made available at the Principal’s office.
Volunteer selection shall be made based on the qualifications and availability of the volunteer. Volunteers shall be assigned only to those teachers who have requested volunteer assistance. Staff should request volunteers through administrative channels for selected activities and as resource persons.
Assignment shall be made by the school administrator or designee.
Volunteers shall be provided appropriate training at the building level consistent with their tasks and existing district standards. This training shall be developed under the leadership of the principal. Exceptions would be district-wide programs established by the administration whereby general volunteer programs would be defined.
A volunteer may be asked to terminate his/her services when circumstances in the judgment of the administrator necessitate termination.
Volunteer Duties
Selected volunteers will serve in the capacity of assistants and will not be assigned to roles that require specific professional training. Instructional services shall be rendered only under the supervision of certified staff.
All volunteers will sign a confidentiality agreement and shall refrain from discussing the performance or actions of a student except with the student's teacher, counselor, Principal, or
other school district who has a legitimate educational purpose for discussing such information.
The Confidentiality Agreement is included as Appendix IJOC-R.
Assignments shall be limited to assisting staff members with duties such as routine supervisory, tutorial, clerical, housekeeping and material preparation tasks. Assignment shall be limited to situations that may be supervised by a certificated staff person.
In some instances, volunteers may perform clerical and material preparation tasks away from the school site.
Volunteers with special talents, hobbies or experiences may share those with students on a scheduled basis in a suitable educational setting.
Volunteers will refer to their immediate supervisor or other regular staff member for final solution of any student problems which arise, whether of an instructional, medical or operational nature.
Volunteers will Receive orientation, including: (1) general job responsibilities; (2) information about school facilities, routines, and procedures, including safety and evaluation; (3) work schedule and place of work; and (4) expected relationship to regular staff.
Volunteers will receive appropriate training at the building level, consistent with their tasks and existing District standards. This training shall be developed under the leadership of the Principal in consultation with the volunteer coordinator.
Coaches
Volunteer coaches of individual sports must be certified in that sport and be in compliance with the all other regulations and standards as set by NHIAA.
Legal References: RSA 189:13-a, School Employee and Volunteer Criminal History Records Check Appendix: IJOC-R Revised: April 2011 Revised: November 1999, July 2004, August 2007
DISCLAIMER: This sample policy manual is copyrighted to the New Hampshire School Boards Association and is intended for the sole and exclusive use of NHSBA Policy Service Subscribers. No portion of this manual may be reproduced, copied, transmitted, distributed, in any form, except as needed for the development of policy by a subscribing district. The materials contained in the manual are provided for general information only and as a resource to assist subscribing districts with policy development. School districts and boards of education should consult with legal counsel and revise all sample policies and regulations to address local facts and circumstances prior to adoption. NHSBA continually makes revisions based on school districts' needs and local, state and federal laws, regulations and court decisions, and other relevant education activity.
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Book I: Instruction
Section Series I
Title Early Graduation
Code IKFA
Status Active
Adopted May 4, 1993
Last Revised May 7, 2013
EARLY GRADUATION A high school student may complete the requirements for graduation at the end of the junior year by takingapproved summer school courses and extra courses in the freshman, sophomore and junior years. In order to qualify for early graduation, a student must meet all course and credit requirements for graduation. It is absolutely necessary that a student and parents do the necessary long-range planning for earlygraduation. A statement that the program is approved by parents is required. To be eligible for early graduation, a student must complete an application of intent for early graduation to beapproved by the Administration. Application forms are available in the Guidance office. Policy References:Policy Cross References:IKF –Graduation RequirementsIKFA-R – Early Graduation Procedures Policy Cross References: » IKF - Graduation Requirements » IKFA-R - Early Graduation Procedures
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IKFA - EARLY GRADUATION Category: Priority/Required by Law
The Board supports early graduation as a means to earn a high school diploma. Written parental agreement for students under the age of 18 is required. The high school principal shall approve such requests if he/she determines that all state and local graduation requirements will be met and that early graduation is related to career and/or educational plans of the student making the request. Upon approval by the high school principal, the minimum 4-unit requirement per year for enrolled students shall be waived and the student shall be awarded a high school diploma.
Legal References: NH Code of Administrative Rules, Section Ed 306.27(ad), Early Graduation Revised: May 2014 Reviewed: July 2004 Revised: November 1999, July 2005, September 2008 NHSBA Note, May 2014: This policy is now categorized as Priority/Required by Law. Content of policy has not changed. Change to Legal References.
DISCLAIMER:This sample policy manual is copyrighted to the New Hampshire School Boards Association and is intended for the sole and exclusive use of NHSBA Policy Service Subscribers. No portion of this manual may be reproduced, copied, transmitted, distributed, in any form, except as needed for the development of policy by a subscribing district. The materials contained in the manual are provided for general information only and as a resource to assist subscribing districts with policy development. School districts and boards of education should consult with legal counsel and revise all sample policies and regulations to address local facts and circumstances prior to adoption. NHSBA continually makes revisions based on school districts' needs and local, state and federal laws, regulations and court decisions, and other relevant education activity.
