RESET, REIMAGINE, and RESPOND Fall 2020 Plan · Updated 7/20/2020 Table of Contents ... which meant the district would resume face-to-face instruction no later than Aug. 24. Before

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Page 1 of 37

Updated 7/18/2020

RESET, REIMAGINE, and RESPOND

Fall 2020 Plan

Page 2 of 37 Updated 7/20/2020

Table of Contents

Message from the Superintendent of Schools ................................................................................................... 5

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................ 5

Local, State, and National Guidance ......................................................................................................................... 5

Ysleta Together: Options for Schooling.................................................................................................................. 6

Option 1: Classroom Learning ................................................................................................................................ 6

Option 2: Online Learning ....................................................................................................................................... 77

Classroom Learning: Health Response Stages .............................................................................................. 77

Disease Activity Levels ...................................................................................................................................................... 8

Green.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Yellow ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 7

Red .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 8

Use of Face Coverings ........................................................................................................................................................ 9

Health and Safety Plan ........................................................................................................................................................ 9

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) ................................................................................................................. 9

Ongoing Health Monitoring and Screening for COVID-19 Symptoms......................................... 10

COVID-19 Symptoms (As of 7/20/2020) ............................................................................................................ 10

Student Screening ......................................................................................................................................................... 10

Teacher and Staff Screening ................................................................................................................................... 11

Positive Case Identified at a Campus or Facility ....................................................................................... 11

Campus Operations ...................................................................................................................................................... 12

Disinfection ...............................................................................................................................................................1212

Cafeteria and Food Service ............................................................................................................................1212

Common Areas .......................................................................................................................................................1212

Parents and Visitors................................................................................................................................................. 12

Restrooms ...................................................................................................................................................................... 12

Transportation .......................................................................................................................................................... 133

Water Fountains ......................................................................................................................................................... 13

Classroom Operations ................................................................................................................................................ 13

Career and Technical Education Classes ................................................................................................. 13

Dual Credit and Early College High School Classes.......................................................................... 14

ExtraCurricular, Co-Curricular and UIL Activities................................................................................ 14

Fine Arts Classes ....................................................................................................................................................... 14


Physical Education and Health Classes ..................................................................................................... 15

Specialized Education and Classrooms ..................................................................................................... 15

Appendix A .............................................................................................................................................................................. 16

Amended 2020-21 Instructional Calendar ........................................................................................................... 16

Appendix B .............................................................................................................................................................................. 17

Health and Safety Plan ..................................................................................................................................................... 17

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................. 18

Social Distancing and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) ............................................................... 18

Teacher and Staff Screening........................................................................................................................................ 19

Student Screening .............................................................................................................................................................. 19

Campus Screening ............................................................................................................................................................. 20

Sample Elementary School Layout..................................................................................................................... 21

Sample Middle School Layout ............................................................................................................................... 22

Sample High School Layout .................................................................................................................................... 23

Screening Station Equipment ................................................................................................................................ 24

Screening Station Lines ............................................................................................................................................. 25

Isolation Room ................................................................................................................................................................. 25

Use of ID Scanners ........................................................................................................................................................ 25

Students Showing COVID-19 Symptoms and/or Temperature ........................................................ 26

COVID-19 Symptoms .................................................................................................................................................... 26

Return After Positive COVID-19 Test ................................................................................................................. 27

Inclement Weather Plan.............................................................................................................................................. 27

Off-Hour Student Activities ........................................................................................................................................... 27

Before School.................................................................................................................................................................... 27

After School........................................................................................................................................................................ 28

Weekend Use of Facilities ......................................................................................................................................... 28

Other Off-Hour Use of Facilities............................................................................................................................ 28

Hallway Traffic ....................................................................................................................................................................... 29

Sample One-Way Hallway Design........................................................................................................................ 29

Closed Campuses ............................................................................................................................................................... 30

Bus Transportation ............................................................................................................................................................ 30

Operational Procedures ............................................................................................................................................. 30

Seating on the Bus ........................................................................................................................................................ 30

Bus Cleaning ..................................................................................................................................................................... 30


Additional Transportation Guidelines............................................................................................................... 31

Reopening Cleaning and Disinfection ................................................................................................................... 31

Goals and Purpose ........................................................................................................................................................ 31

General Procedures ...................................................................................................................................................... 31

General Surface Sanitation ...................................................................................................................................... 32

Sanitation Process ......................................................................................................................................................... 32

School Day Safety Considerations .......................................................................................................................... 32

Entry/Exit Before the School Day Begins ....................................................................................................... 32

Beginning of School Day ........................................................................................................................................... 32

During the School Day ................................................................................................................................................ 33

Breakfast ......................................................................................................................................................................... 33

Classrooms .................................................................................................................................................................... 33

Common Areas ............................................................................................................................................................ 33

Hallways ........................................................................................................................................................................... 33

Lunch ................................................................................................................................................................................. 34

Restrooms ...................................................................................................................................................................... 34

Water Fountains ......................................................................................................................................................... 34

End of School Day ......................................................................................................................................................... 34

Dismissal ......................................................................................................................................................................... 34

Entry/Exit After the School Day Ends .......................................................................................................... 34

Visitor Procedures .............................................................................................................................................................. 34

Supporting References ............................................................................................................................................... 34

Visitor Management System (VMS) .................................................................................................................... 35


Message from the Superintendent of Schools Over the last five years, Ysleta ISD has made significant strides in addressing the needs of 21st-century learners. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our educational, economic, societal, and everyday way of life, and this has compelled our district to forge new, creative, and visionary ways of accomplishing our mission. We are facing an extraordinary challenge that requires our individual and collective expertise to address the wide-ranging needs of our students, families, educators, staff, and learning communities. We have given serious consideration to the “right” way to return to school and work – and, as evidenced by this plan, our educational leaders have taken concrete steps to restore, reconstruct, and redesign education. With the understanding that the health and safety of our students, educators, and staff is our top priority, this “Reset, Reimagine, and Respond: Reentry Plan for Fall 2020” signifies not only a progression toward the increased use of technology for 21st-century learning, but a reliable demonstration of our resiliency. We will overcome this challenge together. It is incumbent upon each of us to recognize and commit to providing the best education possible for our 40,000 students, regardless of the obstacles we may encounter on the way.

Introduction

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the State of Emergency declared by the Governor of Texas, Texas schools have been closed for in-person instruction since March 2020. Ysleta ISD quickly shifted to online learning to finish out the 2019-20 school year. We are exceedingly proud of our educators, staff, administrators, students, and their families for successfully handling these unprecedented times with poise, flexibility, and resilience. This document serves as Ysleta ISD’s plan for reopening schools in Fall 2020. It centers on providing an environment that is safe for students, educators, and staff, which allows us to continue moving forward in providing quality instruction. This plan is a “living document”; it was developed with the most recent data, and may be updated as new information becomes available. These are extraordinary times calling for extraordinary approaches, actions, pledges, and commitments. We understand the concerns of YISD students, parents, and staff. We also value the trust placed in us, and we believe that together, we will find a way to safely meet the needs of our students, families, and educators.

Local, State, and National Guidance From the onset of the pandemic, Ysleta ISD has sought to respond to information from a variety of local, state, and federal sources. The district has continually collaborated with the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the Office of the Governor, Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), as well as the City of El Paso, El Paso County, and Region 19, to coordinate and plan our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the closure of schools, the Superintendent of Schools met multiple times each week with TEA, other area superintendents, and local government officials to identify concerns and share best practices. The Ysleta ISD Board of Trustees has actively participated in these meetings and


listened to the concerns of constituents. Associate Superintendents, administrators, directors, and other leaders also met regularly to address how Ysleta ISD will open schools in the fall of 2020 in conjunction with counterparts and colleagues across the region and state. This broad stakeholder input has helped ensure multiple perspectives were considered. Because Ysleta ISD is a subdivision of the State of Texas, this plan has been formulated mostly with guidance from TEA. Should TEA provide further guidance that leads us to alter this plan, we will do so and provide an update. On May 21, TEA issued guidance that encouraged districts to consider adopting a year-round education program. Under a year-round program, school starts earlier in August and the summer break is somewhat shorter, which reduces summer learning loss for students. Built into this calendar are “intersessions,” or breaks, that can be used to provide extra attention and remediation for students who need to catch up on skills. After extensive stakeholder input and consideration, the Ysleta ISD Board of Trustees voted at a June 17 meeting to approve a year-round education program and an intersession calendar that called for school to begin Aug. 3. On July 7, TEA issued additional guidance, requiring school districts to offer families the option of face-to-face Classroom Learning for their children. This allowed for a limited three-week transition period from the scheduled school start date of Aug. 3, which meant the district would resume face-to-face instruction no later than Aug. 24. Before that could take place, however, the City of El Paso Public Health Department issued a July 9 emergency order that directed schools to remain closed for face-to-face instruction through Sept. 7. To comply with both orders and provide for the welfare of teachers and students under the authority of Policy EB, the Superintendent of Schools administratively changed the school start date to Aug. 17. In order to fulfill the State’s required number of instructional minutes, Oct. 5-9 was eliminated as an intersession week. This reduced the fall intersession to one week, from Oct. 12-16, and an additional week of instruction was added to the end of the school year, which pushed back the last day of school from June 4 to June 11, 2021. All students will undergo at least three weeks of Online Learning when our semester begins Aug. 17. For families that prefer face-to-face Classroom Learning for their child, Ysleta ISD will begin in-person, on-campus instruction no earlier than Sept. 8. At the discretion of the school board, this transition period may be extended for another four weeks subject to the provisions established by TEA. The revised 2020-21 school calendar is provided in Appendix A.

Ysleta Together: Options for Schooling Research supports a variety of approaches to reopen schools and resume instruction. Based on guidance from TEA and the particular characteristics and needs of the Ysleta ISD community, officials have taken an Ysleta Together approach – that is, allowing students to receive instruction in a way that safely picks up where they left off last spring while maintaining protocols and guidelines to protect the health of students, educators, and staff. The Ysleta Together approach allows parents to choose from two options for their child’s schooling, listed below.

Option 1: Classroom Learning

The Classroom Learning model calls for students in all grades to attend classes on campus for face-to-face instruction from Monday through Thursday, following the regular bell schedule. On Fridays, families are being given a “Flexible Friday” option, which


allows them to choose to either have their student participate in Online Learning at home on this day, or send their student to campus for face-to-face Classroom Learning. This should give educators and staff additional time for planning and preparation, while campuses are thoroughly disinfected. Attendance and engagement on Flexible Fridays is required for every student, whether parents opt for Online Learning at home or Classroom Learning at the campus.

Option 2: Online Learning

The Online Learning model calls for students to receive 100% online instruction at home from Monday through Friday using THEDISTRICT@Home platform. For a detailed explanation of the district’s Online Learning model, please click here.

Parents will be asked to commit to either Online Learning or Classroom Learning for at least one 9-week grading period. Due to the fact that both Option 1 and Option 2 may call for some or all instruction to take place online, Ysleta ISD will provide all students with a district-issued digital device, as well as hotspot devices for those families whose homes lack Internet access. The balance of this plan addresses the conditions and procedures that apply primarily to how students, teachers, and staff will physically return to on-campus instruction and operations for Classroom Learning.

Classroom Learning: Health Response Stages Because providing on-campus, in-person Classroom Learning requires students and staff to gather together in one space, Ysleta ISD must constantly monitor Disease Activity Levels in the community for possible impact on schools. The district will rely on data from the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), El Paso Public Health Department, and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to determine the Disease Activity Level and the appropriate protective measures. The Health Response Stages below are based on recommendations of local and state health officials, and will be determined by Disease Activity Levels in the community. The district will also develop a process to alert students, parents, and staff when the Health Response Stage changes, either for an individual school or for the entire district. We will update these stages weekly, prior to the start of school, and they will be posted on the district and campus home pages.

3 Disease Activity Levels: Green, Yellow, and Red

Green

The green stage allows the district/school to strategically reopen while continuing to prioritize public health. The green stage recommends that students, educators, and staff screen for symptoms, practice social distancing, take temperatures, increase health and hygiene measures by wearing masks, using hand sanitizer, and engaging in frequent handwashing. It will be equally important to continue to monitor public health indicators and adjust strategies to mitigate community spread week-to-week. UIL-governed extracurricular activities must follow UIL guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Yellow The yellow stage imposes health measures that include requiring students, educators, and staff in daily school operations to screen for symptoms, practice social distancing, take temperatures, increase health and hygiene practices by wearing masks, using hand sanitizer, and engaging in frequent handwashing. UIL and extracurricular activities may be further restricted or suspended.

https://www.yisd.net/cms/lib/TX01917279/Centricity/Domain/4245/Remote_Online%20Plan%202020%207.20.pdf


The yellow stage requires additional vigilance in response to any new disease information or attendance changes. Red The red stage rescinds in-person Classroom Learning, and immediately moves the district/schools to Online Learning at home through THEDISTRICT@Home platform. The red stage is for the purpose of minimizing the spread of COVID-19 through stay-home orders and closures of districts/schools, including suspension of in-person Classroom Learning.

Calculating Disease Activity Indicators

What Disease Activity Indicators Mean

How Disease Activity Indicators Are Reported to Campuses


Use of Face Coverings based on Disease Activity Levels

Health and Safety Plan

The following information is based on a Disease Activity Level of YELLOW when face-to-face Classroom Learning is scheduled to begin Sept. 8. Recognizing that every school and facility is unique, and all plans for the upcoming year will reflect individual adaptations, Ysleta ISD has created a Health and Safety Plan to serve as a baseline directive for how each school will implement reopening for on-campus, in-person instruction. This plan will be tailored to the unique characteristics of each school. Implementation details and any significant deviations or special provisions for a school will be developed in consultation with the Associate Superintendent of Elementary, Middle, or High Schools, respectively, and the Associate Superintendent of Student Support Services, and then approved by the district’s Chief Financial and Operational Officer. Once approved, the Health and Safety Plan for a school will be posted on the school website prior to the reopening of school.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Subject to updated guidance from TEA, Ysleta ISD will provide PPE as described in this plan. Ysleta ISD will require face masks to be worn in accordance with Disease Activity Levels and Face Mask Protocol. The district will provide a face mask for every student and employee. Unless a medical accommodation has been granted which prevents the use of a mask, all students and staff members must wear masks. Students will not be allowed to use bandanas as a face covering. Desk dividers will be provided for every student’s desk. Every teacher will be equipped with a face shield, contactless thermometer, and face mask. Hand sanitizer will be available in every


classroom, as well as in other meeting and common areas. Disinfecting solution will be available in every classroom for frequent disinfection. Bus drivers will each have their own contactless thermometer to ensure students who may have a temperature are not transported to school. Transportation supervisors will be dispatched to wait with students while the parent or guardian is contacted to pick up their student.

Ongoing Health Monitoring and Screening for COVID-19 Symptoms Ysleta ISD will closely monitor overall student and staff attendance for any spike in absences. Parents are urged not to send students to school if they are sick or show signs of COVID-19, as listed in the symptoms below.

COVID-19 Symptoms (as of July 20, 2020)

Parents and staff are urged to closely monitor for any COVID-19 symptoms. These symptoms include:

• Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0°F

• Loss of taste or smell

• Cough

• Difficulty breathing

• Shortness of breath

• Headache

• Chills

• Sore throat

• Shaking or exaggerated shivering

• Significant muscle pain or ache

• Diarrhea Student Screening A child who is sick with a fever, sore throat, or other COVID-19 symptom must stay home from school and report the absence to the attendance clerk. Any child found to have symptoms at school will be isolated; a parent or guardian will be notified to pick up their student within one hour. Before coming to school at the start of each day, students will be screened for symptoms and have their temperature taken. Students who use bus transportation will be screened for fever using a contactless thermometer before boarding the bus. Students who are driven to or walk to school will be screened for symptoms and fever using contactless thermometers before entering the building. In the event of inclement weather, screening will be moved inside to a gym or cafeteria, with sufficient space to maintain social distancing. Each campus will provide information on how and where students will be screened prior to entry. Screening protocols will be regularly reviewed to ensure use of the most up-to-date protocols issued by federal, state, and local public health officials. If a student is found to have a fever, the student will be isolated from others, and the student’s parent/guardian will be contacted for pick-up within one hour. Students who arrive after the first bell must be screened at the campus’s front office before entering campus. A child who lives with or has close contact with someone who has tested positive or has symptoms and is presumed positive for COVID-19 will need to quarantine at home as instructed by the


school. Ysleta ISD follows the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance, and considers “close contact” to mean contact within 6 feet for 15 minutes or longer. Because of the high likelihood of a false negative test if a student or staff member is tested before the full incubation period for the virus, the required self-quarantine period is 14 days from the date of last exposure to a lab-confirmed case.

Teacher and Staff Screening

Teachers and staff must self-screen daily and stay home if sick. Teachers must keep appropriate distance from other staff and students. All teachers and staff will wear masks and/or a face shield while in class, while indoors, and while with another person outdoors, whenever social distancing is not possible. Occupancy of teacher lounges and workspaces will be limited. A staff member who lives with or has close contact with someone who has tested positive or has symptoms and is presumed positive for COVID-19 will need to quarantine at home as instructed by the school. Ysleta ISD follows CDC guidance, and considers “close contact” to mean contact within 6 feet for 15 minutes or longer. Because of the high likelihood of a false negative test if a student or staff member is tested before the full incubation period for the virus, the required self-quarantine period is 14 days from the date of last exposure to a lab-confirmed case.

Positive Case Identified at a Campus or Facility If a student or staff member at a school is diagnosed with COVID-19, TEA requires the district to send notice of this occurrence to every parent of a student at the campus, regardless of whether close contact occurred. The diagnosed student or staff member will be required to stay at home until all the following criteria are met:

1. At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications); AND

2. The individual has improvement in symptoms (for example, cough or shortness breath have improved); AND

3. At least 10 days have passed since their symptoms first appeared.

Apart from the diagnosed student, parents do not need to keep their own children at home unless they are separately contacted by school officials after contact tracing. Students may be temporarily moved out of their classroom pending thorough cleaning and disinfecting. Approved EPA Disinfectants will be used to defog and disinfect classrooms and other campus areas. Custodial staff will defog and disinfect classrooms, restrooms, indoor athletic areas, and cafeterias, as well as common areas in school buildings. The district will make every effort to avoid unplanned school closures. If a school must close temporarily for extensive quarantining or cleaning, school officials will determine on a case-by-case basis how the instructional minutes will be recovered in accordance with published TEA guidance. COVID-19 Testing for Staff Members and Students Testing for employees and students who are symptomatic will be available at no charge through the district’s testing facilities, in collaboration with the City of El Paso Public Health Department and City/County Office of Emergency Management. Referrals will be provided for testing if a staff member or student is identified as having close contact with a lab-confirmed case.

https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2

https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/covid/sy_2020-21_attendance_and_enrollment_faq_remote_only.pdf

https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/covid/sy_2020-21_attendance_and_enrollment_faq_remote_only.pdf


Campus Operations

Disinfection

Approved EPA Disinfectants will be used to disinfect classrooms and other campus areas. Custodial staff will focus their efforts on disinfecting, restrooms, indoor athletic areas, cafeterias and other high-touch surfaces and common areas in school buildings. Teachers will be asked to assist students with disinfecting student desks as students depart at the end of the day or for their next class.

Cafeteria and Food Service

Elementary students will be served breakfast in the classroom, as they have in the past. No food sharing will be allowed. For lunch, students will either eat in their classrooms or the cafeteria, depending on the ability of the particular school to maintain adequate social distancing. At the secondary level, campuses will be closed for lunch, meaning students must remain on campus all day and may not leave campus during the lunch hour. For lunch, students will either eat in their classrooms or the cafeteria, depending on the ability of the particular school to maintain adequate social distancing. School breakfast and lunch meals will be individually pre-packaged meals with disposable utensils. Students may also bring their own lunch, but they will not have access to microwaves or other appliances for reheating. No food sharing will be allowed. Outside food vendors and outside food deliveries will not be allowed. Rules for free and reduced lunch will apply. Common Areas Assemblies and meetings will be conducted virtually when possible. If meetings must be held in person, all social-distancing and face-covering protocols will be observed. School library occupancy will be limited. Visual reminders will be added, and furniture will be rearranged to help students maintain social distancing while in the library. Students and staff will wash/sanitize hands upon entering and after visiting the library. High-touch surfaces (tabletops, chairs, door handles) will be disinfected regularly. During passing periods, hallways will be managed to minimize student exposure. Staff and signage will be posted to reinforce social-distancing expectations. A school may stagger releases from each class to limit the number of students in the hallway during transitions. Students and staff will be required to wear masks while in hallways and other common areas. Classroom doors will remain open to allow for no-touch entry and exit between classes.

Parents and Visitors

Parents will not be able to visit schools as they have in the past. Visits to schools will be limited, and visitors should have scheduled appointments. Parents with official business will be restricted to office areas and screened before entry. During drop-off and pick-up, or while physically waiting outside (not inside vehicles), parents must practice social distancing and wear masks while on school grounds.

Restrooms

Generally, to minimize exposure, students will be allowed to use the restroom during scheduled times or class periods, rather than passing periods. The number of occupants will be limited to allow for social distancing, and bathrooms will be monitored by campus staff. Students must wash



hands before leaving the restroom and then use hand sanitizer upon entering the classroom. Increased restroom disinfection will occur throughout the school day.

Safety Drills

Safety drills will continue to be conducted in accordance with state law. Social distancing will be maintained to the extent possible while still complying with the requirements of the drill. Students and staff will be required to wear face masks.

Transportation

Bus transportation will be provided to and from school based on current eligibility rules. All bus drivers will be provided with PPE that includes masks, hand sanitizer, a touchless thermometer, and disinfectant. The district will issue procedures that include taking a temperature check before allowing a child on the bus, requiring all children to wear a mask while on the bus, and seats being marked off with tape to avoid children sitting too close to each other. Except for children from the same household, children will be seated one per row on alternating sides of the bus. Rosters will be kept of every student transported so that contact tracing can be performed if needed.

Water Fountains

Water fountains will be covered and unavailable for student use; therefore, students are encouraged to bring personal, refillable water bottles for use during the day. Refill stations will be available for students to refill their water bottles.

Classroom Operations

Classroom setup and operations will follow TEA guidelines. Signage will be posted in all facilities to reinforce protocols and best practices for prevention. In accordance with the Protocols for Face Coverings, students will be required to wear masks. An exception will be granted when students are in their assigned seats, behind desk dividers, and social distancing is being observed. All students will socially distance and wear masks in hallways, restrooms, other common areas, and upon entering or leaving the school. The district will provide one face mask for each student. Student social distancing requirements within the classroom will vary by grade level, classroom setup, campus, and campus features. Desks will be setup to maximize social distancing. For pre-K through second grades, students will not be required to socially distance within their own classroom, but classrooms will not be allowed to mix or be grouped together with other classes. For upper elementary grades, middle and high school, students will be expected to socially distance from each other and from staff. Multiple locations of hand sanitizer, tissues, and trash cans will be available to limit student and staff movement. When possible, the use of communal supplies will be eliminated. Shared supplies will be sanitized between use. Blankets, pillows, rugs, and other shared non-essential items will be removed from the classroom. Students will use their own district-issued technology and minimize the sharing of electronic devices. In-person group or collaborative work will be avoided. When group work is needed, technology will be used for collaboration. If in-person group or paired work is required, such as in science labs, students will be required to wear a mask.

Career and Technical Education Classes

CTE will follow all Ysleta ISD procedures, with additional safety precautions and protocols in all of its face-to-face Classroom Learning courses. These protocols include social distancing, safety


procedures, and sanitizing surfaces and materials. If necessary, additional supplies will be purchased to prevent the sharing of materials. Participating mentor institutions will guide interactions with internship mentors. Some course requirements may require adjustment to ensure adherence to the necessary safety protocols from Ysleta ISD or other governing bodies. At the Career Center and in CTE classrooms, where specialized equipment may be used, classrooms will follow guidelines from the industry, TEA, CDC, and Ysleta ISD. CTE teachers will follow updated safety procedures, and students will be taught and expected to follow the procedures. As safety guidelines change depending on the nature of the public health situation, equipment guidelines and protocols will also be adjusted.

Dual Credit and Early College High School Classes

Classes for students enrolled in an Early College High School that normally takes place in-person at an El Paso Community College Campus (EPCC) will follow EPCC procedures for the delivery of instructional content, including content delivered via online instruction. Other dual credit courses, such as OnRamps, will follow the established procedures of the higher education institution. If any on-campus instruction is required by the higher education institution, such instruction will be offered subject to Ysleta ISD’s Health and Safety Plan.

Extracurricular, Co-Curricular, and UIL Activities

The extent to which a school will be able to offer extracurricular, co-curricular, and UIL activities will depend on many factors related to the risk of disease spread, including whether students can perform the activity indoors or outdoors while maintaining social distance. Any UIL-regulated activity must also comply with UIL directives. Students will need to check their school website for the most current information. Student clubs generally will not be allowed to meet in person without staff supervision.

Fine Arts Classes

All Fine Arts classes will be offered for both Classroom Learning and Online Learning, though modifications in instruction and practice/rehearsal will be necessary based on the class structure or art medium. All Ysleta ISD health protocols – to include social distancing and use of masks – will be enforced to the extent practicable for the activity. For online instruction, the district has purchased smartmusic©, a web-based music educational resource and practice tool, for all music students in grades 5-12. A limited supply of musical instruments is available to rent from the district, though accessories such as reeds, valve oil, straps, guitar footrests, etc. are the responsibility of the student/parent. The district is following all national, state, local, and CDC guidelines/recommendations regarding group performances; therefore, no musical performances are being scheduled for the fall. With music, dance, theater, and other similar performances being canceled for the fall, performance attire/equipment should not be purchased. If health conditions improve and performances can be scheduled in the spring, all impacted students will be notified. School districts in El Paso County will not participate in competitive marching band. Many, if not most, districts across the state have adopted a similar approach to this year’s marching season. If UIL decides to host a competitive marching season in the spring, and if it is safe for students and staff to participate, the district will reassess at that time.


A cost-effective list of supplies for online art classes will be provided to students by their teacher at the beginning of school. Art teachers will provide lessons enabling students to create artwork utilizing minimal supplies and commonly found household items.

Physical Education (P.E.) and Health Classes

P.E. and health classes will follow the Ysleta ISD Protocols for Physical Education and Health. Whenever possible, P.E. classes will be held outside to allow for maximum physical distance between students. Any activities bringing students into close physical contact or requiring multiple students to touch or handle the same equipment will be avoided. Visual markers will be used to remind students of social distancing rules. Students will not be required to change into workout clothes, and the use of locker rooms will not be permitted. Equipment will be disinfected after each use. Sanitizing areas and access to handwashing will be provided.

Special Education Classrooms

Recommended procedures will be applied to all classroom settings, including Special Education service locations, when possible and appropriate. Students’ individual needs will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Special Education classrooms and service locations may have additional protective barriers in place to support a safe environment for students. For more information on the Special Education Plan click here.

https://www.yisd.net/cms/lib/TX01917279/Centricity/Domain/4245/SPED%20Fall%202020%20Guidance_revPR.pdf


Appendix A Amended 2020-21 Instructional Calendar


Appendix B

Health and Safety Plan


Introduction The purpose of this plan is to outline the Ysleta Independent School District’s protocols and guidelines for reopening of campuses following the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic closures in the spring of 2020. Specifically, this document offers guidance on how to properly allow students, faculty, and staff to enter a school campus. This plan has been carefully considered to address and promote the safety, health, and welfare of our learning communities. The guidelines serve as a comprehensive document but are not intended to replace guidance given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the Texas Education Agency (TEA), and local health authorities. COVID-19 information and guidance from the above-named agencies changes rapidly, and this document will be updated as needed to reflect these changes. Our district serves students, staff, and visitors who may have close contact in the school setting, which can increase the risk of transmission of disease.

Pandemic Planning & Campus COVID-19 Response Teams Each campus should designate a team that will be responsible for developing, overseeing, and implementing the Health and Safety Plan at the campus. Ideally, the team should include an administrator, school nurse, teacher/coach, and head custodian. The Safe Schools Team, which is already established at each campus, may also serve as the Campus COVID-19 Response Team. The Campus COVID-19 Response Team will ensure the actions within this document are followed and will be responsible for communicating with campus and Central Office administration when a lab-confirmed COVID-19 case is identified so the appropriate notification steps may be taken. One advantage of utilizing the Safe Schools Team as the Campus COVID-19 Response Team is that the roles, responsibilities, and communication plan are already well-defined.

Social Distancing and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Social distancing is defined as limiting face-to-face contact with others to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Social distancing, also called “physical distancing,” provides physical space between people when outside of the home. The CDC states the distance between people should be 6 feet (the length of about two arms). Face coverings also help slow the spread of COVID-19 when combined with everyday preventive actions and social distancing in public settings. A properly fitted mask should not affect breathing. To properly wear a face covering, one must:

1. Wash hands before putting on the face covering 2. Place mask over the nose and mouth and secure it under the chin 3. Ensure the mask fits snugly against the sides of the face

It may be impractical for students to wear masks or face shields while participating in some non-UIL athletic or other extracurricular activities. When it is impractical for students to wear masks or face shields during those activities, the district will require students, teachers, staff, and visitors to wear masks or face shields when entering and exiting facilities and practice areas, and when not actively engaging in those activities. For example, schools may allow students who are actively exercising to remove masks or face shields, as long as they maintain at least 6 feet of distance from other students, teachers, and staff who are not wearing masks or face shields. However, schools must require students, teachers, and staff to wear masks or face shields as they arrange themselves in positions that will allow them to maintain safe distancing.


Teacher and Staff Screening The use of self-screening for employees prior to going to work is recommended and daily health checks will be instituted according to the following protocols: 1. All employees should self-screen daily prior to entering a campus or designated work area

using the district’s approved screening protocol. Employees experiencing any of the symptoms of COVID-19 should self-isolate and report findings to their supervisor.

2. Employees who have close contact with a person who is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19 should self-isolate for 14 days. CDC defines “close contact” as someone within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes, starting from two days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, two days prior to specimen collection) until the time the patient was isolated.

3. Employees living with someone who has a lab-confirmed case of COVID-19 must self-isolate for 14 days and report the need to self-isolate to their supervisor.

4. Employees should take their temperatures prior to starting work. Ideally, temperatures should be taken at home or before entering the building. Contactless thermometers will be readily available on-site for those unable to check their temperature at home.

5. Employees should self-monitor and report any change in status. 6. Employees should practice social distancing as duties permit. 7. Employees are required to wear a face covering at work especially when unable to maintain

social distancing. 8. Employees must cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, dispose of tissue in the trash, and

wash hands immediately with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.

9. If employee has a temperature of 100.0 F or greater at work, the individual should be sent to

the designated isolation area. 10. It should be noted that eating and drinking can affect the results of the temperature check,

especially if the person was drinking a hot beverage. If an individual’s temperature reading is

above 100.0 F and he/she does not have any symptoms, the individual should wait and

recheck two times within 10-15 minutes. Employee should not eat or drink anything while waiting. The employee or individual should also remove any winter clothing, such as hats or beanies.

Student Screening The use of mass screenings for students is recommended and daily health checks will be implemented in accordance with the following protocols: 1. Upon arrival at a campus, at the start of every day of instruction, students will be asked if they

have any symptoms for COVID-19. Schools may only require students to provide a “Yes” or “No” answer when asked whether they have symptoms of COVID-19, as opposed to asking them about every individual symptom. Schools are not entitled to collect specific individual health information from students beyond the fact that they are symptomatic. It is recommended that schools accept a verbal response.

2. Students who had close contact with a person who is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19 must self-isolate for 14 days and report the absence to the attendance clerk. CDC defines “close contact” as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes, starting from two days before illness onset (or for asymptomatic patients, two days prior to specimen collection) until the time the patient was isolated.


3. Student temperatures should be measured prior to starting class. Ideally, temperatures should be taken before entering the building. All nurses and teachers will have contactless thermometers for screening.

4. Students should self-monitor and report any change in status. 5. Students should practice social distancing. 6. Every student will be provided with a face covering. Use of the face covering will be based on

Disease Activity Levels and Protocols for Face Coverings. Mask or face coverings are especially important in hallways, during transitions between classes, and at the beginning and end of the school day, when students are most likely to congregate.

7. Students should cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, dispose of tissue in the trash, and wash hands immediately with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.

8. If student has a temperature of 100.0 F or greater, he/she should be sent to the designated

isolation area. After assessment by the nurse, a parent or guardian will be notified if it is determined a student should be sent home. The student should be picked up within one hour.

9. It should be noted that eating and drinking can affect the results of the temperature check, especially if the student was drinking a hot beverage. If a student’s temperature reading is

above 100.0 F and he/she does not have any symptoms, the student should rest and wait 10-15 minutes before having their temperature checked two more times. Instruct the student not to eat or drink anything while waiting. The student should also remove any winter clothing, such as hats or beanies.

Campus Screening Each campus will identify, develop, and implement screening stations to ensure all students are properly screened prior to entering the school building. A campus screening station should be a designated area that manages up to four or five screening lines while maintaining social distancing. Each screening line will consist of an adult equipped with a contactless thermometer checking the temperature of every student before clearing them and allowing entry into the building. Each screening line will be designated via the use of floor markers, which are 6 feet apart to ensure students practice social distancing while awaiting screening. Additional personnel should be assigned to greet students and direct them to the screening stations. As students are screened, these adult liaisons should also direct students who fail the screening test to a designated isolation room for further evaluation. All adults who are assigned to oversee the screening station and screening lines will wear an appropriate face covering, and wash hands frequently. Campuses should utilize various personnel to supervise the stations, including administrators, teachers via duty-station rotations, instructional aides, instructional support personnel, security personnel, and clerical staff. The location and number of screening stations at each campus will vary according to grade-level configuration, the number of students returning for on-campus instruction, and the design of the school building. In assessing the number of screening stations and screening lines, administrators should consider the total number of students entering the building, as well as the rate at which each screening line can effectively screen students. It is estimated that one screening line can screen five to six students per minute; this means one line can screen approximately 25 to 30 students in five minutes, and 50 to 60 students in 10 minutes. As such, it would take a campus that expects to screen 500 students about 20 minutes to complete the screening process if they use five lines (two screening stations with two or three lines each). In deciding where to locate entry points, campus administrators should consider the various modes and number of students arriving via bus drop-off, car drop-off, or walk-in.


Sample Elementary School Layout


Sample Middle School Layout


Sample High School Layout


Screening Station Equipment


Screening Station Lines

Isolation Room Each campus should designate a room that can be used for isolating students/staff who fail to meet before-school screening parameters or become ill during the school day. If no designated isolation room exists, an area with closable doors may serve as a temporary isolation room until the potentially sick individual is able to leave. Administrators should restrict the number of persons entering the isolation area. The isolation room should be properly sanitized and disinfected regularly per EPA Guidance on Disinfectants. Appropriate PPE must be utilized in conjunction with universal precautions and proper hand-washing hygiene. When applicable, the isolation room should be located near the nurse’s clinic to provide flexibility for the nurse to tend to students throughout the day while maintaining day-to-day duties. Individuals working in the isolation room should wear appropriate PPE, N95 mask, protective gown, gloves, and plastic face shield. Use of ID Scanners If documentation of each student’s daily temperature reading is desired, campuses may utilize an ID scanner. The ID scanner will track individual students through the student ID number. As students enter the building, campus personnel will scan the student’s ID, which generates a record on a spreadsheet. A second individual will then scan the student’s temperature reading and inform the person managing the spreadsheet to input the appropriate temperature reading. While this approach is permissible, it may not be feasible based on the number of students who must be screened each day.



Students Showing COVID-19 Symptoms and/or Temperature Staff/students who have the following non-emergent COVID-19 Symptoms on arrival or become sick during the day must be separated from others and placed in the designated isolation area until they can be evaluated and sent home. The designated screening station liaison will ensure students are sent to the designated isolation area. Most common symptoms are fever, cough, and shortness of breath; however, children are less likely to have symptoms compared to adults, and many have no clinical symptoms, according to this report: CDC MMWR Report COVID-19 Symptoms

• Feeling feverish, or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0° F

• Loss of taste or smell

• Cough

• Difficulty breathing

• Shortness of breath

• Headache

• Chills

• Sore throat

• Shaking or exaggerated shivering

• Significant muscle pain or ache

• Diarrhea

The following protocols will apply when staff/students present with COVID-19 symptoms: 1. Promote isolation by separating staff/student from others and settling the student in the

designated campus isolation room. If no designated isolation room exists, a designated area with closable doors may serve as a temporary isolation room until the potentially sick individual is able to leave.

2. Restrict the number of persons entering the isolation area. 3. Close off areas used by a sick individual until the spaces can be disinfected per EPA Guidance

on Disinfectants. 4. Appropriate PPE must be utilized in conjunction with universal precautions and proper hand-

washing hygiene. Clinical judgment should be exercised to evaluate the risk of exposure and to identify appropriate PPE. Nurses should consider use of protective eyewear, face shield, gown, gloves, and N95 mask to decrease risk of droplet transmission.

5. Immediately following the isolation of a student or staff member with COVID-19 symptoms, consider temporarily relocating students and staff in close contact to allow for disinfection of the classroom.

The following protocols will apply when staff/students who have been on campus present with a

lab-confirmed case of COVID-19:

1. The campus should identify any individuals who had close contact with the positive case. All students/staff potentially exposed to the case should self-isolate for 14 days before returning to work/school.

2. Written notification must be sent to all teachers, staff, and parents/guardians of students if a positive COVID-19 case is identified at a campus.

3. The Campus COVID-19 Campus Response Team will follow established campus notification procedures to notify Central Administration.

4. The district must also notify the El Paso Department of Public Health at (915) 212-6520.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6914e4.htm#T1_down




Return After Positive COVID-19 Test In the case of an employee or student who is diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual may return to school when all of the following criteria are met: 1. At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of

fever-reducing medications); AND 2. The individual has improvement in symptoms (for example, cough or shortness breath have

improved); AND 3. At least 10 days have passed since their symptoms first appeared.

Inclement Weather Plan Campus personnel should continually monitor weather trends and forecasts. In the event of inclement weather, the screening stations should be moved to large common areas (gymnasiums, auditoriums) to ensure students in screening lines are adequately protected from weather conditions. If a campus lacks a large enough area to house screening stations and screening lines indoors, then administration should consider marking off designated hallways to ensure adequate supervision is available to monitor students while they are waiting to be screened.

Off-Hour Student Activities

“Off-hours” are defined as before and after school. Student activities conducted during off-hours

shall be under the direction and supervision of the school sponsor hosting the event. The hosting school sponsor will properly screen the participating students as described under the Student Screening protocol. Once students have been properly screened and cleared by their sponsor, they are considered “cleared” for the rest of that school day. A student participating in an after-school activity who did not go to school that day will be screened and cleared by the school sponsor before being allowed to participate. Principals shall establish set times defining off-hours before and after school. For example, students may arrive early, but not before 7 a.m.; and students remaining after school should be off campus by 5 p.m., unless authorized by the principal for a specific event related to athletics, fine arts, parent nights, etc. Before School • Each principal should identify and authorize certain faculty leaders of Career and Technology

Student Organizations (CTSO) and other student organizations to conduct before-school activities.

• Authorized faculty leaders should have the resources necessary to conduct initial daily entry and screening, including no-touch thermometers and hand sanitizer use, prior to screening for symptoms of COVID-19.

• Principals should establish a training program for authorized faculty leaders, so they are able perform the entry protocols and screen students.

• Authorized faculty leaders should be issued specific keys for on-campus areas needed for their specific CTSO or student organization.

• Principals should establish a key control, no-touch thermometer, and general resources accountability and tracking system for all faculty leaders.

• Faculty leaders should establish a specific time for entry before school. For example, the faculty leader might conduct entry and screening protocols from 7 to 7:10 a.m. Outside of that time period, students should be restricted from entering campus until the normal entry and screening process goes into effect at the start of the school day. Faculty leaders should identify early-arriving students ahead of time, and plan for them to be screened and monitored prior to the beginning of class.


• Once on campus, students should not be allowed to leave except in the case of emergency or at the request of a parent.

After School • There is no need to perform entry protocols for students who are already on campus and report

to an after-school program. These students already met the protocols at the start of the school day; however, faculty leaders should continue to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms.

• Students who choose to participate in UIL and extracurricular activities and opted for online learning will have to be properly screened for symptoms and temperature before being allowed to participate.

• Students who participate in Classroom Learning and report to after-school programs should not be allowed to leave campus and return. They should report directly to their faculty leader after the last bell.

• Principals should establish a time by which all students reporting to an after-school program should be in place. For example, if school ends at 4 p.m., all students should be at their after-school program by 4:10 p.m., while all other students should be cleared from the campus by that time.

• Principals should establish a time when all after-school programs should end and all students should be off campus (5 p.m., for example). Principals may make exceptions for specific events.

• Faculty leaders should always maintain control of their students, both before and after school.

Weekend Use of Facilities Principals should follow all guidelines under the “Before School” and “After School” categories above, and establish specific entry and exit times.

Other Off-Hour Use of Facilities Principals should follow TEA guidelines and limit or eliminate the use of facilities by vendors, organizations, and the public at large. This may include the public use of track and field facilities, town-hall meetings, guest speakers at assemblies, non-campus organizational use of theaters and conference rooms, etc.


Hallway Traffic Campus administration should ensure hallways are labeled for clear and unobstructed traffic flow. Designating one-way hallways can alleviate the possibility of students running into each other during morning transition to class, and passing periods throughout the school day. Campus administrators should minimize the number of transitions and attempt to stagger schedules to reduce the flow of traffic during transitions. Where one-way hallways are not possible, two-way traffic can be allowed, with students advised to travel on the far right and maintain social distancing. Below is a sample map that demonstrates a one-way traffic flow design.

Sample One-Way Hallway Design


Closed Campuses

Due to health and safety measures and the time dedicated to the morning screening process, all Ysleta ISD campuses will be considered “closed” campuses, and students will not be allowed to leave the campus for lunch.

Bus Transportation In line with guidance from the CDC, Department of Public Safety (DPS), TEA, and the City of El Paso, the district’s Transportation Department will follow these protocols for the safe transportation of students to and from schools: • All Transportation employees, especially school bus drivers, will attend in-service training

before transporting students to inform them of new policies and procedures, including how to effectively clean buses.

• All bus drivers will be provided PPE, to include masks, hand sanitizer, a contactless thermometer, and an approved EPA disinfecting solution.

• The district will issue procedures that include taking each student’s temperature prior to allowing a child on the bus.

• Masks will be required for students, bus drivers, and bus attendants in accordance with the current Disease Activity Level.

• Seats will be marked off with tape to avoid children sitting too close to each other. • Rosters will be kept recording the name and date for every student transported to facilitate the

process of contact tracing, when required.

Operational Procedures • Every bus will be equipped with hand sanitizer, and students are required to use hand sanitizer

upon boarding the bus. • Students will be encouraged to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue – if a tissue is not

available, then they should cough or sneeze into their elbow. Used tissues should be thrown in the trash, and hands should be sanitized.

• Masks will be required for students in accordance with the current Disease Activity Level. • Students from same family may ride in same rows, but unrelated students should be seated

with rows in between them. • When buses are not in motion and are empty, windows will be open to allow outside air to

circulate.

Seating on the Bus Only one student should sit on each bus seat, and whenever possible, every other row should be occupied. • Masks should be worn when use of alternate rows for seating is not possible. • Siblings from the same household may sit together in the same seat. • Passengers should sit in the same seat going to and returning from the trip. Bus Cleaning Buses will be thoroughly and routinely disinfected, especially high-touch areas, in these circumstances: • After the bus drops off students at home or school (every trip) • At the completion of morning and/or afternoon run All school vehicle drivers must be trained in how to appropriately and effectively clean and disinfect the school vehicle.


Additional Transportation Guidelines

• Do not open windows during vehicle trips, as it increases the spread of droplets.

• No food or drink will be allowed on the bus.

• Students must use hand sanitizer when they board the bus.

• Bus drivers will monitor students as they load or unload to encourage social distancing (load back to front and unload front to back).

• The seat behind the driver must remain empty during every trip.

• The temperatures of school vehicle drivers and attendants will be taken before active duty. According to the CDC, any staff member with a temperature of 100° F or higher is considered to have a fever.

Re-Opening Cleaning and Disinfection

Goals and Purpose The following procedures are a combination of various requirements promoted by the City of El Paso Department of Public Health, the Contagious/Infectious Disease Annex of the Texas School Safety Center, the Texas Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control. The purpose of the following information is to provide clear and concise procedures for sanitizing common areas, classrooms, restrooms, student activity areas, and points of entry into district facilities. The primary goal of our reopening sanitation and spread prevention procedures are to provide and enforce the use of spread prevention measures to limit the impact of the COVID-19 virus at schools. School custodians and administration will support the measures outlined in this section to prevent the spread and impact of the COVID-19 virus.

General Procedures

• Clean and disinfect surfaces and equipment routinely throughout the day. Microfiber cloths and disinfectant will be available in every classroom for use on electronic devices.

• Practice hand hygiene frequently: wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

• Ensure bathrooms are adequately supplied with soap, water, and drying materials.

• Ensure an adequate number of trash receptacles are conveniently placed throughout the school campus.

• Provide alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol for use at established hand

sanitizing stations strategically located throughout the campus. Consider placing the alcohol-

based hand sanitizer at visible, frequently used locations such as registration desks, common

areas, transition points, etc.

• Practice routine cleaning of highly touched areas and surfaces, including doorknobs, tables,

handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks, handrails, etc.

• Frequently disinfect surfaces with EPA-approved products, which are effective against emerging viral pathogens to include the virus that causes COVID-19. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products, e.g., concentration, application method, contact time, and use of personal protective equipment.

• Ensure commercial cleaning products are not substituted for alcohol-based hand sanitizer as this may cause injury or allergic reactions to the cleaning product. Never use bleach or vinegar as a hand sanitizer as these products are highly corrosive and may cause burns and skin irritation.


General Surface Sanitation Following CDC guidelines for Cleaning and Disinfecting, clean surfaces with soap and water followed by disinfection with an EPA approved disinfectant. Remember the 3 S’s of surface sanitation: Spray, Spread, Stop

1. Spray the surface (2-3 sprays for 4 feet of surface). 2. Using a paper towel, spread the solution to coat the surface. Do not scrub the surface as

the solution will be unequally distributed. 3. Do not over spray the surface. 4. Do not spray the solution on a paper towel, and then apply. 5. Use a microfiber cloth to clean electronic devices.

Sanitation Process Assuming the previous guidelines are followed, the following steps will prevent the spread of COVID-19 and most other viruses or bacteria:

1. After completing the COVID-19 screening and temperature check, students/staff should immediately wash or sanitize hands. a. Proper hand washing (sanitation) involves water (preferably hot) and soap. b. Wet hands and place a small amount of soap in the hand. Begin to lather the soap

and vigorously scrub the hands, ensuring fingers, wrists, and nails are scrubbed. c. After scrubbing hands for about 20 seconds, completely rinse and dry hands, using

a paper towel. 2. After class, at the end of individual learning activities or extracurricular activities, all

surfaces – including electronics, materials, equipment, and instruments – should be sanitized using the guidelines above.

3. Before leaving the school or district facility, students/staff should wash their hands using the guidelines above.

School Day Safety Considerations

Entry/Exit Before the School Day Begins Schools may open any exterior entry/exit doors if the following safety, security, and health processes are followed:

• Any unsecured entry/exit door must be controlled by a staff member.

• All students and employees entering or leaving a school building must wear a face mask.

• All students or employees must be properly screened for COVID-19 before being allowed access to the school building. Please refer to the Ysleta ISD School Screening Protocols.

• All students and staff should wash their hands immediately after entering the building.

Beginning of School Day Develop procedures for entry into the school building, to include the following:

• Pre-screening of students daily.

• Identify number of screening stations, taking into consideration the layout of the building and student enrollment.

• Provide floor markings every 6 feet as students wait to be screened.

• Dedicate the appropriate number of school personnel needed to take temperatures for students and staff entering campus.

• Identify an isolation room for students and teachers who have a temperature above 100.0° F.

• Have personnel available to follow the above-stated procedures for students who have zero period, athletics, band, etc.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/pdf/Reopening_America_Guidance.pdf

https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2-covid-19


• Have personnel available to monitor students to ensure they are following social distance guidelines as they wait in line and walk to class.

During the School Day

Breakfast

• Breakfast will continue to be served in the classroom, allowing students to remain socially distant while eating at their desks.

• Breakfast and lunch meals will be individually packaged.

• To ensure social distancing and limit the number of people touching the individually packaged meals, teachers will be responsible for providing a meal to each student in the classroom.

• Students should not share food or drinks.

Classrooms

• Arrange classroom seating to provide social distancing.

• Desk dividers will be provided for each student desk.

• Student desks should face the same direction rather than facing each other.

• Teachers should refrain from conducting group activities.

• Limit mixing or exchange of students between groups as much as possible. ▪ Elementary school students should be taught in self-contained classrooms. ▪ Secondary schools should utilize cohorts as much as possible, limiting the number of class

transitions and cross exposure between cohorts.

• Students should be reminded to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, which should be thrown away and hands washed immediately.

• Classroom materials should not be shared between students. Classroom textbook sets used at the secondary level should be sanitized between class periods.

• Classrooms should refrain from using communal supplies, to include calculators, pencils, markers, etc.

Common Areas To provide the safest environment possible in our common/collaborative spaces, the following guidelines will be implemented:

• Meeting Spaces: Meetings will be limited to video-conferencing when possible. If meetings must be held in person, social distancing protocols and masks are required.

• Administrative Spaces: Meetings will be limited to video-conferencing when possible. If meetings must be held in person, social distancing protocols and masks are required.

• Flexible Learning Spaces: The number of students in these areas will be limited to comply with social distancing parameters. Multiple classes will not be allowed to use the same flexible learning space at the same time.

• Elevators: Only students and staff members with physical impairments, or those who need to move large/heavy equipment, will be allowed to use the elevator. No more than two people will ride the elevator at one time. If two riders at one time does not allow for appropriate social distancing, then the elevator occupancy should be limited to one person at a time.

• Library: Occupancy will be limited to comply with social distancing parameters.

Hallways

• To minimize the students facing each other, schools should consider implementing one-way hallways whenever possible.

• When one-way hallways are not possible, provide for two-way traffic with social distance between each direction of student traffic.


Lunch All school campuses will be closed for lunch. Consider the following guidelines when developing procedures for lunch:

• Students should eat lunch in the classrooms whenever possible. Keep in mind teachers must be given a 30-minute duty-free lunch.

• Food items must not be shared.

• Elementary schools may consider options for recess after lunch. All social distancing guidelines must continue to be followed.

• Elementary schools may consider options such as Recess Before Lunch to minimize the number of students on the playground.

Restrooms

• Develop procedures to minimize the number of students in restrooms at any given time (i.e. restroom monitors, no restrooms break during transitions, only during class time).

• Remind students to wash hands frequently, preferably for a minimum of 20 seconds.

Water Fountains

• Water fountains will be closed. Students should bring their own refillable water bottles to school.

• Campuses will designate water-filling stations where students may refill their water bottles.

End of School Day Dismissal Develop procedures to dismiss students in an orderly manner. Consider using several different exits, if possible.

Entry/Exit After the School Day Ends Schools may open any exterior entry/exit doors if the following safety, security, and health procedures are followed: • Students and staff members should wash hands before exiting the building at the end of the

day. • Any unsecured entry/exit door must be controlled by a school employee. • School administrators must ensure students do not congregate or assemble in any common

areas or classrooms after the school day ends. Students are encouraged to leave the school as soon as possible.

• Each campus should designate an area where students who may be delayed in leaving can wait for a parent/guardian. This area should be monitored by a staff member and accommodate enough people to ensure social distancing is accomplished.

• All students and employees exiting a school building must be wearing a face mask.

Visitor Procedures Supporting References The primary changes for main entrance visitor procedures surrounds the screening and mitigation processes for COVID-19. Even though this pandemic is a critical focus for schools, the current vetting procedures must continue to be used to ensure the safety and security of all persons in our schools. The following information adapts the new procedures for COVID-19 screening into our existing visitor procedures. The City of El Paso’s Guidance for Return to School focuses solely


on the screening process for COVID-19 and the school’s reaction to possible contamination. The CDC also provided guidance focused on reopening procedures, screening processes, and sanitation. The Texas Education Agency also provides direction in these same areas on their COVID-19 website. Finally, the Texas School Safety Center provided limited direction for visitor safety, but avoided giving specific visitor procedures to schools. The procedures below clarify the existing guidance and incorporates it with established visitor procedures. Visitor Management System (VMS) All Ysleta ISD schools are equipped with a video visitor system designed to help office staff engage visitors to 1) ascertain the intent of the visit; 2) ensure visitors have proper identification; and 3) ensure visitors are wearing masks before entering the facility. The following general procedures should be followed during the school day: • School staff should greet visitors when the VMS is engaged from outside the building at the

primary entrance. • For elementary and middle schools, the main (primary) entrance is the only entry point for

visitors. All other exterior entry/exit doors are secured and only provide an exit from the facility. • For high schools, a limited number of controlled entry points will be used to limit unexpected

visitors and ensure health and welfare procedures are followed. • Admittance to the school should be granted for one of the following purposes:

1. Appointment with school personnel. 2. Dropping off an item for a student or a teacher use, e.g. backpack. 3. Vendor or contract visits (UPS, USPS, etc.) should be scheduled on Fridays, when fewer

people are on campus. • Anyone without a clear purpose for visiting the campus should be denied entry. • The visitor must show proper ID to the camera, and staff should verify the visitor has an

acceptable face covering before entering the building. 1. Acceptable forms of ID are any state-issued or federal-issued ID, to include military IDs.

Passports are also accepted. 2. Foreign and employment IDs are unacceptable.

• Discourage group visits. • Drop-in visits should not be allowed. Encourage visitors to schedule an appointment and if

possible, communicate via phone or teleconference. • A sign will be provided detailing this process, in English and Spanish, to be posted directly

above the video visitor system. • The visitor’s ID should be scanned against the Texas Department of Public Safety Sex

Offender’s database. • If all requirements are met, allow admittance to the school building, ensuring the visitor is

directed to the front office. Front office personnel must observe the visitor, vetting them for suspicious and unauthorized behavior, including suspicious packages.

• Prior to issuing a visitor name badge, the visitor must successfully complete the YISD COVID-19 Screening Protocol. Ultimately, access beyond the front office should be restricted unless necessary.

Front Office Visitor Procedures In preparation for receiving visitors, the following standards should be established in the school’s front office: • Ensure office staff use newly installed barriers when speaking to a visitor. • Clearly mark a 6-foot line for visitors to stand behind while conducting business in the school. • Ensure the sign requiring visitors to wear a face mask is clearly on display.


• Establish a room close to the office (conference room) for face-to-face meetings. If a meeting is necessary, social distancing and number of members physically present should be limited. Follow disinfecting guidelines after every meeting.

• Support and promote virtual conferences and meetings using available district resources. Tele-conference with community members whenever possible.

• Follow guidelines for disinfecting the front office, entry doors, and meeting rooms, as needed. • For any person admitted past the front office, the YISD COVID-19 Screening Protocol should

be used. Any failure of the screening protocol will prevent the guest from admittance to the building. Provide the community member with the elpasostrong.org website for referral to COVID-19 testing sites.


Contributors Antonio Acuña, Principal Amy Alarcon, Principal

Del Valle High School Del Valle Middle School

Susan Austin Penelope Bankston, Principal

Chief Counsel Parkland High School

Roberto Basurto, Associate Superintendent Sylvia Belmontes, MSN, RN, Director

Student Support Services Student Health Services

Charles Dorsey, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret.), Director

Mario Gomez, Director

Junior ROTC Transportation

Dr. Ron Livermore, Director J. R. Martinez, Director

Emergency Operations & Preparedness Security and Safety

Dr. Raul Medellin, Coordinator Dr. Diana Otero, Director

Assessment, Research, Evaluation, & Accountability

Special Education Services

Claudia Poblano, Principal Lorraine Quintela, Director

East Point Elementary Risk Management

Dr. Angela Reyna, Principal Mario A. Rodriguez, Associate Superintendent

Parkland Middle School Maintenance & Operations

B. Abigail Tarango, Director Scott Thoreson, Director

Special Projects and Strategic Initiatives Fine Arts

James Vasquez, Director Sarah Venegas, Principal

Pupil & Parent Services Eastwood Middle School

Malinda Villalobos, Principal Michael K. Williams, Director

Young Women’s Leadership Academy Athletics

Frances Yepez, Director

Facilities & Construction

Documents

RESET, REIMAGINE, and RESPOND Fall 2020 Plan · Updated 7/20/2020 Table of Contents ... which meant the district would resume face-to-face instruction no later than Aug. 24. Before