Reopening Guidance 2020-21 Please note that these plans evolve with - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Reopening Guidance

2020-21 Please note that these plans evolve with the times. As we get new guidance from the CDC and our local Health Departments, and as we see what works and what does not work, we will update the plans.

We will be calling each of you individually to chat about your thoughts and concerns soon.

We want to hear from you!

Meeting- A voluntary Question and Answer Zoom has been scheduled for July 28th at 11 AM CDT. Check your email for an invitation. The meeting will be recorded if you are unable to attend.

You may submit your questions, comments, suggestions, and concerns anonymously via a Google form via the link below.

Submit your questions/comments here.

During the Zoom meeting you may also type your questions and comments in the chat box.

This presentation is not comprehensive and is intended to cover a few

• topics. Please see the

Covid-19 Parent Handbook for more information.

Local School Plans

Marion: Marion County Schools will follow the approved 2020-2021 school calendar. Registration for the 2020-2021 school year will occur

prior to August 10, 2020. The first full day of school is August 10, 2020. Parents/guardians will have the option of their student

attending school or participating in remote learning. Students attending school will follow the normal 5 day school schedule. Students

participating in remote learning will participate in a 5 day schedule that will include direct instruction from Marion County educators.

Rhea: Rhea County students will return to school on August 7th, 2020 for the first full day of school. Our priorities are the health and safety

• f our students and staff and providing academic instruction to prepare students for the future. Schools will open in a traditional manner

with a RC virtual option for families. A student that chooses the virtual path must remain on the same path for one semester unless approved by the principal. More information about the RC virtual school will be sent out next week.

Grundy: Grundy County Schools will have their first full day on August 7. Parents/guardians will have the option of their student attending

school or participating in remote learning. Students attending school will follow the normal 5 day school schedule. Students participating in remote learning will participate in a 5 day schedule that will include direct instruction from Grundy County educators. Students who choose virtual learning must stay on the virtual plan until January 1.

Sequatchie: Sequatchie County Schools will have their first full day of school on August 3. Parents/guardians will have the option of their

student attending school or participating in remote learning. Students attending school will attend two days per week with a third day be virtual learning. Students will attend Monday, Thursday or Tuesday, Friday with Wednesday being the online learning day. Students who choose virtual learning must stay on the virtual plan until January 1.

Bledsoe: Bledsoe County School System has not released their plan yet. The reopening of Bledsoe County Schools has been postponed to

August 25. Registration day is set for August 24. Student schedules will be staggered in the first week to acclimate students slowly to new changes, and more details regarding the staggered schedule will be announced soon.

New Covid-19 Model

In Head Start classrooms, we will be reducing the class size.

• 17 total children in each class.

○ 10- 12 Center Based learners (In the building) ○ 5-7 Remote Learning students (At home) ○ Remote learners may wish to move into center based as space becomes available. We will use our selection criteria to determine who will move first.

In Early Head Start the class size will remain the same.

• 8 total children in each class.
• LENA Home will be added to our resources

to reach children when they are not in class.

Hybrid Learning Model

Head Start

• The 5-7 remote learners will use of Cognitive

Toybox https://www.cognitivetoybox.com/ and Class Dojo (see next slide) to interact with their class and to complete the DRDP assessment.

• All families (including the 10-12 center based

students) will have access to these resources for days when school might be closed.

• Training will be provided for both of these

interfaces. Early Head Start

• All students will have access to Class Dojo, and we

will be using LENA Home to engage our students on days when class is not in session. Devices will be available for families who need them. We are also looking into the use of hotspots for families who do not have access to reliable internet service.

Switching from Facebook to Class Dojo

Why the switch? Class Dojo is widely used in schools and meets security needs for our agency while providing a platform for interactions between staff, children and families. Classrooms have been created in Class Dojo and teachers will receive an invite to join the class. Class Dojo has many features: posts that can be shared between users, access to a Dojo classroom where assignments and videos can be posted, and a portfolio feature that allows parents to upload pictures of completed assignments. https://youtu.be/OAEkfrwtAOI

Class schedule = 4 day/week & 6 hours/day

Head Start: Days and Hours

• Head Start Classes will meet Tuesday -

Friday for 6 hours per day except in Dunlap.

• Classes will generally run from 8:00 - 2:00

and 9:00 - 3:00.

• Grab and Go Meals and Socialization for

Remote Learners will take place on Mondays. Early Head Start: Days and Hours

• EHS Classes will meet Tuesday - Friday for

6 hours per day.

• Classes will generally run from 8:00 - 2:00

and 9:00 - 3:00.

• Kids Bank and Dayton Early will each have
• ne class that runs from 8:30 - 2:30. Staff

will decide which class is on the early

• schedule. Parents will be given a more

specific time to stagger arrivals. Arrival and Pick Up times for both Head Start and Early Head Start will be staggered to avoid parents gathering in the entryways and to promote social distancing.

Sample Class Schedules - Head Start

8:00 - 2:00 9:00 - 3:00 Time Activity Time Activity 8:00 - 8:30 Arrival/Sign In 9:00 - 9:30 Arrival/Sign-In 8:30 - 9:00 Breakfast 9:30 - 10:00 Breakfast 9:00 - 10:00 Centers 10:00 - 11:00 Centers 10:00 - 11:00 Outside 11:00 - 12:00 Outside 11:00 - 11:30 Lunch 12:00 - 12:30 Lunch 11:30 - 12:30 Centers 12:30 - 1:30 Centers 12:30 - 1:45 Outside 1:30 - 2:45 Outside 1:45 - 2:00 Snack/Depart 2:45 - 3:00 Snack/Depart

Notes 10 Center-Based Learners 7 Remote Learners 8:00 class will do bus service for about half our usual number. On the days that children are not in the center , the Agency may do grab-and-go meals. Extended time outside is recommended as long as one group is outside at a time or in a well defined area, and the slides and handrails are cleaned between groups. One floater will be assigned to each classroom, to extent

• possible. There will be limited movement between

classrooms. Meals will be served pre-plated and stafg will eat on a paid break. Center Time can be conducted outside if learning centers are set up outdoors.

Sample Class Schedules Early Head Start

8:00 - 2:00 9:00 - 3:00 8:30 - 2:30 EHS 3rd Class Time Activity Time Activity Time Activity 8:00 - 8:30 Arrival/Sign In 9:00 - 9:30 Arrival/Sign-In 8:30 - 9:00 Arrival/Sign In 8:30 - 9:00 Breakfast 9:30 - 10:00 Breakfast 9:00 - 9:30 Breakfast 9:00 - 10:00 Centers 10:00 - 11:00 Centers 9:30 - 10:00 Outside 10:00 - 11:00 Outside 11:00 - 12:00 Outside 10:00 - 11:00 Centers 11:00 - 11:30 Lunch 12:00 - 12:30 Lunch 11:30 - 12:00 Lunch 11:30 - 12:30 Centers 12:30 - 1:30 Centers 12:00 - 1:00 Centers 12:30 - 1:45 Outside 1:30 - 2:45 Outside 1:00 - 2:15 Outside 1:45 - 2:00 Snack/Depart 2:45 - 3:00 Snack/Depart 2:15 - 2:30 Snack/Depart

Developmental Screenings

Ages & Stages Questionnaire: This is a series of parent-completed questionnaires that screen and monitor a child’s development. All children will be screened with the ASQ. We will not be using the Brigance this year. How ASQ works:

• Select the questionnaire that matches the child’s age
• Ask the parent to complete the questionnaire (offer help)
• The parent answers the questions online through Family Access
• Scoring of the questionnaire is automatic
• Discuss results with parents and determine next steps
• Share activities with parents

Health Screenings

Head Start

• Scheduled appointments for new and virtual

learners

• Appointments will be scheduled in 30 min

increments

• Only Parent(s) and enrolled child(ren) may attend
• Temperature check and CDC questions will be

conducted

• Parent(s) and child(ren) must wear masks
• Returning children will be screened at the center

when they return to the classroom

Early Head Start

• All children (returning and new enrollees)

will be screened at the center when they return to the classroom.

Home Visiting

Staff should complete two home visits with each center-based student first, and then work on completing the home visits for the remote learners. We may develop a process to do the home visits in the center later in the year.

• Home Visit 1: Drive-By (In-person visit)

○ Meet with the family in the front yard or driveway of their home ○ Make sure to maintain social distancing and offer a mask to the parents

• Home Visit 2: Virtual Visit

○ Schedule a visit with the family on Zoom ○ Greet the family and the child ○ Explain Class Dojo (share your screen and show them what to do)

Parent Conferences

• We will continue to do three parent conferences per year.
• We are going to do the best we can, keeping in mind the situation we are in

when conference time arrives.

• There will be varied options for completion of conferences.

○ In-person (maintaining social distancing or all parties using masks) ○ Virtual (Zoom call) ○ On the phone

Cloth Face Coverings - Adults

Cloth masks must we worn by team members when social distancing is not possible. Education staff may step six feet away from children and staff for short mask breaks. When you are 6 feet away from children and staff, public schools are calling this being in your teaching bubble. You must clean your hands before and after touching any part of the mask other than the ear strap. Keep masks cleaned and supply your own to the extent possible. Nutrition workers are not required to wear a mask when they are working in the kitchen alone. When a nutrition aide

• r helper is present and staff cannot remain 6 feet apart, masks must be worn. Only nutrition staff and assigned

aides or supervisor will be allowed in the kitchen. Staff are not required to wear a mask when in their office or teacher workplace alone. A mask must be nearby as guests may pop in. Staff members should refrain from congregating in or around these work spaces, even with

• masks. . To encourage social distancing, we are reconfiguring offices with two workstations by relocating the

second workstation to another area of the building.

Cloth Face Coverings - Children

We will encourage the use of masks for children over the age of 2 years. We realize that children will likely be taking the masks on and off; playing with the masks, etc. Masks are an important part of keeping children and staff safe and virus free. Masks are not worn during rest times and during meals, etc. Other programs are reporting great luck at having children use masks.

• Children will be offered a cloth mask on arrival to our center during the morning health
• check. We will be providing masks
• Children will not be forced to wear a mask. Children who remove their mask may store it in

their cubby. Child masks must be washed daily by our staff, and can be washed with other

• items. .
• Parents may provide a favorite mask from home if they wish

Meal-Time

All surfaces including tables and chairs will be cleaned and disinfected before and after meal preparation and feedings using FightBac Disinfectant. To sanitize the surface, the dwell time is 1 minute. Each child’s meal will be plated in the kitchen and covered with a clear plastic wrap by the nutrition worker, instead of served family-style. For the first 2-weeks of class, we will use paper products only. Staff will allow for a minimum of 4 feet of space between children during mealtimes (6 feet is preferred).

• Food carts will be picked up and returned to outside the kitchen door by a teacher, teacher

assistant, or floater. Only staff members directly involved with food preparation will be allowed to enter the kitchen.

• Nutrition staff should not eat in classrooms and should limit time with children and other

staff.

• Children will not share eating utensils and will not help to set the table.
• Teachers will do clean-up. Children should not be allowed to take up their plate, dispose of

milk, or place plates, utensils, etc., in the dishpan going back to the kitchen.

• Nutrition workers must clean and disinfect returned food carts between each use using the

Sanibet Disinfectant. Please use the 10-minute dwell time.

Meal-Time (Continued)

Meal-Time (Continued)

When distributing food, feeding babies, or feeding a bottle, staff should wear food prep gloves. Teachers and assistants will distribute meals and snacks to children wearing gloves and masks. Teacher, assistant, and floaters will not share a meal with the children but will have a short on the clock break later in the day for a quick lunch. As children will be spread apart, teachers and assistants will stand to supervise

• meals. This goes against everything you have been told before.

Staff Meals

• Because staff members will not be eating with the children, they will need to take

short, on-the-clock eating breaks (10-15 minutes).

• Staff members can bring a small lunch or eat what the nutrition worker has prepared

for that day.

• Head Start classroom teams should work out a plan and operate as a unit.

○ Please be respectful of your coworkers and do not abuse this break. ○ If staff members are absent, it will fall to the team leader to work out a plan so that everyone gets to eat.

• Early Head Start Team Leaders will need to create a plan so that the floater can

replace teachers while they take this short eating break.

• Staff food should not be stored in the kitchen. Centers that do not have a staff

refrigerator outside of the kitchen will be provided one.

Grab and Go Meals

• We are working to provide families with Grab and Go meals beginning October 5th.
• Children attending class on Tuesday- Friday will be provided at least one breakfast

and one lunch to cover the Monday meals when class does not meet.

• Children enrolled in virtual learning will receive at least 5 breakfasts and 5 lunches

each week. Mondays will be the pick-up day for these meals.

• Meals will be distributed on Mondays. Dunlap will have a different plan TBD.

Sequatchie County schools is working to provide Grab and Grow Meals for the children in Dunlap.

Social Distancing- Classroom Strategies -1

In Head Start classrooms, three adults will be assigned to each classroom. The adults will be assigned 3-4 children each to create small learning pods and to support social distancing. Teacher will add tape to the floor to mark distances and use plastic dividers to help children to be physically distant but stay socially connected. Each will be provided with their own clear box of art supplies, playdough and sensory items.

Social Distancing- Classroom Strategies -2

Teachers will limit the number of children allowed to play in a play center and will sanitize toys after each use to the extent possible. One child in quiet centers and two children blocks and housekeeping is recommended. Teachers will spread children out at mealtimes. We have purchased additional tables to allow children to be physically distanced at mealtime. Enjoy the outdoors! With fresh air and more space between children, the risk of Covid 19 goes down. Children and teachers will spend a significant amount of the day outside.

With your help, we will create a checklist for implementing social distance strategies in classrooms.

Socialization with Hybrid Model

Children participating in the hybrid model will be invited to join the teacher at the center twice a month for socialization. During this 2 hour visit, children will interact with each other and staff. This interaction will occur on a day when regular class is not in session (Generally Mondays- Wednesday in Dunlap) and will coincide with food pick-up and technology updates.

Can I touch the children??

Physical care (hugs, picking students up, putting students on your lap, rocking students): It is important to comfort crying, sad, and/or anxious children. Provide comfort to students whenever they need it. Allow child to child hugs/contact to happen naturally. Refrain from organizing group activities that require physical closeness, such as playing Ring around the Rosie, going to give your friend a hug, etc. Wash your hands after you’ve had an extended physical interaction with children.

Transportation

Due to Covid-19, we will be forced to limit the number of children on our minibuses to about half our usual number. Parents may request bus service by speaking with their family service worker. Only children without transportation will be considered for bus services this school year. If the minibus is full, family may decide to participate in our remote learning model.

Transportation -2

We have very limited bus space as we are trying to maintain physical distancing (at least 6 feet between children) on the bus and separate children who do not live with another child. Bus pick up will be in places where we can conduct a health screening before the child gets on the bus. This is also a new challenge. Buses will be disinfected after each run using a battery operated sprayer containing PH7Q Disinfect. Windows should be left open when the bus is parked.

Promoting Outdoor Play

Because social distancing is much easier to accomplish outdoors, we are encouraging all classes to spend as much time outside as possible. We will be dividing larger playgrounds with construction fencing in order to allow two classes to share the playground without interacting with each other. We will be using portable shade structures and misting hoses to mitigate the heat and to allow classes to spend more time outside. Friday lunches will often be sack lunch and picnics will be encouraged.

With your help, we will be sharing ideas for setting up

• utdoor classrooms.

Enjoying the outdoors! With fresh air and more space between children, the risk of Covid 19 goes down. Children and teachers will spend a significant amount of the day outside. We have purchased additional shade structures and water misting stations to help keep children and teachers cool during the summer and early

• fall. We have planned picnic lunches for the Head Start

children each Friday!

New Dress Code: Scrubs

• During the time of the pandemic, teaching staff will be expected to wear

scrubs while in the classroom and have an extra set on-site to change into in case of exposure. Shirts to wear over scrubs are useful also.

• The August paycheck will also contain a $250 stipend to assist you in

purchasing things like scrubs, masks, digital thermometers to self-screen at home, and other new “necessities” like good phones with internet

• access. New hire subs may receive a smaller amount. We hope to repeat

this stipend in January.

Arrival and Pick Up at Your Center

Each center will have its own detailed plan for arrival and pick up. Team Leaders and Management staff will work together to create the best plan possible for each center. These plans are subject to change as we start class and see what works well and what doesn’t work.

Sick/Isolation Space

Every center will have an identified location where a student or staff member who is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 will be taken to isolate them from

• thers until the individual can be picked up from from the center. Staff taking

care of sick children will need to use the full “PPE costume” to keep staff-the gown, medical grade mask, googles, gloves which we will have handy for any staff who want more gear, anytime!

What to expect at the health check for children

A health check station will be set up at the center. When possible, the station will be located inside the building but outside the child’s classroom. In some locations, the health check stations will be located on a porch, breezeway, or under an awning. In small entryways, only one family will be permitted inside at a time. It is always best to be outside in fresh air, so we hope to enjoy as many “outside” opportunities as possible-weather permitting. Staff will be wearing masks and gloves but are not required to wear other personal protective equipment (PPE) if parents can maintain a distance of 6 feet and the child has already had a temperature check at home.

Health checks for children (Continued)

For that reason, we urge parents to take temperatures at home (or even in the car) and stay back until the health check is completed. Spaces will likely be marked off to show parents where to stand with their child. If parents actually must enter the building, you are required to at a minimum use hand sanitizer and wear a mask (some rare medical exceptions allowed). Staying six feet apart is also the goal. Staff will use a non-contact (temporal) thermometer or alternate with a disposable covering to check the child’s temperature. To keep kids safe, the thermometer will be cleaned with an alcohol wipe (or isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab) between each health check when inadvertent contact occurs. To speed up the health check process, staff who do not have physical contact with the child will not need to change gloves before the next check.

Sick Child Policy

What to expect at the morning health check for staff

A health check station will be set up at the center for team members. Staff will be expected to take their temperature with the touch-free thermometer provided. We recommend that every team member also check their temperature before reporting to work. Team members should ask themselves the following questions. If a team member answers yes to any of the question, the member will likely be “screened out” and asked to return home. Additional instructions and procedures for staff health checks will be provided at a later date.

Closure due to Covid- 19

If we have a Covid outbreak, we will likely close our programs for between 2-5

• days. This initial short-term dismissal allows time for the local health officials

to gain a better understanding of the COVID-19 situation at our center and for staff members to clean and disinfect the center. We will work with the local health officials to determine the appropriate next steps, including whether an extended closure is needed to stop or slow further spread of COVID-19. CDC has great info on this topic, Covid is not hard to kill!

What does it mean to Quarantine?

As defined by the CDC, Quarantine refers to the practice of confining individuals who have had close contact with a COVID-19 case to determine whether they develop symptoms of the disease. Quarantine for COVID-19 should last for a period of 14 days. Staff who were directed to self quarantine should follow CDC guidance and remain in their homes for the quarantine period. Look at the definition of close contact closely-wearing masks and social distancing help!

What if I have to self-quarantine?

Staff who are quarantined due to a center or community-based exposure will have the options to: 1. Work from home providing virtual learning or other approved work and it must be documented well. 2. Use emergency-paid sick leave (EPSL) up to 10 days as detailed in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (currently scheduled to expire December 31, 2020), 3. *Use agency-provided leave if FFCRA EPSL leave has been exhausted or has expired, or 4. Continue to be paid without the need to use leave if the center is actually shut down and federal authorization permits (currently allowed through September 30, 2020). *Use of agency-provided leave may require submission of documentation verifying the need to quarantine after the 10 EPSL days have been used. Check in with the supervisor is needed each usual work day.

The Human Resource Manager will work individually with staff who must quarantine or isolate due to COVID-19 to determine which option is most reasonable and applicable and which documentation is required to support the quarantine request.

What if I get Covid-19?

Team members that test positive for Covid-19 generally isolate for 10 days according to the CDC’s most recent guidance. Day 1 begins on the day of the employee takes the Covid test. When can I return to work? Generally after the 10 days of isolation, the team member must be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication. Symptoms my linger past the 10 days, but a team member can return to work if symptoms are improving and they feel comfortable working. For team members that test positive for Covid-19 but are asymptomatic (without symptoms), the 10 day isolation period will start on the day of the Covid-19 test. In severe cases of Covid 19, a team member my need to isolate for longer than than the required 10 days. The team member should follow the guidance of their infectious disease physician or the local health department.

Sanitation

SVHS will continue to follow the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) cleaning schedule. The schedule calls for routinely cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting surfaces and objects that are frequently touched, especially toys and games. We will also be cleaning objects/surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, keyboards, electronic devices, and other high touch surfaces often, using CDC guidance. We have temporarily removed carpets and soft toys that cannot be easily cleaned from classrooms. We will no longer be using a bleach-water solution for most cleaning. All staff will be trained on the proper use

• f our new cleaning products. No outside cleaning product are allowed at centers.

We have selected an EPA approved cleaning product that will kill the Covid-19 virus and have additional products and/or dilution schedules for bloodborne pathogens. All cleaning products must be labeled and kept

• ut of reach of children. It appears that COVID-19 is a real airborne danger, and fortunately, is relatively easy

to clean off surfaces.

How will we clean after a Covid Outbreak?

We will close centers for 24 to 72 hours with no one permitted inside. A non vulnerable staff member in PPE or a contractor will enter the center to set off the Covid 19-disinfectant fogger, if one is available. The cleaner will return after the fogging process is completed to open windows and doors for 5-6 hours to allow time for the center to air out. Staff may reenter the facility after the center has been adequately ventilated. If a fogger is not available, the center will be closed for 72 hours and a non-vulnerable staff person will conduct routine

• cleaning. Newer guidance indicates that just the 72 hours of non-use is great.

Keeping you informed

We will continue to do our best to keep you informed of our reopening plans. If you have a question or concern, please email or call one of our management

• team. We do not have everything figured out, and we need your input. Please

share your thoughts and ideas. We have a lot to be thankful for including our dedicated staff. Our main goal is to keep our children and staff safe. Together, we will make it through this pandemic.

We have an outstanding program due to our incredible center teams! Our teams proved this spring that we have the ability to adapt and maintain high quality services for children and families. Together, we’ve got this!