Campus Facilities & Management

FACILITIES AND MANAGEMENT

The health and safety of our community will be a high priority as always, but especially this year. To assist and advise us with this, George School hired Environmental Health & Engineering (EH&E), a firm that provides consulting services to operators of buildings and campuses in the fields of education, healthcare, and commercial enterprises. Their work focuses on safety in labs, schools, and workspaces. We are working with EH&E in a joint engagement with approximately 30 other boarding schools to develop a set of standards that provide a framework for the safe operation of a boarding school.

We are also working directly with EH&E to review our specific campus and program, including residential life (dorm rooms, bathrooms/schedules, common areas), dining (schedules, spaces, serving options), academic planning (classroom density, spacing, etc.), athletics (including Fitness and Athletic Center usage and traffic flow), health center (screening, isolation space), and general traffic flows (ingress, egress, stairwells, etc.).

As EH&E progresses in their work, we will provide important updates about the use of masks, physical distancing, student schedules, rules for large gatherings, and other protocols that will be implemented to limit the risk of spreading COVID-19.

CLEANING, SANITIZING, DISINFECTING, AND VENTILATION

All high touch surface areas throughout campus have been identified and will be cleaned and disinfected multiple times throughout the day and as needed with EPA-approved disinfectants. EPA-approved electrostatic sprayers will also be utilized throughout campus to disinfect areas after cleaning.

Facilities staff will be on campus seven days a week to clean and disinfect. They will wear proper PPE while cleaning and disinfecting. Touch-free hand sanitizing stations will be present at the entrances to all buildings and classrooms. Disinfecting wipes will be provided on every dorm floor and outside dorm bathrooms.

Ventilation recommendations include protocols for opening building windows regularly, assessing proper air distribution in HVAC systems, and assessing the operational capabilities of all mechanical refrigeration equipment, water heaters, steam boilers, pumps, etc.

DISTANCING AND THE PHYSICAL CAMPUS

George School will establish a culture of physical distancing until it is no longer necessary. This will include maintaining a minimum of six feet of distance between people and limiting the number of people allowed to gather in indoor spaces at a given time.

The facilities staff will: • Use tape to mark acceptable physical distancing. • Post signs reminding the community about masks, hygiene, direction of hallway pedestrian flow, and physical distancing. • Maximize available campus space by using alternative spaces for gathering, dining, and teaching. • Post maximum room occupancy notices on classrooms, offices, and other areas.