Small School. Big Education.
COVID-19 Action Plan – Updated August 20, 2021
Overview • Our primary focus is always to ensure the health and safety of our students, staff, and school community. • Our small class sizes, extensive indoor and outdoor classroom and activity spaces, and overall resources allows us to physically reopen in full on August 23 – following governmental guidelines. • Should an all-school shutdown occur during the current school year, we will revert to online courses for the prescribed amount of time. Online learning includes implementing a full, remote academic and enrichment program with a focus on increased online facetime for students and faculty during the academic day. • Unlike larger schools with up to 30 students per class, Lake Tahoe School’s average class size of 18-20 students means that we will not have to offer a hybrid of in-person and online courses by dividing grades and offering classes on alternate days. LTS is offering a full daily schedule of academic and enrichment classes – with appropriate modifications as further outlined in this plan.
General Policies and Procedures • We are working closely with our school attorney to continuously review and implement legal policies related to the crisis. Also, we are in contact with our insurance broker for advice and liability information. • Our principal sources of health and safety information are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Washoe County Health Department, and the State of Nevada Governor’s Office – including the Nevada Department of Education’s Nevada’s Path Forward: A Framework for a Safe, Efficient, and Equitable Return to School Buildings. We are also utilizing National Association of Independent School (NAIS) and Northwest Association of Independent School (NWAIS) recommendations, and closely following Washoe County School District directives and the actions of peer schools around the country.
Planning Modification & Facility Zoning for Physical Distancing • Drop-off and pickup times for students are staggered or modified by location to allow for maximum separation. • Parents and visitors are not allowed beyond the main office beyond dropping off or picking up students, or the PreK or Kindergarten check-in areas during the school day. Potential visitors to campus must call the main office for an appointment. • Hallway traffic usage and locker area access is monitored during transition time between classes to provide for less large-scale interaction. Transitions themselves are limited and Enrichment teachers may travel to classes in some grades while the students remain in their classrooms. • In classrooms, individual desks are separated using the 3’ recommendation wherever possible. • Whenever possible, teachers are holding classes outdoors around the campus. Outdoor seats and equipment have been purchased to facilitate this move. Recess and after lunch playtime utilize a rotation system of all three playfields to break up larger groups of students.
Planning Modification & Facility Zoning for Physical Distancing • Classrooms that utilize shared supplies or manipulatives – art, music, MakerSpace, etc. – have moved from shared use to individual kits for required tools or projects. Restrictions are also in place for shared equipment in all classrooms. • Lunch use of the Lower and Middle cafeteria is staggered by time and location to allow for social distancing. We have purchased additional lunchroom tables for the cafeteria to facilitate this separation. Classes are encouraged to eat their meals outside as well, weather permitting. • Wherever appropriate and necessary, we are utilizing signage to identify where people should walk and to designate how far apart they should be. Specifically designated paths and outdoor access areas have been created to minimize movement within the main building during transitions. • Athletic offerings are determined by Tah-Neva League and Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) recommendations. As of this posting, fall sports such as Cross Country and Girls Basketball are scheduled as usual, and spectators are allowed with masks and social distancing.
Personal Protection • Teachers have established regular handwashing times throughout the day for their students. We have maximized locations for indoor and outdoor hand sanitizer stations. • All drinking fountains on campus are turned off. In their place, we added bottle fillers to the current machines. Students are required to bring their own water bottles from home. • Lake Tahoe School is following the directive of Governor Sisolak by requiring that masks be worn by all faculty, staff, and students in grades K-8. This policy covers all indoor interactions and public spaces including occupied classrooms, hallways, stairwells, and individual conferences or meetings. The requirement also extends to all visitors to campus – including parents, vendors, contractors, etc. regardless of vaccination status. For the full policy, please click here. • Our HVAC system has an ultraviolet light component that kills germs - including COVID-19 - as the air recirculates.
Transportation • Bus transportation will be limited in terms of seating to ensure students are properly distanced. Masks will be required for students and staff on all buses.
Supplies and Equipment • We have masks, gloves, hand sanitizers, cleaning equipment, chemicals, and dispensers. We have also identified new suppliers and monitored and tracked all orders to ensure our stock-piles are sufficient for remaining open and to help us through possible school closures in the future.
Health and Hygiene • Dealing with reported COVID-19 cases among our school community is also a concern. Depending on contact issues, it is likely that the school may be subject to periodic closings for cleaning. Washoe County and CDC guidelines offer direction in this area, and in consultation with our school attorney, we have developed a school-based policy for such an occurrence. Please see our Scenario and Protocols document here. • We have a dedicated infirmary in the Main Office area to better isolate and comfort our ill students.
Cleaning and Sanitation • There are varying levels of cleaning, sanitizing, disinfection, and sterilization to be implemented for different situations. Our maintenance team, in conjunction with the faculty and following legal requirements, is determining and implementing the new timing and procedures required. • We have also placed proper signage in place to help students understand the new rules and follow directions.
Communication • Communicating procedures and expectations is essential. In addition to email and school newsletter information, we have created this COVID-19 landing page on our website for policies, procedures, and updates and to provide general COVID-19related information.
Pre-Kindergarten Program • During previous school closings, the State of Nevada allowed daycare and PreK facilities to remain open. Should the State of Nevada mandate school closures again in the 2021-2022 school year, we would work to keep our PreK program open. To do so will be to assume approval from the State and continued enrollment of sufficient size to maintain an active and productive program.
No one can definitively know what shape the pandemic will take in the coming months nor its continued impact on schools and education. As school leaders and community members, we are all doing our best to prepare now for what we think might work best under these circumstances. It is our hope that Lake Tahoe School’s thoughtfully prepared response and positive efforts to protect our community will enable our students to continue to be successful learners in the coming school year. Please continue checking our website and school-wide communications for further updates.