PISD Back-to-Work 2020

UPDATED

1/13/2021

BACK TO

WORK

2020 Safety and Guidance for Pasadena ISD Employees Every decision made will take into consideration the latest guidance and direction from local, state and federal authorities.

PASADENA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

Dear Pasadena ISD Family, I hope you and your family continue to be healthy and safe. I am humbled by the dedication and commitment you have shown to this District and our students as we have worked to navigate the challenges of this pandemic together.

In planning for the 2020-2021 school year, we have sought guidance regarding necessary safety precautions and protocols for working on-site, including those needed for face-toface instruction, in light of the recent rise in cases across our community, cities and state.

There has been extensive, collaborative discussions about how to best proceed with district operations for the 2020-2021 school year. The purpose of this guide is to provide general information for employees as they continue, or return, to work during the pandemic. This guide is not intended as an all-encompassing document; instead, it is designed to provide a general overview of employment-related changes for the 2020-2021 school year. Because this unprecedented situation continues to evolve, please know we will continue thorough deliberations and consultations with our Board of Trustees to make decisions in the best interest of District stakeholders based on applicable federal, state, and local guidance. We remain committed to staying up-to-date with the ever-changing information and guidance related to COVID-19 and examining the continuing impact to our District, staff, and students.

Accordingly, the information contained in this guidance is subject to change as updated information, including federal, state, and local guidance, becomes available to us.

Safety has always been, and will continue to be, the guiding principle for our District’s decisions. Our goal is to provide the safest working environment for our employees while following federal, state, and local regulations, including requirements imposed by the Texas Education Agency. We hope that providing this safety guidance will allow us to safely start the 2020-2021 school year. We appreciate your continued support, patience, and understanding as we continue to navigate this pandemic together.

My thoughts and prayers continue to remain with each of you during this time.

Thank you and stay safe!

DeeAnn Powell, Ed. D., Superintendent

Table of Contents Safety Precautions.....................................................................................................3 Communication Plan..................................................................................................3 Employee Attendance.............................................................................................3-4 Short Term Telecommuting Guidelines.....................................................................5 Dress Code..................................................................................................................5 What to Expect when Arriving at Work.....................................................................5 Meetings.....................................................................................................................5 Childcare for Employees’ School Age Children.......................................................6 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)......................................................................6-9 Supporting Documents............................................................................................ 10 RETURN TO WORK GUIDE

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PASADENA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 2020

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS Please review the safety precaution in the Back to Class 2020 Together Again document (Back to Class 2020). The District reserves the right to require employees to wear masks.

COMMUNICATION PLAN Cabinet members will communicate to their respective principals or department supervisors regarding high risk areas, increases in PPE requirements, closures of certain buildings or areas of buildings, and other updated state, federal and local guidelines as deemed necessary.

EMPLOYEE ATTENDANCE Employees are required to work at their assigned District location unless given an alternative assignment by Human Resources. Employee start and end times may be adjusted to minimize the number of employees congregating in common areas. Employees needing to report a regular absence should follow normal campus/department procedures to report the absence.

COVID-19 Related Absences

should be reported to your supervisor as soon as symptoms or exposure occurs. Your supervisor will provide guidance for reporting symptoms/exposure. An employee’s accrued state and local leave may be used until the proper documentation from the employee is received in the HR department.The District will follow board policy DEC and the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (see information below) for COVID-19 related absences. If it is determined an employee is eligible for leave under the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), an employee’s accrued state and local leave may be returned to the employee. In the event an employee tests positive for COVID-19 or is seeking medical treatment for symptoms or being tested for COVID-19, Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) may be utilized from the first day the employee was absent from work due to COVID-19. EPSL is available through December 31, 2020 and can only be accessible one time for a maximum of 80 hours. If an employee tests positive or has symptoms that require the employee to be out longer than the allotted hours, the employee will need to apply for Family Medical Leave and use accrued state and local leave.

RETURN TO WORK GUIDE

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PASADENA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 2020

Additional COVID-19 Absence Information • If an employee receives positive COVID-19 test results from their health care provider, the employee should not return to work until 10 days after symptom onset as long as there has been an improvement of symptoms and are fever free for at least 24 hours without fever reducing medication.

• If the employee is not able to obtain a medical certification, the employee should alert the Human Resource Department.

• If an employee refuses to come to work without cause, the employee will be charged accrued state and local leave and may also be subject to negative employment actions. Pasadena ISD employees are considered essential personnel and therefore must report to work when requested.

• Please refer to the Employee/Workplace Process Map for COVID-19 for additional guidance.

Guidance on Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) • Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) - Two weeks (up to 80 hours) of paid sick leave at the employee’s regular rate of pay where the employee is unable to work because the employee is quarantined (pursuant to federal, state, or local government order or advice of a health care provider), and/or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis; or • Two weeks (up to 80 hours) of paid sick leave at two-thirds the employee’s regular rate of pay because the employee is unable to work because of a bona fide need to care for an individual subject to quarantine (pursuant to federal, state, or local government order or advice of a health care provider), or to care for a child (under 18 years of age) whose school or childcare provider is closed or unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19, and • Up to an additional 10 weeks of paid expanded family and medical leave at two-thirds the employee’s regular rate of pay where an employee, who has been employed for at least 30 calendar days, is unable to work due to a bona fide need for leave to care for a child whose school or childcare provider is closed or unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19.

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PASADENA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 2020

SHORT TERM TELECOMMUTING GUIDELINES In the event an employee or group of employees has been approved by HR to telecommute, the employee and supervisor must complete the Short-Term Telecommuting Expectation.

This document will be provided by the employee’s supervisor.

DRESS CODE Board Policy DH (Local) states the following regarding employee dress code: An employee’s dress and grooming shall be clean, neat, in a manner appropriate for his or her assignment, and in accordance with any additional standards established by his or her supervisor and Campus/Departments may use relaxed dress code so that employees can easily change/ launder work clothes.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN ARRIVING AT WORK • Allow for time to self-assess for COVID-19 symptoms prior to your start time.

• Use the self-screening tool to verify you do not have COVID-19 symptoms and have not been in contact with someone in the last 14 days with a confirmed COVID-19 case or under evaluation for COVID-19 symptoms. If symptoms occur, do not enter the building. Contact your supervisor immediately.

• Remain 6 feet apart when feasible.

• Stay in your assigned work area as much as possible.

• Use phone or video conferencing instead of face-to-face conversations when feasible.

• Maintain social distancing in common areas such as teacher’s lounges.

• Be prepared to eat your lunch in your assigned work area.

• Schedules will be similar to regular work/school day including conference periods and lunch times.

• Wear masks at all times.

MEETINGS Every effort will be made to minimize face-to-face department/faculty meetings and video conferencing will be encouraged. If face-to-face meetings are necessary, social distancing and masks may be required. A video conferencing alternative will be provided, if requested.

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PASADENA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 2020

CHILDCARE FOR EMPLOYEES’ SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN

The pandemic has placed a burden on some staff members who will need to arrange supervision for their school age children during work hours. We are exploring possible options to support our employees during this difficult time. Notify your supervisor if you are unable to arrange care for your school age children.

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PASADENA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 2020

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS Every decision made will take into consideration the latest guidance and direction from local, state and federal authorities.

RETURN TO WORK GUIDE

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PASADENA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 2020

COVID-19 SCREENING TOOL For Students, Staff, Parents, and Visitors Do you currently have any of the following symptoms?

Fever of 100.4Âş or above or chills Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing New or unexplained loss of taste or smell New or uncontrolled cough New or unexplained diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain New or unexplained sore throat New or unexplained fatigue New or unexplained headache, especially with fever New or unexplained significant muscle pain or body ache In the past 10 days, have you been in close contact (6 feet or closer for at least 15 minutes) with a person who is known to have lab/test-confirmed COVID-19?

Did you answer NO to ALL QUESTIONS?

Access to our PISD facilities is APPROVED today. Thank you for helping us protect you and others during this time.

Did you answer YES to ANY QUESTIONS?

Access to any PISD facility is NOT APPROVED today. Stop, do not enter. Thank you for helping us protect you and others during this time.

If you answered YES to any of the above, STOP. Please read below.

STUDENTS / VISITORS: You or your parent/guardian should contact your primary care provider. Your doctor will make the decision if you should get tested for COVID-19. If you do not have health insurance, you can still get tested for COVID-19 if your doctor or healthcare provider recommends it.

STAFF: Please avoid contact with others and notify your supervisor regarding further instructions on reporting your self-screening results. Call your primary care provider for information about COVID-19 testing.

If you need help finding a doctor or accessing medical care, call 2-1-1, and they will direct you to a low or no cost provider in your area.

January 7, 2021

Š PASADENA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 2020

*To be considered exposed to COVID-19, you need to have prolonged close contact with a person who has the virus. Close contact includes being within 6 feet of a person who has been lab-confirmed for COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes or being directly exposed to infectious secretions.

Employee/Workplace Process Map for COVID-19 (Spring 2021) Employee has symptoms or is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19 Employee reports while at school or work

Employee reports while at home

For life threatening symptoms, call 911. Notify supervisor.

Campus nurse offers testing or refers to offsite test location.

If employee is unable to leave immediately, direct them to isolation area.

Employee completes the Health Services Reporting Form upon receipt from immediate supervisor.

HR will provide specific guidance regarding the employee’s return to work. All communication to the employee and supervisor regarding employee leave and return to work will be provided by the HR department.

As each employee’s situation is unique, lab confirmed and/ or symptomatic employees will self-isolate and return to work following HR directives.

Employee should contact their primary care physician for health recommendations.

Employee is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19 but has no symptoms

Employee has prolonged exposure to someone who is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19

Employee contacts their immediate supervisor and completes the Health Services Reporting Form.

Employee contacts their immediate supervisor and completes the Health Services Reporting Form.

HR will provide specific guidance regarding the employee’s return to work. All communication to the employee and supervisor regarding employee leave and return to work will be provided by the HR department.

Individuals may continue to test positive for up to 12 weeks after initial infection.

Negative test results are NOT required to return to work.

Subsequent testing is NOT recommended.

Employee should contact their primary care physician. Selfisolate and avoid public spaces for 10 days since testing positive.

Employee can return to work after 10 days of self-isolation as long as no symptoms develop.

HR may allow asymptomatic employees to discontinue quarantine early with a negative test result. This option may NOT apply to those residing in the same household as the labconfirmed individual.

HR will provide specific guidance regarding the employee’s return to work.

All communication to the employee and supervisor regarding employee leave and return to work will be provided by the HR department.

Employee should contact their primary care physician, self-isolate, and avoid public spaces for 10 days from date of last exposure. Employee should monitor for symptoms and contact primary care physician if symptoms develop. Employee can return to work after 10 days of self-isolation as long as no symptoms develop.

Employee reports someone in their home or workplace was exposed to someone who is lab-confirmed or has symptoms

If employee was exposed to someone who was exposed elsewhere, there is no need to quarantine. Only those individuals directly exposed to a lab-confirmed person are considered at risk and should quarantine.

9 12/15/2020

www.pasadenaisd.org

PASADENA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT