Sheldon ISD Safe Start 2020-21

SAFE START 2020-21 Sheldon ISD will provide personalized learning opportunities to ensure all students graduate college and career ready while prioritizing the safety and wellbeing of all students and staff.

sheldonisd.com/start2020/

Updated July 2020

Dear Sheldon ISD community, Throughout the spring and summer, our focus has been on safety with a commitment to the academic, social and emotional success of our students. On July 20, Sheldon ISD trustees voted to revise the 2020-21 calendar, moving the first day of school to Tuesday, September 8. The first four weeks of school will be 100% virtual through Sheldon’s online learning platform - Sheldon On Demand.

As we plan for a safe start to the school year, this publication will provide information on the school district’s operating procedures, offer instructional guidance and share health protocols. Adjustments will continue to be made to daily operations such as arrival and dismissal procedures, lunches, campus visitors, transportation and more to comply with the latest county and state orders. Families can expect to see a highly intensified and frequent cleaning and sanitization schedule, as well as additional training for staff and students on health and safety protocols.

This is a fluid situation, and we anticipate frequent changes mandated by the state or local agencies even prior to the start of the school year. Any changes or updates made to the district’s operations will continue to be communicated before and during the school year. Regardless what learning platform you select for your child, we are confident we have designed academic models to fit each family’s individual needs. I am extremely proud of the continued work of our staff and the response and support from our community.

Together, we are stronger and committed to every child, every day.

Stay well and safe, King Davis, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools

sheldonisd.com/start2020/ Table of Contents Health Procedures - page 4 School Day Operations - pages 6-7 Plans for Instruction - page 8-9 COVID-19 Screening Protocol - pages 11-12

Safe Start - Sheldon ISD

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Health Procedures

Health Procedures Sheldon ISD continues to monitor the spread of COVID-19 and receives regular guidance from Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath and other local state and federal agencies regarding response, prevention and mitigation efforts. This direction will continue to evolve based on COVID-19 conditions across the state and our local community. SISD will educate our students, staff, and community members about the importance of frequent hand washing; covering a cough or sneeze; not touching one’s eyes, nose, and mouth; staying home when sick; and other measures to help prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Hand sanitizer will be available at every building entrance and in every classroom. Sheldon ISD Custodial Services will continue to routinely clean and disinfect all facilities, including cleaning frequently touched objects and surfaces with approved germicidal agents which are effective against multiple disease-causing viruses and bacteria.

COVID-19 Daily Self Screening All parents, students and staff will be required to self-screen daily prior to entering any Sheldon ISD facility or boarding transportation. (see page 6) Parents/Guardians can help by keeping children home who are sick. If a child has COVID-19 symptoms, under TEA guidelines, the child cannot return to school until at least ten days has passed science symptoms first appeared, and at least three days (72 hours) have passed since recover (resolution of fever without the use of fever reducing medications); and the individual has improvement in symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, etc).

Social Distancing Students and staff will be asked to maintain a distance of 3-6 feet when feasible.

Face Coverings Sheldon ISD employees and Sheldon ISD students in grades 3-12 will be required to wear face coverings.

Face coverings will be supplied for Sheldon ISD employees, but will not be supplied for students. Face coverings will be required while utilizing all district transportation for Sheldon ISD students in grades 3-12.

Temperature Checks Daily temperature checks of all students at school will not be performed; however, each campus has been provided no-touch infrared thermometers for screening symptomatic students and employees.

Registered Nurse There is at least one nurse assigned to every Sheldon ISD campus.

Response to COVID-19 Cases SISD staff will initiate the Sheldon ISD Isolation Plan in the event of a suspected COVID-19 case on campus (see page xx). In working with district and local health authorities a course of action will be determined regarding necessary communication, required sanitation, possible closures and contact tracing. Upon notification of a lab-confirmed COVID-19 case on a campus, the district will communicate with teachers, staff, and families of students who were potentially exposed.

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School Day Operations

School Day Operations Campus Cleaning Campuses will be cleaned throughout the instructional day.

Classrooms will be equipped for cleaning between transitions of students.

Age appropriate signage for proper hygiene practices will be posted throughout the buildings.

Arrival/Dismissal/Transitions Arrival Multiple entry points will be established.

Students will report straight to their classrooms whenever possible after breakfast.

All areas of the building (gym, cafeteria, larger classrooms, common areas, etc.) will be utilized to limit the size of student groupings.

Dismissal Multiple exit points will be established.

Campuses will implement staggered release procedures.

Students will be released straight from their classrooms whenever possible.

Transitions Students and staff will follow protocols for face coverings.

Classroom doors will be left open to reduce high touch areas when possible.

Traffic patterns will be established throughout the campus that separate individuals to the greatest extent possible.

Staff and signage will be posted to reinforce physical distance expectations.

Transportation The Sheldon ISD Transportation Department intends to provide services that meet CDC and/or TEA guidelines. Listed below are details as to how this will be accomplished: All buses will be thoroughly disinfected prior to each route using approved processes and chemicals.

Capacity will be reduced as possible to provide for social distancing.

All students and Transportation employees must wear masks while on the bus.

All students must sit in assigned locations 6’ apart as possible unless from the same household.

Busses will be loaded back to front and then unloaded front to back to limit passing in confined space.

Pick up and drop off locations will be located to minimize student gathering numbers.

Service will be provided to eligible students electing to receive transportation.

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School Day Operations Meal Service Breakfast will be provided for all students.

Students will use hand sanitizer before entering the serving line.

Cafeteria and serving areas will be cleaned as students transition.

Cafeterias will have plexiglass partitions to reduce the transmission of body fluids and increase student safety.

When reporting to the cafeteria for lunch, students will be released on a staggered schedule.

Campuses will use a variety of options for seating arrangements to maximize social distancing.

Sheldon ISD 2020-2021 Calendar The district plans to utilize the recently Board approved 2020-2021 calendar; however, depending on the circumstances, SISD is prepared to modify and extend the calendar. Ample notice and communication will be provided if a calendar change is needed.You can find details here: sheldonisd.com/calendar/

Recess/Outdoor Time Outdoor play and learning will be encouraged. While outside, students will still be required to wear face masks, as will Sheldon ISD staff members.

Visitors/Deliveries/Miscellaneous To limit exposure, informal campus visits will be restricted (included during meal times). Essential meetings will be by appointment or a virtual meeting. All approved visitors must self-screen prior to entry. To ensure the safety of students and staff, no outside deliveries for students will be accepted (i.e. food, gifts, food deliveries services, etc.). All field trips and large gatherings such as pep rallies, assemblies, etc. will be prohibited until further notice.

Extracurricular/Non-Academic Activities Athletics, Fine Arts, and other extracurricular activities will be conducted in alignment with UIL guidelines.

Non-UIL activities will follow the same COVID-19 related guidelines as UIL activities. Outdoor gatherings must be in compliance with state social distancing guidelines. Any student social activities (i.e. dances, celebrations) must be conducted in open air venues or limited to less than 50 participants. All such activities, regardless of location, must be in compliance with state social distancing guidelines. Hand washing and/or hand sanitation stations must be available for any activity.

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Plans for Instruction

Plans for Instruction As preparations are made for the start of the 2020-21 school year, Sheldon ISD is committed to the safety and health of all students and staff. On July 7, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) issued guidelines for school districts to open this fall with two options: in-person learning and virtual learning. A task force made up of Sheldon ISD educators have been working diligently to prepare instructional options for continued student success. This fall, Sheldon ISD will offer Sheldon On Site, in-person learning and Sheldon On Demand, a virtual learning platform.

On July 21, the SISD Board of Trustees voted to revise the 2020-21 school calendar. Revisions to the calendar include: New start date of Tuesday, September 8 Complete virtual learning (Sheldon On Demand) for all students through Friday, October 2.

Beginning Monday, October. 5, SISD will begin offering in-person instruction (Sheldon On Site) in addition to Sheldon on Demand (based on parent declarations made in Skyward).

Parents will have the opportunity to change the declaration made for their child mid-September as SISD prepares to open the doors in October.

The last day of school for students will be Thursday, June 10.

Sheldon ISD fully believes the best avenue for instruction is face-to-face learning; however, the district supports families selecting the instructional platform that is best for their learner and household. The achievement of student success is a partnership between the schools, families and community. As we prepare for the 2020-21 school year, we recognize the year will not look the same. We remain committed to the academic success and wellbeing of our students as we plan to start remote learning through Sheldon On Demand in September 2020.

Committed to Success Sheldon ISD is committed to: providing technology for our learners offering rigorous teacher-led instruction providing training for parents and students giving technology support for families through the district's Help Desk

Sheldon ISD asks parents and students to partner with us and: log in each day at specific times for instruction complete and submit assignments daily as assigned comply with district expectations and sign the agreement for acceptable use of technology

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Plans for Instruction

Sheldon on Demand

The virtual learning platform, Sheldon On Demand, will be available for all students in PreK through 12th grade. The learning environment will feature more robust instruction than offered during the spring's emergency instructional continuity. There will be higher expectations for work, including graded assignments. The courses offered online will be the same as those offered in person.

Sheldon will start the school year with 100% online learning beginning September 8 through the first four weeks of school. Students will be required to log in and submit assignments each week, and in some cases each day. Remote learning will offer both synchronous instruction (which will require students to log in and participate in live teacher-led lessons) and asynchronous instruction (students will watch videos, view presentations, etc. on their own time and submit assignments). The district will provide a device to each student. Information on device pick up will be available prior to the start of school. Students and parents will be required to sign an acceptable use agreement in order to use a district device. SISD is in the process of making plans to determine how best to provide hotspots for families who do not have Internet access.

Grading guidelines will be followed exactly the same as students receiving face-to-face instruction.

Students will receive weekly feedback from teachers and will be able to access the district's Technology Help Desk to troubleshoot any problems with a device. Students enrolled in dual credit courses or early college high school classes may be required to report to the building for certain opportunities to demonstrate learning. All special services students in a student's Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) will be offered regardless if the student is learning remotely or on site.

Sheldon on Site SISD's administrative team is carefully monitoring reports from the state and local health authorities to determine procedures for operating school on site. Sheldon on Site will be available for learners beginning October 5. Specific safety procedures for district daily operations can be found on pages 6-7. All procedures are subject to change based on guidance from the state. Students may pivot from one learning platform to another at the end of a nine-week grading period. Students will be expected to take their technology device home each day in the event they should be moved to Sheldon On Demand instruction.

Grading Guidelines Grading policies will be in effect and will mirror students taking online instruction and learning face-to-face.

This means grades will count toward GPA, class rank and eligibility for UIL or extracurricular activities for students enrolled in Sheldon on Demand on Sheldon On Site.

Regardless the chosen learning platform, Sheldon ISD is committed to a personalized learning experience for each child to ensure academic, social and emotional success.

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COVID-19 Screening Protocol

COVID-19 Screening For the safety of our Sheldon ISD community, students, staff and parents are encouraged to self-screen daily before going to work or school by checking their temperature and determining if they have any of the following new or worsening signs or symptoms:

Within the last 48 hours, have you had any of the following medical symptoms unrelated to any previous health conditions or symptoms that are not normal for you: Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Chills Repeated shaking with chills Muscle pain Headache Sore throat Loss of taste or smell Diarrhea Feverish feeling or a measured temperature equal to or greater than 100.0°F Known close contact with a person who is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19 (close contact is defined as living with or caring for a sick person or being within 6-feet of a sick person for a consecutive period of time without a face covering) If you are running a fever of 100.0°F or higher, or feeling ill, please stay at home.

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you must stay home from school until the criteria below has been met: Self-quarantine for at least 10 days after first symptom was discovered and fever free for at least three days without the use of fever-reducing medications Improvement shown in cough and shortness of breath Provide written documentation from a medical professional that your condition meets the requirements to return to work or school The district cannot require students or employees to get tested for COVID-19. If you meet the symptoms above, you are encouraged to contact your primary health care provider who will determine the next steps that are best for your symptoms.

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COVID-19 Screening Student Isolation Plan If a student falls ill while at school, the Sheldon ISD COVID-19 Response team will implement the student isolation plan below based on the medical condition of the student: Symptomatic students will be required to apply a face covering and report to the designated isolation area for further evaluation.

The ill students will remain isolated with assigned designated staff members to be monitored and receive medical care if needed until parent/guardian arrives for student pick up.

Monitoring staff members must perform hand hygiene and wear personal protective equipment (PPE) for the duration of the isolation period.

Campus administrators will immediately notify the District COVID-19 Response Team and will follow their guidance. After students and staff are removed from the isolation area, it will be sanitized using approved germicidal agents by SISD custodial staff wearing appropriate PPE. The isolation plan is subject to change based on requirements from health officials and will be used to determine the safest plan for all students and staff based on the diagram below.

Student does not report to school or extracurricular activities. Student may not return to campus for 10 days after positive test, improvement of symptoms and fever free for 72 hours without fever-reducing medication. If confirmed positive on a campus, SISD will communicate with everyone potentially exposed.

Student is COVID-19 positive or presents symptoms

Student presents symptoms prior to arrival at school

Potential exposure is not considered close contact. The student may report to school as usual and continue to screen daily by checking for symptoms listed on page 11.

Student reports potential exposure or close contact

The campus will follow the Student Isolation Plan.

Student experiences symptoms while at school

Safe Start - Sheldon ISD

Student does not report to school or extracurricular activities. Student may not return to campus for 10 days after positive test, improvement of symptoms and fever free for 72 hours without fever-reducing medication.

Close contact is defined on page 11. The student should not report to school or activities.

Parents should contact the child's physician and monitor symptoms.

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