Cleaning and Sanitizing

• • The District has worked with its cleaning vendor to increase staffing of cleaning crews during school hours in every building.
  • Custodial crews will clean common areas, including restrooms and high-touch surfaces, continuously throughout each building during the day. Products used are Oxivir tb (manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet) and Bioesque Botanical Disinfectant Solution (manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet).
  • Deep cleaning of classrooms and school buildings will be done nightly and on weekends. The District has its own spraying/misting equipment to dispense EPA and CDC approved cleaning and disinfectant products, which will be used nightly and on weekends. Products used are Virex II 256 (manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet) to disinfect surfaces (including bathrooms and floors) and Bioesque Botanical Disinfectant Solution is used in the sprayers.
  • Students will be asked to wipe down their work surfaces before and after every class period using provided hand sanitizer wipes approved for supervised use by children over the age of two, and are at least 70% alcohol based effective against COVID-19.
  • Teachers are responsible for cleaning their mobile workstations and technology with EPA-approved disinfectant wipes appropriate for adult use and effective against COVID-19.
  • The District is currently exploring making their own cleaning and disinfectant products, hand sanitizer, and hand sanitizer wipes. We are evaluating disinfectant products that are EPA-approved and effective against COVID-19, and safe for adult and student use. However, we will begin the school year with purchasing these items.
  • Custodians and cleaners receive training on expectations for cleaning and disinfecting school buildings.

Validation of the Sanitizing Process

• SOCSD will be using a hygiene monitoring system.This is a random “spot check” of surfaces throughout the building (via a swab) to measure its cleanliness by using Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence. This will allow us to detect any cleaning deficiencies. A schedule will be established by the Director of Facilities to conduct this process through all of our schools each week.

Facilities: Use of Space and Ventilation

• By reducing the number of students in our classrooms by 50%, we are able to increase the amount of fresh air per person and our facilities team is working to bring in as much fresh air as possible into our buildings.
• Our Facilities team has cleaned and tested our exhaust fans to ensure that they are operating at full capacity and is assessing our HVAC systems to maximize the filtration capability. MERV values on our current air handler filters range from 4-8. The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating varies according to each room’s HVAC system capability. MERV is a measurement scale designed to report the effectiveness of air filters.
• SOCSD schools are not equipped with hospital-grade HVAC systems or central air conditioning. The New York State Education Department requires schools to meet or exceed American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers standards, which all SOCSD schools do.
• The District will utilize outdoor spaces for learning, lunch and recess, and the opening of windows for fresh air, to the extent practical in all school buildings.
• Water fountains will be disconnected for the start of school, but the no-touch bottle filler portion of the fountains will remain in service.
• Adequate hall supervision will be provided to facilitate social distancing in restrooms.Teachers will limit the number of students who may use the restroom at one time.
• SOMS pool will be used only for Interscholastic athletic swim teams if allowed to commence after September 21.

Health and Safety

• Hand sanitizer is provided throughout each school. Students will be encouraged to wash hands and/or use hand sanitizer frequently throughout the school day.
• Hand washing and/or use of hand sanitizer will be required upon arriving at school and at dismissal time, and at the start and end of each class.
• Limit sharing or personal spaces and equipment (i.e. laptops).
• Sharing of food or beverages is strongly discouraged.
• Encourage practicing proper hygiene, frequent handwashing and the use of hand sanitizer.

Wearing of Masks

• • Students are required to wear masks at all times. This includes restrooms, outdoor classrooms and recess, and physical education classes.
  • Students may remove face coverings for meals and scheduled short breaks, at the direction of staff, so long as they maintain appropriate social distance.
  • Anyone who is medically unable to tolerate a face mask or appropriate facial covering will be required to submit a doctor’s note and wear a face shield and to socially distance to the extent practical.
  • Students will be required to wear masks and/or appropriate facial covering as a condition of our Code of Conduct.
  • Cloth face coverings are meant to protect other people in case the wearer is unknowingly infected but does not have symptoms.
  • Masks or cloth facial coverings must completely cover noses and mouths in order to prevent the transmission of virus-containing droplets. The CDC website has detailed information regarding masks and cloth facial covering.
  • Staff are required to wear masks and/or appropriate cloth face covering at all times (with the exception of those with a medical note on file, within the teacher safety zone) and are subject to disciplinary action if not strictly adhered to. This includes:
    • In all common areas of the school buildings;
    • In all hallways; and
    • In all restrooms; and all other congregate settings (i.e. playgrounds, common office areas, conference rooms, classroom spaces).

Screening Protocols

• SOCSD will not require COVID-19 testing of students and/or staff before school begins. However, we will continue to adhere to New York State Department of Health, New York State and CDC guidance.
• SOCSD will be implementing active and passive screening of students and staff in collaboration with the Rockland County Department of Health.
• Students and staff are required to abide by the New York State COVID-19 Travel Advisory. The school district cannot monitor the movement or behavior of students and staff outside of school and must rely on everyone to comply with State guidelines.
• Students required to quarantine should contact their school nurse and will participate via remote learning for the duration of their quarantine as directed by the Rockland County Department of Health.
• In the event that the school district discovers that a student or staff member is not compliant with State quarantine guidelines and comes to school, that individual will be sent home immediately and reported to the Department of Health.
• Each morning that they are scheduled to attend school, all students will be required to submit the home screening COVID-19 questionnaire to confirm that they are symptom free and are not required to quarantine due to travel or exposure to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.
• Parents will be required to perform a temperature check of their children. Questionnaires will be submitted electronically to school administrators for daily review.
• Parents will need to submit separate questionnaires for each child prior to the start of the school day.
• As they arrive at school, students and staff will be actively screened with equipment that will identify those of 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit or greater.
  • Those identified with a temperature of 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit or greater will be discreetly routed to the nurse’s office for a secondary temperature check and screening.
  • If the secondary screening indicates potential signs of COVID-19, they will be sent home immediately. Students will be isolated and parents will be required to pick them up within 30 minutes. Please make sure that you have an emergency plan in place for this purpose.
• It is critically important that parents keep children who are not feeling well or are symptomatic at home.
• Our school nurses will also continue with standard procedures for students who become ill, injured or require medical attention at school.
• In the event of a positive COVID-19 test, parents must notify their child’s school nurse immediately. Staff members must notify their immediate supervisor.
  • Once notified, District staff will contact the Rockland County Department of Health who will conduct contact tracing.
  • In the event that a building must be closed, staff and parents would be notified immediately.
  • The affected building will close for a minimum of 48 hours to deep clean and disinfect.
  • The school will shift to 100% remote learning until the District determines, in coordination with the Department of Health, that we are cleared to reopen.
• Return-to-school procedures for a positive COVID-19 test:
  • A letter stating they are released from isolation — either from the health department or their medical provider.
  • It has been at least ten (10) days since the individual first started experiencing symptoms.
  • It has been at least three (3) days since the individual has had a fever (without using fever reducing medicine), AND
  • It has been at least three (3) days since the individual symptoms improved, including cough and shortness of breath.
• Return-to-school procedures for someone sent home based on the secondary screening and/or COVID-19 symptoms:
  • They must be fever-free for at least 24 hours, without use of fever-reducing medications, and are symptom-free.
  • They must provide a note from their medical provider clearing them to return to school, AND
  • A negative COVID-19 diagnostic test result be produced.
• For other illnesses, students and staff must be fever-free for at least 24 hours, without use of fever-reducing medications.

Social Distancing: Structures and Staffing

• At bus stops:
  • Transportation Request Forms submitted by parents are being used to route buses and establish bus stops. Efforts are being made to reduce the number of densely-populated spots to reduce the risk of crowding.
  • Parents and students must wear masks and socially distance at bus stops at all times.
• On buses:
  • Masks are to be worn by students and bus drivers at all times.
  • Students will be required to wear masks and/or appropriate facial covering as a condition of our Code of Conduct.
  • Students will be asked to board the bus and move toward the first fully available seat in the rear of the bus.
  • Upon arrival at school, students will unload from the front first and be reminded to socially distance.
  • Students will be asked to sit one passenger per seat, space permitting, and take the seat furthest from the student in the seat directly across from them.
  • Siblings may share a seat.
  • When temperatures do not fall below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, windows on buses are to be partially opened in a way to ventilate the vehicle.
• During arrival and dismissal:
  • Students may be held on buses to ensure social distancing during unloading and building entry. Proper supervision will be in place.
  • Markers will be placed outside of all schools to guide students to socially distance.
  • Upon entry, students at all buildings will proceed directly to their classroom.
• In hallways:
  • Schools will use a variety of tools and strategies, including directional signage, to support social distancing and minimize congestion.
  • Lockers will not be used at SOMS and TZHS.
• In restrooms:
  • Adequate hall supervision will be provided to facilitate social distancing in restrooms.
  • Teachers will limit the number of students who may use the restroom at one time.
• In classrooms:
  • Classrooms have been reconfigured to accommodate socially distanced work areas to the extent possible.
  • Students will be provided with a personal, transparent polycarbonate barrier that will travel with them during the school day.
  • For instances where class sizes exceed the number of students that can be socially distanced within a given classroom, schools have identified alternate learning spaces, such as libraries or auditoriums, to accommodate them.
  • Teachers will work from a designated area at the front of the room–the teacher safety zone–which will be distanced from student spaces.
  • Teachers will be wearing masks and/or transparent face shields and will be provided with personal workstations with transparent polycarbonate barriers.
  • Tables located in classrooms, cafeterias, and other larger learning spaces will have transparent polycarbonate barriers installed.
  • Students will not be permitted to leave belongings or materials at school overnight.
• In cafeterias or when eating:
  • In schools that plan to use their cafeteria, transparent polycarbonate barriers will be installed on cafeteria tables or students will be seated at socially distanced desks to eat.
  • Students may use their individual barrier during meals.
  • Barriers, tables and desks will be cleaned and disinfected between lunch periods.
  • In schools where students will eat in classrooms, students will use their personal barriers while eating.
  • Our schools’ standard food allergy policies will apply.
  • Schools may choose to use both classrooms and cafeterias. All plan to utilize outdoor dining as much as possible.
• At recess:
  • Students must wear masks during recess and will be encouraged to use hand sanitizer at the start and end of recess.
  • Proper supervision will be in place to support social distancing and safety.

Please see the Rockland County Department of Health website or the District’s Reopening webpage for more information.