Table of Contents
TESTING AND CONTACT TRACING PLAN
COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT
Communications Strategy and Plan
Engagement and Training
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Considerations of Reopening
Health Checks
Healthy Hygiene Practices
Social Distancing
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Cloth Face Coverings
Management of Ill Persons
Cleaning and Disinfection
Safety Drills
Health & Safety Training
Accommodations
FACILITIES
Considerations for Reopening
Space Utilization – Health & Safety Assurance
Fire Code Compliance
Lead Testing
Ventilation
Additional Resources
CHILD NUTRITION
Considerations for Reopening
Safety and Sanitation
Food Service Staff Training
Meal Service
Hand Hygiene
Social Distancing
Additional Resources
TRANSPORTATION
Considerations for Reopening
School Bus Requirements & Considerations
School Bus Staff Requirements
Students on Transportation Requirements & Considerations
Student Loading and Unloading
Pupil Transportation Routing Requirements & Considerations
Additional Resources
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
Considerations for Reopening
Comprehensive Developmental Counseling
Mental Health and Trauma Responsive Practices
Additional Resources
SCHOOL SCHEDULES
Considerations for Reopening
Scheduling Options
ATTENDANCE AND CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM
Attendance for Instructional Purposes
Attendance Considerations
Attendance for Reporting & State Aid Purposes
Chronic Absenteeism
Educational Neglect
Additional Resources
TECHNOLOGY AND CONNECTIVITY
Considerations for Reopening
Access to Computing Devices
Access to Internet Broadband
Professional Development and Training
Additional Resources
TEACHING AND LEARNING
Considerations for Reopening
Early Education and Learning
Continuity of Learning Plan
Collaboration, Grading, and Assessment
Interscholastic Athletics and Extracurricular Activities
Career and Technical Education
English Language Learners/World Languages
Professional Development
Additional Resources
SPECIAL EDUCATION
Considerations for Reopening
Special Education Program and Services
Medically Fragile Students
IEP Implementation and Processes
Documentation Requirements
Additional Resources
FACILITIES
Considerations for Reopening
The South Orangetown Central School District facilities department will follow closely the guidance provided from New York State Education Department (NYSED), New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), and the Rockland County Health Department (RCHD), to safely re-open our facilities.
Ensuring that the buildings and grounds are maintained, cleaned, inspected, and compliant is essential to the Health and Safety of all students and staff. By working closely with Administrators and Staff, the facilities department has developed plans, protocols, and management strategies, that align with the instructional program, in order to provide a safe and efficient reopening.
Key Points – Means to control Infection
1. Time Management, the District to the extent practical will:
- Manage time and schedules to reduce student use of the corridors.
- Follow all social distancing protocols to prevent large gatherings in hallways (see Health & Safety section).
- Ensure that the bathroom use protocols are in place to avoid gatherings and promote proper hygiene.
- Students and staff will enter the restrooms one at a time.
2. Alcohol-based Hand Sanitizer Dispensers, the District will:
- Provide adequate supply of alcohol-based hand sanitizer dispensers in order to comply with FCNYS 2020 Section 5705.5 in each school building.
3. Dividers at doors and other points of congregation, should the District opt to:
- Install dividers attached to building infrastructures, SOCSD will conduct a review with the architect and submit floor plans to the State Education Department, Office of Facilities Planning for review approval.
- All applicable NYSED, Building and Fire Codes will be strictly adhered to.
4. Required square footage, the District will:
- Base the standard for proper social distancing measurements for individual rooms on NYSED, CDC, and Department of Health guidance.
Space Utilization – Health & Safety Assurance
When SOCSD reopens, it will be essential that physical spaces are configured and maintained in a way that best mitigates the spread of COVID 19.
1. Alterations to space
- The district may alter or reconfigure classrooms or spaces to create better space utilization. For temporary or moveable partitions, or physical space (e.g. permanent) infrastructure alterations, the NYSED Office of Facilities
- Planning (OFP) must review and approve. Means of egress, fire alarm system, ventilation, and lighting will be sent on those plans as well.
- The district will consult with the architect and submit floor plans for any space alterations.
- The district may consider movable partition or queue barriers. If necessary, all changes will be submitted to OFP for review and approval.
- The district may use Cafeterias, Libraries, Auditoriums and Gymnasiums. If necessary, the district will submit a floor plan of the entire room showing the furniture layout with egress aisles shall be submitted to OFP for approval. Lighting, ventilation, means of egress, and fire alarm coverage must be indicated.
- The district will ensure that any project submissions only dedicated to “COVID 19 Re-opening” will be labeled as such.
2. Space expansion
- The district is not planning to add space or lease space in order to expand its spatial requirements.
3. Tents for additional space
- The district may be using tents for additional space. If necessary, a design professional will be consulted, and plans will be submitted to OFP for review and approval.
4. Plumbing Facilities and Fixtures
Toilets and Sinks
- Per the NYSED guidance, the district may under certain circumstances reduce the number of toilet and sink fixtures to facilitate frequency of cleaning. If necessary, the number of toilets will meet the minimum requirements for the occupancy of the building according to BCNYS code.
- The district will ensure that soap is readily available at all sink fixtures.
- Custodians will clean, check, and refill bathrooms frequently throughout the day.
Drinking Fountains
- The district may reduce the number of drinking fountains in order to facilitate frequency of cleaning. The number of fountains must meet the minimum requirements of 1 fountain per 100 occupants.
- The district has a written plan if the drinking fountains must be taken out of service.
Fire Code Compliance
The District will submit changes and/or additions to facilities for review and approval by the Office of Facilities Planning (OFP), since all spaces to be occupied by public school students and staff must meet the requirements of the 2020 New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (BC) and the State Energy Conservation Code.
- The district will perform all necessary inspections to conform to the 2020 fire and building codes.
- The district will conduct the Visual inspection for the facilities in accordance with NYSED and as scheduled for SOCSD.
Lead Testing
At present, the statutory requirement that lead testing occur in 2020 continues. NYS DOH regulation 67-4, Lead-In-Water Testing, DOH requires lead-in-water testing to be conducted when the building is “normally occupied.” Sampling should not be conducted when the building is vacant or has been vacant for an extended period due to COVID-19 closure. Simulation of “normally occupied operation” for the purpose of lead-in-water testing is not permitted. NYSDOH advises that schools follow recommended procedures to the extent possible to provide clean and safe drinking water upon reopening. The district plans to conduct the lead testing in the fall of 2020. When the buildings are “normally occupied.” All results and remediation plans will be posted to the district website: www.socsd.org/safety/environmental-health/water-testing.
The district will monitor all water systems and features for safety after a prolonged facility shutdown to minimize the risk of Legionnaires’ disease and other diseases associated with water.
Ventilation
- The district will maintain adequate, code required ventilation (natural or mechanical) as designed, and meet or exceed the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standard.
- The district conducted a review of its HVAC systems with architect and engineer. Any changes or additions to HVAC equipment deemed necessary, will be submitted to OFP for review and approval.
- The district will increase the fresh air ventilation rate to the extent possible to aid in maintaining a healthy indoor air quality as per recommended CDC and Department of Health guidance.
- The district will set a schedule for the frequency of changing and cleaning of HVAC filters.
- Ventilation systems and fans will operate properly and increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible through open windows and doors and other methods.
- Central air filtration for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems will be maximized.
- Airflow patterns within classrooms and office spaces flows properly to lessen the exposure to COVID-19.
Additional Resources
Office of Facilities Planning
Department of State – Building Codes
New York State Fire Code