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
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
South Orangetown CSD is committed to placing student and staff wellness first to establish a positive, safe, and supportive learning environment. Leading with trauma-informed practices and increasing the use of Social-emotional learning is essential because children need social and emotional support as they navigate the unprecedented challenges of alternative learning contexts, and because social-emotional learning helps students access academic content through building essential self-management skills, resilience, and connections. The following were considerations for reopening:
- South Orangetown CSD will engage with families and provide activities to help them feel comfortable coming back to the school campus through our communication plans. This also needs to be considered for staff.
- We have developed plans to perform nonacademic check-ins related to social-emotional well-being for all students.
- Further implemented tools for identifying feelings as we anticipate wearing masks may alter our understandings of how individuals are feeling. Also developed lessons on alternative ways to communicate feelings.
- Developed student-created videos that teach and have a positive message on the importance of physical distancing in the classroom
- Developed individual plans for students who need additional support to physically distance or who may not be able to wear a mask due to a manifestation of their disability.
- Developed a “Trauma-Informed Reentry Plan” to address the specific needs of our community related to the COVID-19 closure and to support students dealing with the issues of racism and equality.
- South Orangetown CSD has and remains mindful and sensitive to the needs of those who are grieving the loss of a family member or coworker.
- South Orangetown CSD will consider developing protocol on handling crises from virtual platforms.
The South Orangetown School District has developed two key documents which outline our plans for re-entry:
- K-12 Comprehensive School Counseling Plan – This is a plan that has been designed to meet the educational demands of the 21st century in order to better serve the South Orangetown school community. A 21st century counseling program is one that is results-based, comprehensive, developmentally appropriate, proactive in nature, and designed to reach every student
- SOCSD Trauma Informed Re-entry Plan – This is an addendum to our Comprehensive Plan the focuses on meeting the needs of our students and staff as they return to school as:
- We recognize that all students and staff have been impacted by stress and trauma caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, and
- We recognize the stress and trauma caused by implicit and explicit social values and mores related to aspects of our social identities that are either privileged or marginalized.
- The South Orangetown School District develops this plan to support our students, staff and community in moving forward. It enhances our current multi-tiered system of support for students by identifying key data and timelines for data review to support all students in meeting their fullest potential.
Additional Resources
Social Emotional Learning: A Guide to Systemic Whole School Implementation
Equity Framework
Girls Leadership
National Equity Project
Harvard Resource Mapping Strategy
Resources for Addressing Crisis
Discussing Race in the Classroom
SEL Roadmap
Guide to Systemic Whole School Implementation
NYSED SEL
NYSED SEW Resources
Compassion Resilience Toolkit
SEL Online Learning
Mental Health Education