USD 509  PLAN FOR A SAFE RETURN TO IN-PERSON  INSTRUCTION UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2022

In March 2021 President Biden signed the Federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act, Public Law 117-2, into law. The ARP Act provides an additional $122 billion in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) to States and school districts to help safely reopen, sustain the safe operation of schools, and address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nation’s students. As with the previous ESSER funds available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA), the purpose of the additional funding is to support local educational agencies (LEAs) in preparing for and responding to the impacts of COVID-19 on educators, students, and families.

Section 2001(i)(1) of the ARP Act requires each LEA that receives ARP ESSER funds to develop and make publicly available on the LEA’s website, no later than 30 days after receiving ARP ESSER funds, a plan for the safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of services for all schools (Safe Return Plan) A Safe Return Plan is required of all fund recipients, including those that have already returned to in-person instruction. Section 2001(i)(2) of the ARP Act further requires that the LEA seek public comment on the Safe Return Plan and take those comments into account in finalization of the Safe Return Plan. Under the interim final requirements published in Volume 86, No. 76 of the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), an LEA must periodically, but no less frequently than every six months through September 30, 2023, review and, as appropriate, revise its Safe Return Plan.

PART I. Describe how the district will maintain the health and safety of students, educators, and other staff and the extent to which it has adopted policies, and a description of any such policies, on each of the following safety recommendations established by the CDC:

(A) Universal and correct wearing of masks. All students, staff, patrons, and other visitors will be allowed but not required to wear masks in the school facility.

(B) Modifying facilities to allow for physical distancing (e.g., use of cohorts/podding). USD 509 recommends that students and staff socially distance themselves when necessary. Visitors will be allowed in the school after signing in through the school office. Anyone who is symptomatic or has a temperature of 100° F will be respectfully isolated and sent home. 

(C) Handwashing and respiratory etiquette. USD 509 recommends the use of hand sanitizer or hand washing for a minimum of 20 seconds. Hand sanitizer will be made available at the main entrances of the school. Hand sanitizers will also be available in each classroom. Disposable wipes will be available to all staff to clean commonly used surfaces such as keyboards and desks. The district will ensure adequate supplies are available to support cleaning and disinfection practices.

(D) Cleaning and maintaining healthy facilities, including improving ventilation. USD 509 will Routinely clean surfaces using EPA approved disinfectant of frequent high touch surfaces. While school is in session, common high touch areas may be cleaned multiple times during the course of the day. All classrooms and common areas will be cleaned again each evening. Hand Sanitizer stations will be placed in various high traffic area locations throughout the building. There will be daily inspections assuring that all antibacterial soap dispersers have product and are not malfunctioning.

(E) Contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine, in collaboration with the State, local, territorial, or Tribal health departments. At this time, USD 509 is not contact tracing, but will follow any order from Sumner County Health Department (SCHD) or the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) regarding isolation and quarantine.

(F) Diagnostic and screening testing. Temperature checks will not be required to enter the school facility, however, all individuals are asked to self-monitor. Any individual with COVID symptoms, should not report to school. If a student or staff member becomes symptomatic during the school day, they will be isolated from others and sent home. The district will recommend they contact their medical provider for testing. In conjunction with KDHE and Sumner County Health Department’s contact tracing, USD 509 is providing COVID tests for students and staff who have displayed symptoms or have been identified as a close contact of a person who has tested positive for the COVID -19 virus.

(G) Efforts to provide vaccinations to school communities. USD 509 will collaborate with SCHD and the local health care facilities and may disseminate vaccination information to all educators, staff, and students.

(H) Appropriate accommodations for children with disabilities with respect to health and safety policies. Students will disabilities will not be required to wear a mask or social distance.

(I) Coordination with State and local health officials. USD 509 will continue to coordinate with SCHD (our local health office) as well as KDHE. 

Part II.

Describe how the district will ensure continuity of services, including but not limited to:

A. services to address students' academic needs

USD 509 has initiated a Summer Fun learning program for all students as a result of the pandemic and return-to-learn schedules. In addition, teachers are working to revise curriculum to identify and emphasize key skills and competencies in a “vertical” approach to help ensure that students in subsequent grades (in Fall 2022) are able to learn required content and skills. USD 509 has invested in new academic screening tool (FastBridge) to help teachers identify and remediate skill gaps. Interventionists, Special Education, and the Title I teacher will use this data to design the most effective interventions and specialized instruction.

B. students' and staff social, emotional, mental health

FastBridge, the new academic screener mentioned in the above paragraph, also includes social-emotional screener for all students in grades K-8.  The district has invested in the Second Step® social-emotional curriculum for all PK-8 classroom teachers. South Haven High school is currently implementing The Harbor during Cardinal Time to address SEL. USD 509 has a Licensed Social Worker on staff to provide counseling services and support student needs.

 

C. other needs, which may include student health and food services.

For 2022-23, USD 509 will continue its breakfast and lunch meal services for all students.

USD 509 DISTRICT COVID ACTION PLAN UPDATED 1/10/2022

Per action of the USD 509 Board of Education at their regular meeting on January 10, 2022, USD 509 will: 

● Attempt to treat COVID-19 as any other infectious or contagious disease as directed by KS 65-122. 

● Exclude known positive individuals from attendance based on current CDC/KDHE guidelines.

• Symptom onset/ testing date is day 0

• Return after 5 full days if symptom-free (6th day)

  •  72 hours fever-free without the aid of fever-reducing medications (per USD 509 illness policy)

● Maintain data of positive cases 

● Communicate possible exposure to parents (as with other infectious diseases)

● Offer diagnostic testing with parent consent on a voluntary basis 

● Continue with the mask optional policy based on parent/guardian preference 

We will NOT: 

● Exclude students from school based on close contact status or vaccination status. 

● Require the testing of students as a condition to stay in school or participate in activities. 

If your child has or develops any of the following symptoms, please keep him/her home and contact your health care provider for further instructions: 

● A fever of 100℉ or greater ● Muscle Pain ● Cough ● Headache 

● Shortness of breath and/or difficulty breathing ● Sore throat 

● Chills ● New loss of taste and/or smell ● Repeated shaking with chills

If your child remains symptom-free, they will NOT be excluded from school or related activities. 

USD 509 testing will continue to be made available to students on a voluntary basis. If you would like information on testing provided by the district or have any other questions, please contact the school office for further information. 

It is our goal to keep you informed of any potential situations affecting your child’s health and to continue to provide the safest environment for your child during these times.