Covid-19
Red Creek Central School District
Reopening to Diminish Risk to Public Health 2021-22
UPDATE: As of March 2nd, 2022, face coverings are no longer required while inside the Red Creek Central School District. This is in line with recommendations from both the NYS, Wayne County and Cayuga County Departments of Health. Some individuals may choose to continue masking in environments where it is not required. We will continue to support those who choose this option. It is important for us to respect each other’s decisions and continue to be cautious about close contact with others. We will be assessing all the other practices implemented during the pandemic and re-evaluating our safety plan.
This plan is subject to change with limited notice based on State, regional, and local circumstances.
This plan is effective September 7, 2021, at which time all Red Creek students will fully return to in-person learning. The plan is applicable to all Red Creek events and activities including the regular school day, athletics, and extracurricular activities.
This plan was created to maximize opportunity for in-person learning, reduce the risk of school closure, and stop the spread of COVID-19. Our schools serve children under the age of
12 who are not eligible for vaccination at this time. Therefore, this plan emphasizes implementing layered prevention strategies to protect people who are not fully vaccinated, including students, teachers, staff, and other members of their households and their community.
This plan was reviewed by Wayne County Public Health (WCPH) and the School District’s Medical Director. The district in conjunction with these entities will monitor community transmission, vaccination coverage, screening testing, and occurrence of outbreaks to monitor this plan and make adjustments as necessary. The health and safety measures in this plan will apply to everyone regardless of their vaccination status.
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CDC Strategies |
School Implementation |
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COVID-19 Vaccination |
COVID-19 vaccination is currently the leading public health prevention strategyto end the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 vaccination is not required for school attendance. Vaccination, however, has a significant impact on COVID transmission.* *Those who are vaccinated can still contract COVID-19 but symptoms tend to be mild and significantly diminish severe illness, hospitalization and death. |
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Consistent and Correct Mask Use for Students, Staff, and Community |
Minimum Expectations for Indoors* Given the new information from the CDC (July 27, 2021), “to maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others” masks are universally required. Levels of transmission are designated by the CDC and any change in mask requirements is authorized ONLY by the CDC and confirmed in consultation with the WCPH. Masking is required indoors (exceptions: breaks, meals).
Outdoors Masks are not required but recommended when social distancing cannot be maintained. This is subject to change based on local rates of transmission.
Transportation Passengers and drivers must wear a mask on school buses at all times. Students must be wearing a face covering at the time of boarding the school bus. Students who do not have a face covering will not be denied transportation; they will immediately be given a face covering by the bus driver. In order to ride the bus, all students must wear a face covering for the duration of the time aboard the bus. Students without authorized accommodations who refuse to wear a face covering will not be able to board the bus and the child will remain in the custody of the parent. Parents are encouraged to drop off or walk students to school to reduce density on buses. Parents are to communicate transportation requests/intentions through the parent questionnaire distributed to all parents.
Supply of Masks Parents are encouraged to supply face coverings for their child’s use in the school setting. Employees are encouraged to provide a face covering for their own use. The school will supply a disposable face covering to any student who does not have one. PPE will be available to all staff members. *Changes to protocols for level designations will only be modified per the directive of WCPH. |
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Physical Distancing |
Minimum Expectation for all subject areas* 3’ minimum distancing requirement For students having meals in cafeterias, distancing will be implemented to the extent possible. Close contacts may be subject to quarantine if deemed a close contact. Instruction is considered a core activity. As such, physical distancing may be diminished for shorter intervals of core activities. *Changes to protocols for level designations will only be modified per the recommendation of WCPH |
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Handwashing and Respiratory Etiquette |
Information will be shared with staff and students on how to follow COVID-19 protocols safely and correctly, including but not limited to hand hygiene, proper face covering wearing, social distancing, and respiratory hygiene. Hand hygiene stations will be maintained, including handwashing with soap, running water, and disposable paper towels, as well as an alcohol-based sanitizer containing 60% or more alcohol for areas where handwashing is not feasible. Should a person become ill and exhibit symptoms, they will be separated from others until they are picked up to leave. |
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Ventilation |
Bus windows and roof hatches will be opened weather permitting Ventilation with fresh outside air shall be provided in all occupied spaces. The Director of Facilities or designee shall ensure that all occupied spaces will have an operable system to bring outside air into the space and that those systems are maintained to operate in accordance with the original design. Proper ventilation will be maintained throughout the building. |
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Staying Home When Sick and Getting Tested |
Parents are responsible for screening student health every day prior to a student boarding a school bus or entering a building. The screening must include a temperature check and assessment of illness-related symptoms. Parents allowing a child to board a school bus or enter the school building for the instructional program are verifying that a health screen has been completed and that the child has not: ● Knowingly been in close or proximate contact in the past 10 days with anyone who has tested positive through a diagnostic test for COVID-19 or who has or had symptoms of COVID-19; ● Tested positive through a diagnostic test for COVID-19 in the past 10 days; ● experienced any symptoms of COVID-19, including a temperature of greater than 100°F, in the past 10 days; and/or ● traveled internationally or from a state with widespread community transmission of COVID-19 per New York State Travel Advisories. https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory See Appendix B to reference: Can my child go to school today? Parent submission to the district of a daily health screen is not required. |
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Contact Tracing, in Combination with Isolation and Quarantine* |
Assigned Seating Students will be assigned a seat on a bus, in the cafeteria, and in classrooms. Students will not be able to choose their own seat
Contact Tracing and Positive Results There will be a contact tracing protocol administered by WCPH. The School Nurse will immediately notify the state and local health department about any case of diagnostic test results that are positive for COVID-19. DOH will not disclose personal information for those testing positive for COVID-19. Relevant parties will be notified appropriately by WCPH. Students who screen positive for COVID-19 symptoms can only return to school when approved by medical authorities and in accordance with the protocols of the local health department. Any return-to-school will require signed release documentation from a healthcare provider. In order to limit contacts and reduce risk of transmission in the school, visitors in buildings will continue to be substantially limited. Parents should continue to use designated drop-off/pick up procedures for each building and avoid entering the buildings. *The likelihood of having to quarantine is substantially diminished for those who are vaccinated, wear a mask, and physically distance |
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Cleaning and Disinfection |
The district will adhere to hygiene, cleaning, and disinfection requirements from the CDC. Students will follow developmentally-appropriate disinfecting of personal equipment (e.g., desk, workstations, supplies) at intervals throughout the day as designated by schoolstaff members. |
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Instructional Model |
Per the NYS Education Department, the district is expected to prioritize a return for all students to in-person instruction. All school buildings are staffed with school counselors, school psychologists, and community agency social workers/counselors. Students will be supported by a professional in the counseling office or other trained staff members. Staff member training will be offered in the area of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). Counselors are in place to employ existing practices for coping and resilience skills. Appropriate assistance to individuals with disabilities or other health care needs will be provided.
Student Absence from Instruction Due to Illness When your child is absent from school for illness or any other reason, parents or guardians must notify the Attendance Office. Please remember to send in a written note of explanation when your child returns to school. Absence from school does not make a student eligible for remote learning. Missed work can be requested from the classroom teacher. For students in grades 6-12, call the Main Office to request missed work.
School Closure Should a complete school closure be warranted as determined by the local health department in consultation with the school superintendent and district’s medical director, the identified communication protocols will be used to provide information to families as aligned to the District’s existing safety and emergency plans. A transition to fully remote learning may require a brief break in instruction for planning time before beginning remote instruction.
Homeschooling (home instruction) Homeschooling is governed by the regulations of the New York State Education Department. Parents wishing to homeschool a child must follow the published guidelines, including the submission of an intent to homeschool and an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP). The Stated Education Department has published a Q&A document to support parents in the homeschooling process at: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/homeinstruction/homeschoolingqanda. html, Parents must submit a letter of intent to homeschool according to the established timeframe. Letters of intent are to be emailed to: Julia Herbst at Julia.Herbst@rccsd.org or by mail to PO Box 190, Red Creek, New York 13143. Once the original letter of intent has been received a school official will contact the family. |