District Plan for Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services

USD 286 Chautauqua County Community Schools

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:

1. Universal and correct wearing of masks.
   The USD 286 Board of Education will continue to support the individual decision by students, patrons, and staff to properly wear masks in accordance with CDC safety guidelines. The board of education will support these individual decisions, but currently does not have a district policy requiring the use of masks.  

2. Modifying facilities to allow for physical distancing (e.g., use of cohorts/podding).
   Currently with the level of enrollment the school district has, proper social distancing in classrooms and community areas is achieved with minimal modifications. USD 286 will continue to monitor and adjust the set-up of the facilities to encourage and allow physical distancing.

100. Handwashing and respiratory etiquette.
     Staff and students follow regular handwashing and respiratory etiquette. Students are encouraged to wash hands every hour and during passing times and regular restroom breaks. Hand sanitization stations are located throughout all building with signage encouraging regular handwashing.

500. Cleaning and maintaining healthy facilities, including improving ventilation.
     We have increased custodial and maintenance to increase our cleaning protocols of all areas of the district. Common areas are sanitized multiple times a day, classrooms are sanitized twice a day and fresh air is introduced into common areas throughout the building as needed. Food service has increased their cleaning and using sanitization procedures to promote a safe cafeteria environment.  The cafeteria has protocols in place to limit contact with student and food preparation. Use of disposable utensils and trays are also in place and the use will be evaluated as school begins in August 2022.

5. Contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine, in collaboration with the State, local, territorial, or Tribal health departments.
   During the school year, district official meet weekly with the Chautauqua County Health Department, Sedan City Hospital, EMS, and Pleasant Valley Manor to update COVID-19 information and to analyze local, state, and national trending data. Administration works closely with county health officials in reporting staff and students with symptoms, communication and collaboration occurs in real time in sharing information related to contact tracing and reporting.

6. Diagnostic and screening testing.
   The district uses CDC guidance questionnaire to screen staff and students who may be presenting symptoms related to COVID-19. If the criterium is met, the individual is conferenced and encouraged to make an appointment with a local health provider for further testing and screening. This information is then shared with county health officials.

7. Efforts to provide vaccinations to school communities.
   USD 286 has distributed materials to all staff, students, parents and patrons on COVID-19 vaccination locations and reasons to get vaccinated. The local county health nurse continues to come on campus to administer vaccines when requested.

8. Appropriate accommodations for children with disabilities with respect to health and safety policies.
   Students with individual disabilities have been provided guidance information from the CDC and individual education plans have been updated where necessary to include the appropriate accommodations to best meet district, county, state and national health policies. District officials regularly meet with staff and parents when an individual student requires such accommodations.

1. Coordination with State and local health officials.
   USD 286 administration meets regularly with local health officials and participates in state public health updates as it relates to our local school district. During the school year, the district has a weekly standing meeting with our local county health official to update and revise any protocols or policies as they relate to the health and safety of students and staff related to the pandemic.

Part II:

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

1. services to address students' academic needs.
   The district will continue to monitor the changing aspects of the pandemic.  Providing access to remote technology, individual devices, updating internet speeds, providing Wi-Fi hotspot devices and ensuring connectivity at home is included in the district response. Staff continue to have professional development in areas of remote learning and teaching, providing more supports to students and closely monitoring every students’ academic progress and needs. Individual plans of study have been developed and modified to address the academic needs of students to ensure success in a remote and traditional learning environment.

2. students' and staff social, emotional, mental health
   Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, the district will have a counselor for each building and will continue to help support the social, emotional, and mental health needs of students. Staff continue to receive professional development in social and emotional curriculum and identifying warning issues and behaviors exhibited by students. Staff have access to third party counselors through the district insurance plan and the Employee Assistance Program.  Administration continues conduct staff appreciation and creating areas for staff to have time to refocus and rejuvenate during the day. The district is acquiring resources to help support the needs of staff and students. Given the districts rural location, access to community partners and support is limited and does present many unique challenges for the district as many of the enhanced responsibilities for social, emotional, and mental health fall on individual teachers. Administration continues to explore opportunities and grants to address these challenges, however even with the monetary resources securing and hiring mental health professionals continues to be incredibly challenging for our area.

100. other needs, which may include student health and food services.
     The district utilizes a school nurse to help promote and monitor student health. The school nurse works cooperatively with county health to keep administration updated on CDC recommendations.  USD 286 will continue to work to better improve the health and safety of staff and students as they participate in our food service programs and all programs within the district. 

American Rescue Plan Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services

Revised June 2022

In Spanish: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lEOn3C9gn6rpb8aZ-7BMC3EKeI3MA1olLcFuI9lr2gM/edit?usp=sharing