School District of Loyal Reopening Plan August 2020

This plan has been developed using CDC Guidelines, Clark County Health Department recommendations, Wisconsin Department of Health (DHS) guidelines, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Education Forward plan and School District of Loyal parent and staff survey data. The goal of this plan is to provide a structure for the SAFE return to school this fall amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Minimizing student contact with other students and with staff members is a key concept of the plan. Personal hygiene (hand washing/sanitizing, not touching face, etc), social distancing (as much as possible) and the wearing of face coverings, are key to not only a safe return, but to being able to stay in school throughout the year. While the School District of Loyal cannot guarantee that exposure to the virus is eliminated, this plan strives to minimize that exposure through reduced contact and following accepted practices.

While our hope is that we can return to school full-time with all activities running, this is not prudent at this time. By reducing the contact students have with each other, providing a minimal amount of at-home learning and promoting good hygiene practices, we hope to keep our schools open all year and keep our students, staff and communities SAFE.

School Day/Schedule

The School District of Loyal will run on a 5 day a week traditional model.

Lockers will be used/assigned and spaced accordingly to keep students from being in close proximity to each other. A plan will be developed for elementary students to utilize lockers/ cubbies and access those on a rotational basis to avoid close contact with other classes.

Junior/Senior High No students in the building before 7:45 AM 7:45 - 8:05 a.m.: Students enter the building, get screened, stop at locker and head directly to their 1st period class with required materials.

At the conclusion of each day, students will be expected to take with them the necessary items to continue their learning in a “virtual” environment if a decision to do so is made on short notice. Families will be notified via “Remind” application and on the school district website if such a decision is made.

All students will load busses, be picked up or self-transport immediately following the last bell, with the exception of those involved in approved co-curricular activities.

Elementary

No students in the building before 7:45 AM 7:45 AM - 8:05 AM: Students enter the building from their drop off site, get screened and head directly to the classroom.

At the conclusion of each day, students will be expected to take with them the necessary items to continue their learning in a “virtual” environment if a decision to do so is made on short notice. Families will be notified via “Remind” application and on the school district website if such a decision is made.

All students will load busses, be picked up or self-transport immediately following the last bell, with the exception of those involved in approved co-curricular activities.

Options for Instruction

All parents/students, grades 4K - 12 will have the option of attending school face-to-face or taking courses virtually at home. The virtual option is contingent on the student having adequate internet access in their home. Students choosing to take courses virtually will be expected to be “in class” at the regularly scheduled time every day. Regular attendance is an important aspect of student success whether in school or taking courses virtually at home. For those families with multiple children or with limited access, instruction may be recorded and available on-line.

JR/SR High Athletic Activities

Athletics - All high school sports will follow WIAA, Cloverbelt Conference and Central Wisconsin guidelines and recommendations for athletic seasons. The County Health Department recommendations for host schools will be followed. More restrictive school board actions may be imposed during the implementation of this plan should the board deem necessary.

Fall sports will start as follows: Cross Country-August 17 Football and Volleyball-September 7 Jr High Cross Country, Football and Volleyball-TBD Review of this plan will be done on an ongoing basis as necessary.

Non-Athletic Activities

All extra-curricular activities (before and after school) will be reviewed for the first quarter. Activities that are of co-curricular (FFA, FBLA, etc.) will be allowed to meet during the school day IF time is made available in the schedule by the individual building principal. Before and after school activities are not allowed unless approved by the principal.

Overnight Travel/Field Trips

Because of the difficulty of socially distancing on a bus and sharing of a hotel room, no overnight travel or field trips will be allowed during the first semester of the school year. Review of this plan will be done on an ongoing basis as necessary.

Outside Group Use of Facilities

The use of district facilities by outside groups including, but not limited to: FFA Alumni, Booster Club, SOLES, 4H, communitybased athletics and events, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts will not be allowed for the first semester of the school year. Review of this plan will be done on an ongoing basis as necessary.

Transportation

Transportation will be provided to students as it has been in the past. Students will be required to wear a mask while riding the bus. Family members will be asked to sit together. Passengers will have assigned seats. Bus riders will load the bus back to front and unload the bus front to back.

Food Service

Food Service will continue with breakfast and lunch provided each day. Free, reduced and full pay meals will be in effect during the school year. As always, students are more than welcome to bring their own lunch from home. Salad bars and other opportunities for self-service or high touch points will be eliminated including the use of microwaves to heat up meals brought from home.

Hygiene/PPE/Cleaning

The wearing of a face covering is required under Wisconsin Executive Order #28, Emergency Order #1 issued by Governor Evers. This requirement is in effect from Aug. 1 through Sept. 28 for individuals age five and older. The district has face coverings available for student/staff use. Students are encouraged to provide their own coverings as well. Other PPE will be provided by the District as available. The promotion of good personal hygiene, cleaning of shared equipment and surfaces and the use of face coverings will be a focus of teachers and staff. Training on safe practices will be provided for all students and staff. Signs will be posted throughout the building on how to properly use a face covering, wash hands, and how to use protective measures to stop the spread of COVID-19. Students will also be encouraged to carry a personal water bottle.

Cleaning of classrooms and shared spaces will occur during the day and after-school hours of each school day. More emphasis will be placed on daily cleaning throughout the building. Maintenance staff, wearing proper PPE, will continue to do this while classrooms are vacant of teachers and students.

Symptoms/Positive Test/Return to School

1. Staff members and students should not be in school if they are displaying symptoms of influenza type illness or COVID-19, or if they have been in contact with someone confirmed of having COVID-19 in the last 14 days.

2. Each morning, staff members and students should have a health screening conducted as they enter the building. Individuals with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will be sent home.

3. If a student becomes ill at school, we will provide a supervised, isolated space for the ill student to rest safely and quietly while waiting for the arrival of a parent/guardian. Upon notification, the parent/guardian should pick up the ill student within one hour.

4. Clark County Health Department will be contacted if we have a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19. Reported concerns shall remain confidential; however, cases with COVID-19 like symptoms will be reported to the Clark County Health Department for guidance and follow up in accordance with confidentiality laws and statutes.

5. Ill staff members and students should not return to school until criteria to discontinue home or medical facility isolation is met determined by health professionals.

6. Nonessential visitors and volunteers will be restricted from being in the school building.

The District will continue to follow Clark County Health Department recommendations for dealing with a person who exhibits symptoms, tests positive for the virus or has been in close contact with someone who does test positive. Please refer to the attached flow chart provided by the county.

Conclusion

The School District of Loyal has developed this plan to help reduce the chances of contracting and/or spreading the COVID-19 virus between students, staff, families and our communities. Your child and family are of the utmost importance to the Loyal School ßΣDistrict. If we minimize contact, practice social distancing, wear face coverings and practice good personal hygiene, we can go a long way to prevent the spread of this virus. Our goal by putting these simple things into practice is to stay open for face-to-face instruction throughout the school year. We must remain flexible and be supportive throughout this school year.

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