THOMAS — Thomas-Fay-Custer Public School released its back-to-school plan Monday, with a return date of August 13.
The district has two learning options — on campus instruction with a backup learning distance plan and virtual learning — and safety protocols for the upcoming school year.
On campus instruction will have a traditional school day structure with transition as needed between in-person instruction and distance learning.
Distance learning will be determined by the district, city or state if the need arises. It also can be used in the event of student exposure or illness which results in quarantine. It will not count as an absence if students complete online lessons within the allotted time. Students will continue to learn new material with teacher support until classes can resume on campus. Teacher will provide pre-recorded or live lessons.
Teachers will communicate through Google Classroom, email, Zoom and others. Assignments will count toward the student’s overall grade.
Virtual learning, like many of the other districts, will be completely online and requires a full semester of commitment. TFC will use CouseWare by Edgenuity or Edmentum. An application process is required to ensure families understand the commitment and have the proper equipment.
General Protocols
The district will rely heavily on parents and guardians to assist the monitoring symptoms in students before sending them to school. They are asked to take temperatures each morning and keep them home if the student has temperature 100.3 degrees or greater. Students must be fever free for 48 hours before returning to school.
Students need to remain home if they have any of the following symptoms:
• Fever of 100.3 or greater
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Muscle/body aches
• Nausea or vomiting
• Chills
• Sore throat
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of smell/taste • Congestion/runny nose
• Congestion/runny nose
The list does not include all possible symptoms, but the district will add to the list as the CDC updates it.
Visitors will be limited and screened before entering. They will need to call the principal or secretary ahead of time. They are asked to wear a mask within the building.
Commonly touched surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected multiple times per day. Hand sanitizer will be available in all classrooms and common areas. Students will be encouraged to wash hands regularly.
Bus Transportation
TFC will provide bus transport unless advised to stop, but parents/guardians are encouraged to drop-off and pickup students when possible. This also is recommended by most health agencies.
Windows will be open to maximize airflow unless the weather dictates otherwise, and students will be separated as much as possible.
The number of routes may be reduced if a driver shortage occurs.
The School Day
Buildings will open 7:45 a.m. for students. Those who exhibit a temperature of 100.3 degrees or greater will be isolated and send home. Students must be picked up as soon as possible.
Water fountains will not be accessible. Students are encouraged to bring their own clear water bottle. A filling station will be available.
Classrooms will be rearranged to allow social distancing as much as possible. Pillows, beanbags and reading nooks will not be utilized.
Students will use their own supplies to eliminate sharing. They also will have Chromebooks as an in-class and distance learning resource.
No class snacks are allowed except for those provided by the school.
Meals
Students will be required to sanitize or wash hands prior to meal service and will be spread as far apart as possible.
Cafeteria staff will wear masks and gloves during meal preparation. Tables will be disinfected between meal groups.
No food is allowed from outside restaurants. However, students are free to bring a packed lunch from home. Students will be reminded not to share food.
If the threat of COVID-19 exposure is predominant, no guests will be allowed on site during meal times.
School Activities
The district still is working on plans for extra and co-curricular activities, whether they are modified or cancelled altogether. Elementary parties will be provided by the school district until COVID-19 has subsided.
COVID-19 Protocols
Members of TFC staff will be expected to screen for COVID-19 symptoms prior to reporting to work each day. Parents/ guardians are expected to screen their students for COVID-19 symptoms each day prior to sending their students to school.
People with COVID-19 have reported a variety of symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Families should monitor children and should not send them to school if they have one or more of the aforementioned symptoms.
Employees or students suspected or known to have contracted COVID-19 and have exhibited symptoms may return to school when all of the following conditions have been met: 2 days without fever, symptoms are no longer present and release from the doctor.
Employees or students with known close contact — closer than 6 feet for longer than 15 minutes — with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 may return to school when a 14 day quarantine or other action as determined by school administrators through consultation with the Department of Health is completed.
A positive diagnosis does not necessarily mean shutting down a school site or the entire district. Working with health officials will mean completing contact tracing and possibly suggesting students to be tested. Because of changing and uncertain conditions, students, parents, and staff should be prepared for transition to distance learning at any time.