Table of Contents
I. Introduction
A. Rationale ...................................................................................................4
II. COVID Contact ………………………………………………………………………..
III. Instructional Models............................................................................................6
A. Full Face to Face Return: 100% Students Return to School with Safety
Guidelines (If COVID 19 risk is determined to be low in community based on San Bernardino Department of Public Health-SBDPH)
B. Hybrid 50% of Students Return with Hybrid Schedule (If COVID 19 incidence increases in community and SBDPH recommends increased restrictions )
C. 100% Distance Online Learning for All Students (If COVID 19 becomes significant community risk and closure is recommended by SBDPH)
IV. Wellness..............................................................................................................9
A. Safety-Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
B. Mental Health and Social and Emotional Well- Being
C. Hygiene
D. Prevention via Temperature Management
E. Identifying and Addressing Illness
F. Returning from Illness
G. Creating and Providing an Isolation Space
V. Facilities..............................................................................................................13
A. Sanitizing and Ventilating
B. Classroom Layouts, Passing Periods, Office Areas
VI. Operations...........................................................................................................14
A. Transportation
B. Child Nutrition Services
VII. Technology...........................................................................................................15
A. Summer Check Out
B. 2021-2020 Chromebook check out
C. Device Usage and Care
D. Teacher and Student Support
Introduction:
A: Rationale:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, TJUSD schools transitioned on March 16, 2020 to Distance Learning for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. In response to stay-at-home orders, districts across the nation were required to provide academic instruction via Distance Learning. There were many decisions faced by districts: bandwidth, device deployment, curriculum, platforms, grading, graduation, meal distribution, essential employees, professional development, and safety guidelines. Trona Joint Unified staff responded with flexibility, collaboration, innovative ideas, and determination to provide our families and students with support.
There are many unknowns surrounding the future of educational institutions, yet we must prepare for reopening after COVID-19. Multiple scenarios have been discussed by various governmental agencies without any executive orders regarding the 2020-2021 school year. Trona Joint Unified School District plans to be prepared for any of these scenarios:
1) Reopening with 100% of the students on campus with feasible restrictions/guidelines,
2) Reopening with 50% of students on campus at a time with feasible restrictions/guidelines,
3) Reopening with 0% of students returning to campus and 100% instruction provided online.
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released updated guidelines on June 5, 2020. The document states, “All decisions about following this guidance should be made in collaboration with local health officials and other authorities.” TJUSD’s Reopening Plan addresses the areas listed in the CDPH and CDC Guidelines. The California Department of Education released their recommendations on Monday June 8, 2020. The document encourages school districts to work collaboratively with their local public health departments and County office of Education. This plan is submitted to provide details regarding the safety guidelines TJUSD will implement.
Unforeseen closures may also be in our future once we return; therefore, we must continue to plan for the various educational models and be prepared for fluid changes.
This plan will be subject to change as federal, state, and CDC guidelines, in addition to executive orders are updated. TJUSD is taking a proactive approach to plan for all future scenarios with the expectation and assumption that districts in the state may not receive additional revenue to operate this way. Districts have been told by state authorities to expect funding to drop to the levels of 2008 by Fall of 2020 and the recently released Governor’s May Revision confirms the budgetary challenges districts will face in the Fall.
Although we received guidelines from the California Department of Education for reopening schools on June 9, 2020, State Superintendent Thurmond stated that it is a local district decision to be made in collaboration with local health officials. We will also work with TTA and CTEA on the implications of CDE guidelines, Executive Orders, and budget short comings. School sites will use this plan to provide overarching guidance; however, principals and staff will review the specific needs of their sites and outline key action steps to address the specific needs at their sites.
.
Triggers for Switching to Distance Learning: Although we received guidelines from the California Department of Education for reopening schools on June 9, 2020, State Superintendent Thurmond stated that it is a local district decision to be made in collaboration with local health officials. This changed on July 17, 2020 When Gavin Newsom issued mandates on reopening based on County data with a waiver possible for elementary reopening only. We are also working with TTA and CTEA on the implications of CDE guidelines, Executive Orders, and budget short comings. School sites will use this plan to provide overarching guidance; however, principals and staff will review the specific needs of their sites and outline key action steps to address the specific needs at their sites.
Communication Plans: This plan will be updated as new information is received and once school begins to include the most recent guidance from CDPH, SBDPH, CDC and CDE. Community COVID 19 data will be used to determine if transition is required to a more restrictive scenario. Families will receive updates to this plan on our TJUSD Website and Facebook.
II. COVID-19 CONTACT
Close Contact with COVID:
A close contact is defined as anyone who was within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes starting from 48 hours before the person began feeling sick until the time the patient was isolated. If an employee/student comes into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID (within 6 feet), the employee/student will be sent home for self quarantine, testing is recommended. The employee/student will only return to work with a doctor release letter.
No Close contact to a person with COVID:
A no close contact is defined as anyone who was within 6 feet, less than 15 minutes starting from 48 hours before the person began feeling sick until the time the patient was isolated. If you have been around someone who was identified as close contact with a person with COVID-19, you should closely monitor yourself for any symptoms of COVID-19 but, you do not need to self-quarantine. Testing is recommended but you can remain at work, follow the CDC guidelines for social distancing.
Daily Response to COVID as a Staff:
The public can contact or make appointments with the school sites/district office through email and telephone. 760-372-2861, swright@tjusd.net (district office) 760-372-2824, jwolfe@tjusd.net (high school and elementary)
All staff interactions with colleagues and the public will be based on the CDC guidelines. Staff will be required to be 6ft apart and wearing a mask per the latest guidelines.
III. Instructional Models:
Option 1: 100% of Students and Staff Return with Feasible Restrictions and Guidelines
❏ Although hand sanitizing stations are in all classrooms, additional hand sanitizing stations will be placed in all multi-purpose rooms/cafeterias for student use prior to August 2020.
❏ Hallway traffic patterns will be established at each school by site staff; student training will take place on the first day of school.
❏ Digital, no contact thermometers have been purchased for each school site.
❏ Two washable masks will be issued to all students and staff. (Protective shields will be provided for staff by request.)
❏ Daily wipe-down procedures will be established to sanitize the interior of all buses
❏ Custodians will add to current daily procedures nightly cleaning and sanitizing of all door handles/knobs and desks on each campus.
❏ Chromebooks will be assigned to students for daily in-class use; however, if there is a future school closure, the Chromebooks will be issued to all students to take home for Distance Learning. A limited number of Hotspots will be provided to families in need.
❏ Professional development for classroom teachers to support the use of Google Classroom, online live lessons (synchronous), recorded lessons (asynchronous), and online tools will be provided in preparation for future closures.
❏ All students will review or be trained on how to use Google Classroom in preparation for future closures.
❏ Trona Joint Unified School District long-term Independent Study Program will be available for those families choosing to remain on a 100 % Distance Learning model if they choose not to return to the school site.
Option 2: 50% of Students and 100% of Staff Return Daily to Campus with Feasible Restrictions and Guidelines
The structures above will be in place in addition to the following guidelines:
❏ Students placed in Group 1 will attend school on Mondays and Tuesdays. Students placed in Group 2 will attend school on Thursdays and Fridays. All students will receive instruction via Distance Learning on Wednesday and on alternate days they are not physically on-site. (Parents may request to switch days by contacting the principal. Changes will only be made based on space availability.) The reason for this delineation is to keep families together. Class sizes will be based on social distancing guidelines, 6ft apart. Grade levels that can social distance and wear a mask will be able to go to school four days a week.
❏ Schedule: Group 1 Monday and Tuesday, Group 2 Thursday and Friday, Wednesday is distance learning, deep cleaning day.
8:15 am - 8:30 am Gates open and Breakfast will be available in cafeteria
8:30am - 11:30am Instruction
11:25 am - 12:15 pm Grab and Go Lunches
12:15 pm - 1:30 pm Instruction and dismiss and go home
1:30pm - 2:50pm Distance Learning for Group
8:00 start time
❏ Chromebooks will be assigned to students who will bring them back and forth from home. The Chromebooks will be issued to all students to take home for Distance Learning. A limited number of Hotspots will be provided to families in need.
❏ Distance Learning will take place on days students are not physically on campus using lessons that were created or were recorded the previous Friday and via Google classroom assignments. Attendance will be taken daily, and assignments will be graded. Google Classroom will be utilized for all students in all grades, online lessons and conferencing will occur through Google Meets and is expected to be provided daily by all teachers. Lessons may be recorded for students to access throughout the day. Attendance will be recorded in Infinite Campus.
❏ Child Nutritional Services will provide grab-and-go meals for the days’ students will not be in school.
❏ Trona Joint Unified School District long-term Independent Study Program will be available for those families choosing to remain on a 100 % Distance Learning platform if they choose not to return to school. Students will be required to meet with their teacher once a week. Parents may have the option to continue distance learning instead of an independent study program.
Option 3: 100% of Students on Distance Learning with no students on campus; 100% of TJUSD Staff is on Campus daily
The structures above will be in place in addition to the following guidelines:
❏ TK – 6th students will be assigned a teacher from their “home” school site. The teacher will meet virtually daily with their students and provide at least one hour of synchronous instruction (maybe in multiple shorter lessons throughout the day). The rest of the day for students will be asynchronous instruction. Teachers will hold daily office hours during their normal workday hours to assist students, answer questions, and respond to emails. All teachers using the district approved curriculum, at the sites, will design lessons/schedules to help students meet or exceed California Common Core Standards. Teachers will publish a daily schedule for synchronous learning and develop a routine for students.
❏ 7th – 12th grades will be assigned classes by subject, grade level, and program needs. The teacher will meet virtually daily with their students and provide at least one hour of synchronous instruction (maybe in multiple shorter lessons throughout the day). Teacher online lessons will be assigned based on the student's class schedule. All classes will meet daily for online live classes (synchronous). Assignments will be turned in via Google Classroom.
❏ Attendance will be taken daily on Infinite Campus, assignments will be graded, and teachers will work from their classrooms. Google Classroom will be the district adopted platform for Distance Learning and professional development will be provided for all teachers.
❏ Prior to the beginning of each week, Administrators will have access to each Google Classroom, teachers’ Google Meets schedules.
❏ Meal distribution will take place on a daily basis.
❏ Chromebooks will be provided to students; families may opt-out of taking
technology home if they already have access to adequate devices.
This plan will be updated as new information is received and will include the most recent guidance from CDPH, SBDPH, CDC, and CDE. Community COVID 19 data will be used to determine if a transition is required to a more restrictive scenario. CSBA is expected to release a sample Board Policy in June which addresses reopening schools. Families will receive updates to this plan on our TJUSD Website, Facebook, and District App. All plans and updates will also be sent out to families in order to keep all stakeholders updated.
IV. Wellness
Safety-Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
TJUSD staff and/or students will:
❏ Receive masks and/or shields at the sites prior to August 13th
❏ Maintain social distancing as feasible
❏ Receive training on the proper use of PPE’s (videos)
❏ Receive a mask if determined to be symptomatic and placed in isolation
❏ Grades K-2 will be recommended to wear a mask. Grades 3 and up will be required to wear a mask per July 17, 2020 mandates. Students in grades 3 and up who refuse to wear a mask per current mandates will be on distance learning unless they are exempt per CDPH guidelines
❏ Wear a mask during transitions (i.e. hallways, bus rides, and bathrooms)
❏Wear a mask for bus rides and while waiting for the bus for all students.
TJUSD staff will:
❏ Continue to work closely with the San Bernardino Department of Public health on PPE requirements
❏ Limit the number of visitors/volunteers on campuses
❏ Maintain Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in health offices
❏ Conduct staff meetings, professional development training, and education, and other activities involving staff with physical distancing, or virtually if physical distancing is a challenge.
❏ Minimize the use of and congregation of adults in staff rooms, break rooms, and other settings.
❏ Contact Tracing - The point of contact will be Dr. Arellano and Sarah Wright -Superintendent Secretary.
❏ Provide training regarding COVID19 response.
❏ Routine testing of staff is recommended - TJUSD staff will be recommended to be tested once every two months. Time will be available during their workday (after students leave for certificated) to get tested.
Families will be educated about keeping child/children home from school to decrease the risks of spreading illness. School sites will ask families to update their emergency contact list prior to students on campus and have a plan for picking up ill students.
Mental Health and Social and Emotional Well- Being
Free Counseling and Mental Health Services
If members of your family or anyone else you know could use support in dealing with anxiety or stress, they can:
speak to a trained counselor at the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or by texting TalkWithUS 66746;
call the California Peer-Run Warm Line at (855) 845-7415 or visit its website [link https://www.mentalhealthsf.org/peer-run-warmline/] for free text- or video-based peer therapy; or
call the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) ] HelpLine, which is available Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m, at (800) 950-6264.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline -- 1-800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line -- Text Hello to 741741
National Domestic Violence Hotline -- 1-800-799-7233
Tools for you and your child at home
These are frightening times that are sometimes filled with terrible news. Making time to check in with your child(ren) and giving them opportunities to express their feelings can help. This website offers activities that you can use to support your child during these times [link https://www.gcsnc.com/Page/6417]. If you or your child are in need of emotional support, reach out to Warm Line, a free, non-emergency peer counseling resource [link: https://www.mentalhealthsf.org/peer-run-warmline/].
Mental health and suicide hotlines
These two services specialize in helping individuals (and their friends, family, and loved ones) who are having suicidal thoughts. That said, both services can provide support for other mental health issues.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline -- 1-800-273-8255
The National Suicide Prevention Hotline fields call 24/7 for anyone with suicidal thoughts or who are in crisis. They offer help for Spanish-speakers and anyone who is deaf or hard of hearing.
Their website also offers many resources to get help for yourself or someone you know.
Crisis Text Line -- Text Hello to 741741
Crisis Text Line fields messages about suicidal thoughts, abuse, sexual assault, depression, anxiety, bullying, and more. What makes it unique is that it's entirely text-based, which makes it easy for anyone who doesn't feel comfortable or safe talking on the phone to use it.
You can text 741741 in the US, or message Crisis Text Line on Facebook for help. You'll be matched with a volunteer counselor, who is supervised by a licensed, trained mental health professional.
Crisis hotlines for kids and teens
These two services are aimed at different audiences. YouthLine is available for kids and young adults who want to talk to someone about what's happening in their lives, while ChildHelp tackles issues of child abuse.
YouthLine -- Text teen2teen to 839863, or call 1-877-968-8491
Hygiene
TJUSD staff and students will:
❏ Wash or sanitize hands at the beginning of the day, prior to and after eating
snacks/meals, after using the restroom, after recess, and upon entering and leaving the classroom/office, etc.
TJUSD staff will:
❏ Increase the frequency of disinfecting protocols ( i.e cleaning desks, door
handles etc.)
❏ Train and encourage protocols that reduce infectious disease spread (hand
washing, etc.) during the month of August 2020
❏ Maintain appropriate supplies for handwashing and hand sanitizing stations
❏ Post handwashing posters near all sinks on campuses
❏ Provide outdoor hand sanitizing stations
❏ Disinfect bathrooms frequently (hourly as practicable)
❏ Students will be taught about why sharing is not an option until shared use is allowed again. When shared use is allowed, clean, and disinfects between uses.
Prevention via Temperature Management
TJUSD staff and/or students will:
❏ Have temperatures taken prior to entering the bus, and at school drop off at beginning of day using a no-contact thermometer until no longer recommended by San Bernardino County Health Department
❏ Be directed with a mask to a designated isolation room if the temperature is
>100.4 until they are able to leave campus. (See next steps below)
TJUSD staff will:
❏ Encourage families and staff to do a health check/temperature prior to
coming to school/work
❏ Ventilate and clean isolation room after use
Identifying and Addressing Illness
TJUSD staff and/or students will:
❏ Stay home if showing signs of symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Will not SARB students as long as they are finishing their work from home.
❏ Be observed by health staff, if symptoms confirmed a mask will be placed
on the student and they will be put in isolation until picked up to return home
❏ Stay home until at least 14 days have passed after symptoms first appear. Currently, two negative tests are recommended by Public Health.
❏ Stay home at least three (3) days after recovery with a negative COVID test
and doctor’s note. “Recovery” means the fever is gone for 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications and respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved
TJUSD staff will:
❏ Receive training on COVID 19 symptoms according to the Center for Disease
Control (CDC) guidelines
❏ Have lesson plans for substitute teachers in the event they become ill
themselves
❏ Contact Department of Public Health for consultation and guidance if
school confirms a case of COVID-19 with potential exposure to staff or students
❏ Communicate school or classroom closure with staff and families following
the recommendations of San Bernardino County Public Health
❏ Close off areas used by any individual suspected of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and does not use before cleaning and disinfection. To reduce the risk of exposure, wait 24 hours before you clean and disinfect. If it is not possible to wait 24 hours, wait as long as practicable. Ensure a safe and correct application of disinfectants using personal protective equipment and ventilation recommended for cleaning.
❏ Investigate the COVID-19 illness and exposures and determine if any work-related factors could have contributed to the risk of infection. Update protocols as needed to prevent further cases.
TJUSD students will:
❏ Be placed on short term independent study if the need arises to quarantine at
home
Returning from Illness
TJUSD staff will:
❏ Follow guidelines and work closely with local doctors and health departments regarding readmission
❏ CDC criteria state 72 hours without the use of medication and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
TJUSD students will:
❏ Turn in their short-term independent schoolwork for attendance credit
Creating and Providing an Isolation Space
TJUSD staff will:
❏ Identify an isolation space at each school site prior to July 2020
❏ Follow the guidelines of the CDC to provide a space with ventilation and
separate healthy individuals from those showing signs of illness (see above)
❏ Follow disinfecting protocols after use of the isolation space
❏ Continue to implement practices to protect the confidential health information of
students and staff
V. Facilities
Sanitizing and Ventilating
TJUSD staff will sanitize:
❏ Shared classroom materials, electronic devices, desks, and chairs
❏ Metal objects frequently touched by students and staff, door handles and
restrooms
TJUSD staff will ventilate:
❏ Shared spaces and ensure proper airflow
❏ During the hot season, evaporative coolers introduce fresh air into the classrooms constantly.
❏ HVAC/swamp coolers units by changing filters frequently ❏ HEPA air filter purifiers in common areas/classrooms
Classroom Layouts, Passing Periods, Office Areas
TJUSD staff will ensure Classroom Layouts:
❏ Where students are facing forward or have physical dividers
❏ Adjust student capacity of classrooms to align with public health guidelines
as feasible
❏ Place desks with 6 feet distance if feasible according to physical
distancing guidelines
❏ Adjust the student capacity of multipurpose rooms/common areas to align
with county public health office guideline
TJUSD staff will ensure safe passing periods:
❏ By creating directional pathways in hallways ❏ By requiring mask/shield to be worn during passing periods
❏ Keep students in cohorts to the extent possible
❏ Masks will be provided if needed to students/guardians/parents
Classroom Layouts, Passing Periods, Office Areas continued
TJUSD staff will provide in the Office area:
❏ Markers to indicate the distance between students/guardians/parents
❏ Masks will be provided if needed to students/guardians/parents
Operations
Transportation
TJUSD staff will:
❏ Wear face mask/covering while transporting students
❏ Load students from back to the front of the bus
❏ Ensure that drivers have access to surplus masks to provide to students who are symptomatic on the bus.
❏ Take temperatures as students enter the bus. If symptomatic, then the student would go home if the parent can be reached. Otherwise, the student sits in the front seat in PPE.
❏ Have windows, as practical to allow ventilation
❏ Sanitize bus seats between routes
TJUSD students will:
❏ Line up for the bus, practicing physical distancing at bus stops and school
loading zones
❏ Wear a mask at all times while on the school bus
❏ Recommend to sanitize hands upon entry to the bus
Child Nutrition:
TJUSD staff will:
❏ Wear appropriate PPE when serving students
❏ Create markers to indicate the distance between students
❏ Use disposable, or sanitized reusable tableware
❏ Provide food service for distance learning as needed
❏ Provide grab and go lunches
❏ Follow all CDE guidelines for serving food (already do)
TJUSD students will:
❏ Wear appropriate PPE if waiting in line for meal service but not during meal
❏ Sanitize hands upon entry and exit
❏ Sit at desks/tables to provide physical distance as feasible
❏ Throw all food and utensils in appropriate receptacle once finished eating
❏ Not be permitted to share consumables
Technology
2020-2021 Chromebook checkout
Chromebooks will be assigned to each individual student for daily in-class use; however, if there is a future school closure, the Chromebooks will be issued to all students to take home for Distance Learning. Students will be required to complete work at home on school-issued Chromebooks. A limited number of Hotspots will be provided to families in need.
TJUSD students will:
❏ Abide by all TJUSD technology usage guidelines as outlined in the
Responsible Use Protocol document signed at the start of each school year
❏ Have one device checked out to each student at the beginning of the year.
Each student will keep that device with them for the remainder of the year to minimize cross-contamination.
TJUSD staff will:
❏ Use effective educational technology tools and techniques for all.
instructional models: 100% return to school, 50% hybrid, 100% Distance Learning
Device Usage and Care
❏ Keep Chromebook plugged in when not in use.
❏ If the battery will not recharge, Chromebook will need to be plugged in
while working.
❏ DO NOT USE BLEACH solutions as they will damage the Chromebook.
Device Usage and Care continued
❏ Clean using a damp rag, squeeze out excess liquid first, gently wipe the device.
❏ Isopropyl alcohol is recommended for disinfection.
❏ Use alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol.
❏ Absorb some isopropyl alcohol on a lint-free soft cloth.
❏ Squeeze out excess liquid.
❏ Gently wipe the keyboard surface, ensuring no liquid drips on or between the keys.
❏ Allow drying.
❏ It is safe to use wipes designed for home/office use. Please check that they
do not contain BLEACH. Some medical grade wipes could cause damage or discoloration.
❏ ONLY CLEAN THE SCREEN WITH A LINT FREE CLOTH (DO NOT
USE ANY PAPER TOWELS, KLEENEX OR LIQUID ON THE SCREEN.)
Teacher and Student Support
❏ Teachers in need of device support will continue to follow protocol by
submitting a tech ticket to the IT department.
❏ Students/Families in need of device support will let their teacher know as
soon as possible so the device can be serviced or replaced if needed.
❏ Damaged or lost devices will need to be replaced by the IT department, and
the cost may be the responsibility of the parents.