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Health Mitigation for In Person Learning

Table of Contents

  • Overview
  • Risk Reduction Strategies & Minimizing Exposure
    • Face Coverings
    • Face Covering Guidance
    • Vaccination Guidance from the Department of Education
    • Air Filtration
    • Physical Distancing
  • Ongoing Operational Considerations
    • Communication, Health Education Strategies and Training
    • Health Concerns
    • Contact Tracing
    • Sick Individuals
    • Re-Entry Waiting Period
    • Individuals with a positive Covid-19 Diagnosis
    • Confidentiality & Reporting of Covid-19 Diagnoses
  • Student Information
    • Home Based Symptom Screenings
    • Student Arrival
      • General Guidelines
      • Parking Lot 
      • Backpacks, Purses, Handbags, Wallets
      • Temperature Checks
    • Student Departure
    • Campus Flow and Signage
    • Attendance
    • Restrooms
    • Water Fountains
    • Break
    • Passing Period
  • In Class Procedures
    • Cleaning and Sanitizing
      • Chromebook Sanitation Procedure
      • Handwashing Procedure
    • Overnight Sanitation Procedure
  • Student Support Videos

Overview

Compass High School is committed to the health and safety of each student and staff member.  As a community, if we participate in best health practices in school, at home and in our daily lives, we can reduce the spread of the disease. 

Due to the fluid nature of the pandemic, the requirements in this document are subject to change as additional information about the spread and prevention of COVID-19 becomes available. Additionally, new directives from Governor Ducey, Arizona Department of Education, and/or public health officials may evolve prior to the start of on-site support services as well as during on-site in-person learning throughout the school year.

Risk Reduction Strategies & Minimizing Exposure

Face Coverings (Updated 9/28/2021)

All of us are concerned about the safety of our families in these challenging times. Our top priority is assuring the safety of our students and staff. We want both our students and employees to feel physically and psychologically safe and cared for in our school. We promise to do everything reasonably possible to protect your children against any threat that may arise while they are in our care. In the spirit of that commitment, we would like to announce:

  • Face Coverings will be mandatory starting August 18th, 2021

Starting August 18th, 2021 and will continue until further notice face coverings will be required for any person while on CHS property. This applies to all individuals, including students, parents/guardians, staff, and visitors. 

  • All staff, vendors, visitors, and volunteers shall wear a face covering. 
  • Face coverings can be any cloth or paper mask that covers the nostrils and mouth.
  • Face coverings will be made available to staff, students, vendors, and visitors if they do not have one available for use.
  • EXCEPTIONS may be available for individuals with a relevant medical condition or disability for which the Pima County Health Department does not recommend the use of a face covering. For students, these exceptions shall be documented in a Section 504 Plan, Health Care Plan, or by an IEP Team.  For students, medical documentation will be required as part of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)

A study was published on 9/24/2021 about the association between K-12 Mask Policies and School-Associated COVID-19 Outbreaks. The data from this study concludes that schools without mask polices in Pima and Maricopa County were 3.5x more likely to have a School-Associated COVID-19 Outbreak than a school with an early mask policy. 

ARS 15-342.05 (ban on schools requiring face coverings) was overturned by the Arizona Superior Court. Please see AZ School Boards Associations v. State of Arizona.

Refences:

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7039e1.htm

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21069770-asba-v-arizona-ruling#document/p14/a2056577

Vaccination Guidance from the Department of Education

Vaccination is currently the leading public health strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Promoting vaccination in your community can help schools safely return to in-person learning as well as extracurricular activities and sports. The good news is that everyone 12 years of age and older can receive a COVID-19 vaccine. If you haven’t already, make a plan to get fully vaccinated and encourage all eligible students and families in your school community to do the same—especially before the new school year begins. 

Air Filtration

The HVAC system is set to maximize the amount of fresh air coming into the building and minimize recycled air by providing at least three air changes per hour. It is also equipped with air filters to reduce the odor of polluted outside air coming into the building. These filters are being replaced quarterly.

All classrooms have been equipped with IQAir HealthPro Plus units which are designed to quietly filter the air in a 1,000 square foot classroom every fifteen minutes.This product has HEPA filters and are designed to remove microscopic allergens, dust, bacteria, and virus particles of the smallest sizes. 

We are measuring CO2 throughout the building to help us understand air flow balancing and make adjustments as necessary.

Physical Distancing

  • Students and staff shall be provided with reminders to stay at least three  feet apart from one another.
  • Only essential personnel will be permitted on the campus.
  • No visitors, including parents/guardians, will be allowed to enter the campus beyond the main office, except those with an appointment.
  • Students arriving and leaving campus will be monitored to discourage congregating and ensure students report directly to their designated area, as well as leave promptly upon completion of on-site support services.
  • Students will be provided with adequate space for on-site support services to ensure sufficient social distancing at least three feet between students.
  • Specific entrance and exit points may be designated when feasible to reduce face-to-face meetings.

Ongoing Operational Considerations

Communication, Health Education Strategies and Training

  • Training will be provided for all employees, students, and parents/guardians on the expected safety protocols, use of PPE, and COVID-19 transmission prevention strategies.
  • Staff, parents and students will be encouraged to obtain information from reputable and reliable sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the Pima County Health Department.
  • Parents and staff will be required to self-monitor for symptoms daily related to COVID-19 and self-report.
    • People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.
    • Daily home screening form for students 
  • Communication and updates may take place via email, robo-calls, personal phone calls, TylerSIS Announcements, Canvas, social media and school webpage.
  • COVID-19 signage will be posted and visible throughout campus.
  • Signage will be posted at the main entry points requiring that people who have been symptomatic with fever and/or cough not to enter.

Staff, students and their families will be educated about the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, when they should stay home and when they can return to school.

Health Concerns

  • Staff and students will be required to follow structured procedures to access services from the front office.
  • A dedicated space has been established for symptomatic individuals that will not be used for other purposes.
  • Illness related concerns will be addressed separately from injuries and non-illness related concerns.
  • Staff and students will be encouraged to cough and sneeze into their elbows, or to cover with a tissue.
  • Used tissues are thrown in the trash and hands are washed immediately with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or cleaned with hand sanitizer.
  • Symptomatic individuals will be isolated to the designated area at the school and subsequently sent home.
  • Symptomatic students will remain under visual supervision of a staff member who is at least six feet away.
  • The supervising adult will wear an appropriate PPE.
  • Symptomatic individuals will be required to wear a cloth face covering or a surgical mask while waiting to leave the facility.

Contact Tracing

Sick Individuals

Sick individuals will be refused entry into the school or buildings to reduce the risk of transmission.

  • Students presenting with sickness, symptoms, or answering “yes” to any of the Daily Home Screening questions shall not be permitted to enter facilities. If symptoms develop after a student reports to school, the student must immediately notify a supervisor in a manner that limits exposure to others.
  • Parent/guardians presenting with sickness symptoms or answering “yes” shall be denied entry into facilities.
  • Students who show symptoms of sickness shall immediately be referred to the front office for evaluation and, if indicated, placement in a Wellness Room apart from the general school population. Staff will make reasonable attempts to contact the parent(s) or guardians to take the student home as soon as possible. Parents shall pick up the student, or arrange for the student to be picked up., immediately. If the student is not picked up within two hours, staff may take other necessary measures to protect the health and safety of students and others at the site.

Re-Entry Waiting Period

Individuals who have been sent home with COVID-19 like symptoms or believe they have COVID-19 or have a positive test result will isolate at home for ten (10) calendar days since the first day of identified COVID symptoms before being permitted on campus. Persons who test positive without symptoms will isolate at home until ten (10) calendar days have passed since their COVID-19 test.

If symptoms have improved before the 10 days have elapsed and the individual is fever free for 24 hours, the individual may return to the school campus facilities with evidence of two negative tests conducted at least 24 hours between, or present a medical provider’s order that the individual is not contagious.

If a parent or staff member reports a positive COVID-19 close contact in the home, all individuals in the residence will be required to remain quarantined for 14 days unless otherwise directed by a health care provider (per PCHD).

Record keeping for the waiting period will be managed by CHS front office staff responsible for attendance. COVID-19-related symptoms and positive cases must be coded appropriately in TylerSIS.

Individuals with a positive COVID-19 Diagnosis

For those students or staff members who receive a positive COVID-19 diagnosis as identified by the person, medical provider, or PCHD, Compass High School will defer to the PCHD’s notification and contact tracing protocols in order to assess the individual’s site for a possible COVID-19 outbreak.

In addition, the person designated by the Director may reassess a student or staff member who is excluded from school or the school site because of a COVID-19 diagnosis before the individual may return to the site.  Compass High School may require a physician’s written medical release as a condition for the student’s return to campus and/or current negative Covid test.

Confidentiality & Reporting of COVID-19 Diagnoses

All confirmed cases of COVID-19 shall be reported to Compass High School by the identified COVID-19 point of contact. A Point of Contact will be the front office staff of the school.  Compass High School Administration will then contact PCHD for direction. A parent or guardian shall notify Compass High School’s front office if they are aware that their child(ren) have tested positive for COVID-19.

Upon identification of an individual with symptoms consistent with COVID-19, Compass High School will communicate case information and trends to PCHD to determine next steps. Recommendations will be communicated to the site Point of Contact.

While there are public health exceptions to the privacy rules under both the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and, to the extent applicable, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) shall apply.

Student Information

Prior to Students Arriving on Campus

Home-Based Symptom Screening

CHS is asking parents, students and families to use the CDC Covid-19 symptom screening before students arrive on campus.  

If your child has any of the following symptoms, they might have an illness they can spread to others.

  • Temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
  • Sore throat
  • Cough (for students with chronic cough due to allergies or asthma, a change in their cough from usual)
  • Difficulty breathing (for students with asthma, check for a change from their baseline breathing)
  • Diarrhea or vomiting
  • New onset of severe headache, especially with a fever

Check your child for these symptoms before they go to school. Check symptoms for changes from usual or baseline health.

If your child DOES have any of the symptoms above:

  • Keep them home from school
  • Get your child tested for COVID-19.
  • Contact CHS Front Office and report that your child is sick. We may ask some additional questions to help determine when it is safe for your child to return to school and about other people who may have been exposed.
  • CDC has a Coronavirus Self Checker* available in its website, which may help you make decisions about seeking medical care for possible COVID-19.

If your child does NOT have any of the symptoms above:

  • Consider whether your child should see a healthcare provider and be tested for COVID-19. Even if they don’t have symptoms, we recommend your child be tested if they:
  • have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, or
  • have taken part in activities that puts them at higher risk for COVID-19 because they cannot physically distance as needed, such as participating in contact sports, attending a gathering with other children or family, or were asked or referred to get testing by a state, tribal, local and territorial health department or healthcare provider.
  • If they do not have symptoms and do not meet any of the criteria above, send them to school as usual

Student Arrival

General Guidelines

  • Students will follow all directional flow signage, wall and ground markers.
  • Students will maintain 3 feet distance from others at all times when feasible.

Parking Lot

  • Students may drive their own vehicles to campus or get dropped off.
    • Students, families and visitors may not congregate or loiter in the parking lot before, during or after school hours.
  • All cars will follow the directional flow and signage in the parking lot to ensure student and staff safety.

Backpacks, Purses, Handbags, Wallets

  • Backpacks are not permitted inside the school unless they are clear/see-through. 
  • Students that bring a backpack will be provided with one clear backpack and will be required to transfer their belongings to the clear backpack. 
  • Students will be allowed one clear backpack free of charge. Students may purchase an additional clear backpack for $20 each.
  • Purses/handbags/wallets must be able to fit inside a 11 inches x 5 inches x 6 inches box (this will be located in the front office for reference). 
  • If reasonable suspicion exists, administration can search student backpacks and purses. 

Temperature Checks

  • Temperature checks will be completed upon arrival every morning.
  • Students will enter the main building to have their temperature checked.
    • Students who have a fever or show other symptoms of sickness shall immediately be referred to the front office for evaluation.
    • Students may, if indicated, be placed in a Wellness Room apart from the general school population. 
      • Student temperature will be rechecked after 10 minutes. 
      • Staff will make reasonable attempts to contact the parent(s) or guardians to take the student home as soon as possible. 
      • Parents shall pick up the student, or arrange for the student to be picked up, immediately. 
  • Students that do not have a fever (over 100.4 degrees) will report directly to their first period. 

Student Departure

  • Transportation
  • Student drivers
    • Student drivers will follow the directional flow and signage in the parking lot to ensure the safety of the community.
    • Students may not congregate or loiter in the parking lot after school hours.
  • Bus
    • Students that take the bus will need to follow the directional flow and bus signage.
    • Suntran is waiving bus fees at this time.  
  • Pick Up
    • Students that get picked up must stand in the waiting area. 
    • Students will observe social distancing guidelines
    • Students will follow directional flow and signage in the parking lot and on campus. 

Campus Directional Flow and Signage

  • Directional flow signage, wall, window, door and ground markers will guide students while on campus. 
  • Teachers and staff will monitor students and ensure proper procedures are followed. 

Attendance 

  • After temperature checks, students will proceed to their assigned classroom..
  • Regular and punctual attendance is vital to the success of the student’s education.  
  • Students will continue to be enrolled at CHS unless the student is absent for ten consecutive school days, except for excused absences identified by the department of education, in accordance with ARS 15-901.A.1. An absence occurs for a distance learning student when the student is not excused for the day, does not attend their scheduled Zoom live class session(s) and does not sign into CHS’s Learning Management System (Canvas) during the day.

Restrooms

  • Students will be allowed to use restrooms during their class periods
    • A check out procedure will be implemented in each classroom
  • Additional cleaning supplies will be available in each restroom

Water Fountains

  • Students are encouraged to bring a refillable water bottle.
  • Cups will be available to students if they do not have a refillable water bottle.

Break

  • Students will remain on campus during break.
  • Students will continue observing social distancing guidelines during break.
  • Students are encouraged to wear masks whenever indoors
  • We love our campus and need everyone’s help to keep it clean. Please pick up any wrappers or miscellaneous garbage and throw it in the trash cans provided on the sidewalks and/or in classrooms.  

Passing Period

  • Students will have a 2 minute passing period to get to their next class.  
  • Students will follow directional signs and maintain a safe distance from others during passing periods. 

Cleaning/Sanitation

Chromebook Sanitation Procedure 

  • Chromebooks will be provided by the school.
  • Individual teachers will determine if students will be using Chromebooks in their classrooms. 
  • Chromebooks will be shared and will be disinfected by the students at the end of each class period if needed. 
  • Handwashing or hand sanitizing will be promoted before and after touching any shared equipment.
  • Gloves will be provided if needed.

Handwashing Procedure

  • Handwashing will be reinforced during key times such as, after using the restroom, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, and when deemed necessary. 
  • Hand washing or sanitizing will be required when entering each classroom or designated learning area.
    • Students with skin reactions to hand sanitizer should use soap and water.
  • Supplies will be provided to support healthy hygiene behaviors (e.g., paper towels, tissues, soap, and hand sanitizer.

CHS reserves the right to change/modify a students learning environment to promote safety.

Student Support Videos

Submit Google Doc: https://youtu.be/TDzTXNQoSDs

Create a Zoom Acct: https://youtu.be/caKMaPvKQCs

Star Assessment: https://youtu.be/745BvCUvZ-0

Using Chromebooks and G-Suite: https://youtu.be/wkybOyiYm2s

Using Zoom: https://youtu.be/0r54FpmoVXg

Navigating Canvas Class: https://youtu.be/DvyIe77oKPI

Reading Credit Sheets (not on the CHS YT): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fixGQPofwo

Chrome Remote Desktop: https://youtu.be/yXfFpHjvzgM

Logging in to Canvas: https://youtu.be/ipWztFMxd8w

COVID-19, FAQ, Student Resources