Eastford Elementary School 2020 2021 School Reopening Plan

Eastford Elementary School 2020 -2021 School Reopening Plan Executive Summary Dr. Donna Leake, Superintendent of Schools Carole Mc. Combe, Principal Mary Jo Chretien, Director of Pupil Services

Eastford Reopening Committee Eastford Public School’s Reopening Committee represents the stakeholders of the Learning Community of Eastford. Committee membership is as follows: Superintendent Principal Pupil Services Director Board of Education Certified Staff Non-certified Staff Health Parent and PTO Parent and Readiness Town Donna P. Leake Carole Mc. Combe Mary Jo Chretien Terry Cote Lori Reynolds Deborah Giovanni Catherine Roto Lauren Barlow Jennifer Norman Deborah Richards

Timeline and Outreach • The committee met twice weekly though the month of July and outreached between meetings to their representative groups and professional organizations to share and gather information • A survey and questionnaire were distributed to families • Virtual meetings were held with families by grade level clusters • Virtual meetings were held with teachers and paraprofessionals • A FAQ document was compiled for posting on the EES website • The committee will continue to meet to address current guidance • Updated information will be kept current on the EES webpage • Communication and outreach to staff and families will continue throughout the summer

Reopening Plan Guiding Principles

Staff and Student Expectations

Facial Coverings ❏ All students, staff, and visitors entering the school are required to wear a mask or other suitable face covering that covers the entirety of the nose and mouth. ❏ Exceptions for the use of facial coverings are, as follows: ❏ ❏ ❏ For anyone that has medical documentation stating that a health condition would make it unsafe to wear a face covering, a mask will not be required. For anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance, face coverings and masks will not be required, per CDC guidance. Desk shields will be made available to students with mask exemptions. “Mask breaks” will be provided throughout the school day. Students and staff may remove facial coverings to consume meals, instruct classes when there is adequate space between the instructor and students , or when students and staff are outside of the school building, as long as appropriate social distancing guidelines continue to be met.

Classroom Organization Overview Classroom Set-up Summary ❏ Classrooms will be organized to maximize social distancing between student workplaces, achieving 6 foot (defined as shoulder to shoulder) social distancing when feasible. ❏ Desks will be arranged in a forward facing direction to permit maximum engagement and interaction with classroom instruction. ❏ Available spaces in each school building will be repurposed for instruction to the greatest extent possible. School Transitions ❏ ❏ ❏ Floor markings will be added to designate patterns for directional foot-traffic within corridors and stairwells to minimize face-toface contact of students. Access to lockers and cubbies will be monitored and regulated to minimize student contact with other students. Opportunities for recess will continue. Use of smaller, shared playground equipment (i. e. balls, jump ropes, sand toys, etc. will be suspended at the start of the 2020 -2021 school year due to challenges surrounding sanitization procedures between recess waves).

Health Screening Guidelines How do I know when to stay home or return to school? Stay Home! Children should stay home, or they will be sent home, if they present with symptoms (including, but not limited to) those below that may or may not be associated with COVID-19, according to CDC Guidelines: • Fever (above 100℉ or per clinical judgement with OR without fatigue/body aches/chills) • New unexplained loss of taste or smell • Respiratory symptoms (cough, lung congestion, persistent shortness of breath) • Gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea or vomiting) • Sore throat, congestion, runny nose, headache Returning to School? Method 1: Symptom-Based Method 2: Time-Based or Provider Clearance 1) At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared AND 1) For those asymptomatic but test positive. At least 10 days have passed since the date of their positive COVID-19 diagnostic test. 2) At least 24 hours have passed since recovery of fever (without fever reducing medications) and improvement of symptoms. 2) If symptoms develop, defer to Symptom. Based method. BOTH CONDITIONS NEED TO BE MET IN ORDER TO RETURN 3) Provider Clearance – A provider note is required for reentry to school/work when diagnosed with a non-COVID illness. (Ex: child leaves school with a sore throat and fever. Doctor diagnosis Strep Throat. Child may return with Doctor’s note after treatment. )

Symptomatic Cases In Schools Isolation Room Containment Protocol ❏ Students that are exhibiting symptoms during the school day consistent with COVID-19 will be immediately sequestered to a designated isolation room that is monitored by a school staff member. The isolation room will have a specific restroom space assigned to it for student use during isolation. ❏ ❏ The student will remain in this location until a parent or guardian arrives to sign the student out of school for the day. The student will be escorted to the exit for the parent to sign the student out of school. Disinfection and cleaning procedures will be initiated following student release from an isolation room in compliance with CDC guidelines.

Instructional Planning Continuum

Instructional Schedule Formats IN- PERSON LEARNING Students Returning to Campus ❏ ❏ Grades PK-8 will be organized in cohorts by classroom/homeroom teachers. Individual cohorts will be clustered with other cohorts (i. e. middle school). Academic support specialists and Specials will rotate between classroom spaces according to block scheduling to support student learning and provide related services. Physical education classes will occur outdoors whenever possible, or in spaces that allow for maximization of social distancing. Locker room spaces will not be utilized for changing. Students Opting to Remain Home ❏ ❏ ❏ Students will continue to gain access to instruction through either live stream, recorded instruction, and/or 1: 1 or small group virtual meetings based on availability. Additional work materials, packets, etc. will be made available. Assignments and assessments will be posted through a learning management system (Google Classroom, See Saw). Students learning from home may choose to return to in -person learning at any time with a 5 day advance notice.

Instructional Schedule Formats ❏ ❏ ❏ Students will follow a schedule rotation to reduce class numbers to 10 or fewer. Students learning remotely will be assigned activities to reinforce, extend, or develop learning from lessons. Students may also engage in small group or individual virtual meetings with academic support specialists, special education teachers, or other related services staff members. Students learning on-campus will participate in classroom lessons with instructional staff adhering to health protocols. ❏ ❏ ❏ All instruction will be delivered through a synchronous (live) learning model (such as Zoom) in combination with assigned work, skills practice, and activities to reinforce, extend or develop learning. A shortened instructional schedule will be employed that accounts for siblings across multiple grades and when possible, aligns with a typical in-person schedule. Staff will communicate with students and families via email and will utilize online learning platforms such as Google Classroom and See Saw to share information and assign and collect assignments.

Note About Homeschooling REMOTE LEARNING IS NOT THE SAME AS HOMESCHOOLING! REMOTE LEARNING • Student is registered at EES • Student receives work and instruction prepared by EES certified teachers • Student receives necessary supports and special services • Student has access to EES materials and devices ALL WHILE THEY ARE AT HOME BECAUSE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN CLOSED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC HOMESCHOOLING • Student is NOT registered at EES • Family has full responsibility for student’s education • Family provides necessary supports. No additional services are provided by the school • Family provides curriculum materials and all resources and devices ALL WHILE THE FAMILY CHOSES TO HOMESCHOOL BASED ON THEIR OWN BELIEFS AND REASONS

Our Commitment The success of the Eastford School District continues to be the direct result of the hard work of our administrators, teachers, staff, students, families, and community members. Our staff of highly qualified professional educators and support personnel is committed to continuing our focus on the health and safety of our entire community and providing a robust educational programming that meets the learning needs of each student, both inside and outside of the classroom. We invite and encourage students, families and community members to work in partnership with us.

THANK YOU Do you have any questions? Please contact a member of the Reopening Committee if you have any additional concerns or suggestions. 860 -974 -1130