Coronavirus Orange Plan (Risk Dial High) (UPDATED 8/31/20)
In order to help our parents prepare for a POSSIBLE change in our district plan for instruction, we want you all to know the plan below may occur IF the Southeast Nebraska Health Department Risk Dial of positive COVID-19 cases for our community moves into the High - Orange level. We receive this information each Thursday. If this change were to occur, we would be notifying our parents on a Thursday, with the new plan taking effect on the following Monday.
Syracuse-Dunbar-Avoca Public Schools
Plan for Alternate Day Attendance
(Risk Dial - High - ORANGE)
This plan has been developed and will be employed when our community is experiencing a high degree of COVID-19 infections as determined by working with the Southeast District Health Department. Since the circumstances and guidance surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic is ever-changing, we ask for continued patience and understanding from all of our school family as we work through each new challenge that is presented.
The primary change of this plan from our preceding start of school plan (Yellow) is the reduction in the number of students attending in-person classes at one time. For this plan, we will be reducing our daily student attendance by approximately one-half.
- Students in families with the last name starting with the letters A-J will be attending school in-person on Mondays and Wednesdays.
- Students in families with the last name start with K-Z will be attending school in person on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- Building principals will work with families having last names in both groups to see that they are all assigned to attend school in-person on the same days.
- ALL students will participate in classes remotely on Fridays.
- Students are encouraged to participate in the live lessons but can access recordings as necessary.
- Academic grades will continue to be assigned based upon student performance on classroom learning activities, quizzes, and tests.
Students needing Chromebooks to access online learning from home will be able to check out these devices on the first day of their continued in-person attendance. The administration will work with families to determine the number of Chromebooks necessary for each family.
REMOTE LEARNING FRIDAYS FOR ALL STUDENTS
The schedule below will be used for all students to participate in remote learning on Fridays.
PK-3rd Grade
Teachers will use this opportunity to check for understanding and review the lessons from the week.
Reading 8:15-8:45 a.m.
Language 9:00-9:30 a.m.
Math 9:45-10:15 a.m.
4th-6th Grades
Teachers will use this opportunity to check for understanding and review the lessons from the week.
Math 11:15-11:45 a.m.
Reading 12:00-12:30 p.m.
Language 12:30-1:00 p.m.
7th-8th Grades (Math, English, Science & SS)
1st pd. 8:15-8:45 a.m.
2nd pd. 9:00-9:30 a.m.
3rd pd. 9:45-10:15 a.m.
4th pd. 10:30-11:00 a.m.
9th-12th Grades
M/W Students with last names A-J will report and will run through all 8 periods.
T/TH Students with last names K-Z will report and will run through all 8 periods.
Fridays each teacher will establish office hours to connect with students and be available for one on one virtual help.
Teachers and students in grades PreK-3 will use Zoom and teachers and students in grades 4-12 will be using Google Meet to conduct remote learning on Fridays. Students without access to an electronic device for participating remotely will be loaned one by the school district.
The following strategies will be employed for students on days they are assigned to attend school in person.
The following strategies will be employed to reduce the spread of COVID-19
- Physical distancing to decrease the spread of respiratory particles
- Creating barriers to decrease the spread of respiratory particles
- Healthy personal hygiene practices
- Limit the number of people students/staff are encountering
- Frequent cleaning and disinfecting
- Encouraging infected and symptomatic students and staff to stay home
Students and staff will be required to wear a mask covering their nose and mouth when social distancing of six feet cannot be maintained. Parents/guardians providing documentation from a health care provider of their student having an underlying condition which would exempt them from wearing a mask should contact the building principal.
Busing to School
- Students riding the bus with sibling(s) will be assigned to sit in a seat with their sibling(s).
- Other students will be spaced out on the bus as much as possible.
- Due to student proximity on the buses, students will be required to wear masks.
School Arrival
- Students will report to designated locations in order to provide for social distancing.
Classrooms
- Students will all be seated as far apart as possible.
- Students desks should all be facing the same direction, if possible.
Class Locations and Transitions
- Students will attend classrooms as normal.
- Classrooms will be disinfected multiple times per day.
- Transitions will be scheduled to limit the number of students in the hall and increase distance between students.
Breakfast/Lunches
Elementary School
- Students will eat breakfast in their homerooms.
- Students will eat lunch in their homerooms.
- School lunches will be brought to the homerooms.
Middle School
- Students will eat breakfast in the MS commons.
- Students will be assigned to eat lunch in either their homeroom, MS commons or HS stage in order to provide social distancing.
High School
- Students will eat breakfast on the HS stage.
- Students will be assigned to eat lunch in either the MS commons or HS stage in order to provide social distancing.
Recesses
Elementary School
- Each grade level will have their own recess times and equipment.
- Equipment will be sanitized after each recess.
- Playground structures will either be unavailable or sanitized between recesses.
Middle School
- Each grade level will have their own recess times and equipment.
- Equipment will be sanitized after each recess.
Pep Rallies/Large Group Student Assemblies
- Discontinued until further notice.
Field Trips
- Discontinued until further notice.
Snacks/Birthday Treats
- Snacks/birthday treats brought from home to be shared must be individually pre-packaged.
End of Day Dismissal
- Buildings may stagger dismissal times slightly to decrease congestion and increase distancing.
Visitors
- Parents/guardians and visitors will not be allowed to visit the school building during the school day.
Screening for COVID-19
- Parents/guardians have the responsibility for daily screening of students at home. The CDC’s list of symptoms of Coronavirus will be shared with parents.
- Students/staff with two of the following: fever, chills, rigors, myalgia, headache, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea OR at least one of the following: new cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, loss of taste and smell will be immediately isolated in a designated area and sent home as soon as possible.
- The student/staff will be excluded from school for 10 days from symptom onset AND only allowed to return 3 days after fever resolution AND improved respiratory symptoms. Students/staff may return to school sooner if a doctor establishes an alternative diagnosis, presents a doctor’s note to confirm the presence of an alternative diagnosis that explains the symptoms.
- Persons who have been excluded due to COVID-19 symptoms and have tested negative may return once they are fever free for at least 24 hours without medication AND demonstrate improved respiratory symptoms.
District Response When a Student/Staff Member Tests Positive for COVID-19
- The student/staff will be excluded from attending school for 10 days from symptom onset AND only allowed to return 3 days after they are fever free AND demonstrate improved respiratory symptoms.
- The district will work closely with the Southeast District Health Department to coordinate public notification, contact tracing and possible school closure.
Attendance Procedures
- Chronic absenteeism referrals will be made to the County Attorney for students exceeding 20-days of absence, who are also not participating in the assigned learning activities.
Students with Underlying Medical Conditions
- Parents/guardians providing documentation of their student having an underlying medical condition, which would prohibit them from attending school can contact the building principal to set up an off campus individualized learning plan for their student during the 2020-2021 school year. Underlying medical conditions include:
- Chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma.
- Serious heart conditions.
- Immunocompromised.
- Diabetes.
- Chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis.
- Liver disease.
Athletics (A separate plan has been prepared for Athletics)
- To be determined.
Guidance for schooling decisions is being provided by:
State Directed Health Measures
- Nebraska Governor
Pete Ricketts
Local Directed Health Measures
- Southeast District Health Department
Grant Brueggemann, Health Director
2511 Schneider Avenue Auburn, NE 68305-3054
Phone: (402) 274-3993; Toll Free: (877) 777-0424 Fax: (402) 274-3967
Email: grant@sedhd.org Web site: www.sedhd.org
(Johnson County/Tecumseh, Nemaha County/Auburn, Otoe County/Nebraska City, Pawnee County/Pawnee City, Richardson County/Falls City)
Nebraska Department of Education
Dr. Matthew Blomstedt, Commissioner of Education
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention