Nixa Early Childhood
Fall 20-21 Plan
Nixa Early Childhood Safety Plan specific to Early Childhood
Stay Up To Date with Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information
Handwashing
What does learning look like in the classroom
Students and staff will be observed for illness prior to starting class or the school day. Those experiencing symptoms will be referred to the nurse.
Students will have a core set of supplies which will be just theirs, but at times they will be sharing supplies such as toys and classroom materials. When feasible supplies will be sanitized between students. The entire classroom will be sanitized between morning and afternoon sessions.
Personal water bottles will be encouraged as drinking fountains will have limited availability. (Please no sippy cups)
PK staff will follow the district masking guidelines and will be wearing masks anytime they are unable to socially distance with students. This will allow staff to be able to comfort, and assist students when needed.
Teachers will find ways for students to socialize with each other in an appropriate way so that we address both the health and social/emotional needs of students. We are a play-based program, and knowing 3 and 4-year-olds are social by nature and social distancing will not always occur. We are working on plans to keep specific groups of students consistently using the same areas to decrease the number of contacts during a day.
PK students will stay with a core group of students comprised of no more than 3 classrooms when at lunch, recess or shared spaces unless students are socially distancing.
Meals will be eaten in classrooms or in cafeterias at reduced capacities.
Playgrounds
- Students will be monitored for social distancing while on playgrounds while still allowing interactions with each other.
- Handwashing/sanitizer will be available upon re-entry to the building.
Class Size
Cleaning/Hygiene
- Regular cleaning will occur with COVID and EPA approved products. The cleaning and disinfecting will target frequently touched hard, non-porous surfaces, such as counters, tabletops, stair rails, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, drinking fountains, and any other surfaces that are visibly necessary.
- Hand sanitizer dispensers will be installed in every classroom and at most exterior doors.
- Students and families will be provided with best practices for hygiene during the school day and upon arriving at home.
- The district will use additional equipment and cleaning procedures across the district. These include the UVC light machine and fogging machines (uses HOCI from Pure and Clean).
- Each classroom and shared space will be sanitized in between the morning and afternoon sessions using HOCI from Pure and Clean. Each classroom will have district approved cleaner the staff will be using during the session to sanitize tables and materials.
- Each classroom and shared space will also be cleaned by Sodexo, our custodial partner.
Visitors
Nonessential visitors will be limited
- Masks are required by all visitors.
- Pick up / Drop off will occur through carline unless dropping off for Eagle Care. (Eagle Care will be sending out their procedures.)
- Carline will be used on the first day of school. Families will not be allowed to gather in front of the building.
- No lunch guests or volunteers
- Screening procedures will be used for those entering buildings, which can include temperature screenings.
- When possible we will utilize parent phone calls or digital conferences.
- Hand washing/hand sanitizer will be available.
- Visitors can first contact the school/office to determine whether an onsite visit is necessary.
- Visitors should check in at the front office behind the secure glass window.
- Preschool students are encouraged to wear masks, but it is not required at this age.
- All kindergarten-aged children or older and all adults entering the building are required to wear masks.
- If entrance is determined as essential, a designated space for meeting with visitor(s) will be determined for the facility.
PIck Up / Drop Off
Health Services
- Parents, students and staff are expected to self-screen at home prior to students entering the building.
- Students or staff demonstrating symptoms will be referred to physician or virtual clinic. Prior to returning to school, consult school nurse or provide documentation from physician
- Procedures on how many days students must be quarantined will follow best practices (ex: CDC, MSBA, etc) and the guidance of our local health department.
- Nurse Teresa the district head Nurse is on-site and will be working with our PK students.
District Action Plan if Confirmed Case
- The district will follow the direction of the Christian County Health Department and communicate with the public based on CCHD’s recommendations and guidelines on who can be notified based on direct contact with others and facility exposure.
- For all COVID-19 exposure notifications, the district will only notify those who are deemed necessary to be notified by our local health department. We will not do district-wide notifications for positive or presumptive positive cases unless a child or staff member needs to be notified of the potential exposure to that positive case. The only exception to this procedure would be in the case of a community or school-wide event where contact tracing could not happen. The district has a legal obligation not to violate HIPPA guidelines and rules, and will follow those rules and the guidance of our health department in all notifications.
- Address possible student/adult exclusions using best practices: DHSS Exclusion Recommendations & DESE Procedures.
- Address the infected space using proven practices (UVC Light Machine and HOCL Foggers) for designated time.
- Perform targeted cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched hard, non-porous surfaces, such as counters, appliance surfaces, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, drinking fountains, phones, technology, and any other surfaces that are visibly necessary.
- Inspect areas to determine readiness for re-entry into building and/or classroom or offices.
- Consult with CCHD prior to re-entry.
- District may use a schedule that does not have students coming every day of the week.
Future Plans
In order to better inform parents, students, and staff of the current situation of the district and how best to prepare for situations, the district will use three levels so that everyone can plan and prepare for what to expect. Please note that the district could move quickly to Level 3 with little to no notice depending on the situation. When the level occurs, more information will be sent to families at the building level.
Level 1: (Green Level)
- School activities will be as normal as possible
- Social distancing will be used when possible
- Masks required based on district procedures developed from CDC and health department
- Visitors to buildings will be restricted
- Hand washing/hand sanitizer will be available and frequently encouraged
Level 2: (Yellow Level)
- Classes may take place online for one or more days due to rapid increase in number of local cases of COVID
- Restrictions on school activities may be in place
- Capacity and attendance limits may be established for events or school activities
- Masks required (district procedures developed from CDC and health department)
- No visitors in buildings (includes parents)
- Hand washing/hand sanitizer will be available and frequently encouraged
Level 3: (Red Level)
All classes are online and will follow the district’s Emergency Alternative Methods of Instruction plan
- Classwork done independently
- School buildings will be closed to students. Staff will still work from school to administer online classes.
- Health screenings will occur prior to entering buildings. Social distancing will be mandatory.
- All activities will be canceled or rescheduled
- Re-entry plan will be determined for safe return to school