Mart ISD's Safe Start Plan
Planning & Guidance for the 2020-2021 School Year
A Message for Our Families
The health and well being of our #PANTHERFamily is our top priority. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges to the traditional methods we use to educate our students. However, we are working diligently to plan the 2020-2021 school year with a balance of safety and the nurturing environment our students have come to expect. In the midst of this health crisis, we want to make sure we still have our students' social and emotional wellness front and center. Below you will find the Mart ISD Safe Start Plan. This plan is fluid and will continue to change as the COVID-19 situation changes. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Betsy Burnett
Superintendent
General Safety & Health Procedures
Face coverings are encouraged at all times (see details under FACE COVERINGS)
Physical distancing of at least 6 feet is encouraged at all times.
Students and staff should wash hands and use hand sanitizer frequently throughout the day as well as during specified times
PPE will be provided to the extent it can be obtained for staff and students
Options for Instruction
Parents will be asked to select a method of instruction at least one week prior to the beginning of school. Parents may opt in to a different learning platform only at the beginning of each 9 week grading period. This policy is in place in order to keep grading and instructional alignment consistent. However, administration will be allowed to move students to Remote learning during the 9 weeks under limited circumstances.
On-Campus Learning
traditional, in class instruction
regular health screenings
heightened cleaning procedures
safety procedures to protect our students and staff
Students participating in on-campus learning who are required to quarantine will continue instruction through remote learning for the duration of the quarantine period.
Remote Learning
100% online instruction
daily attendance checks required
required number of participation minutes/day in accordance with TEA requirements:
K through 5th grade – 180 instructional minutes
6th through 12th grade – 240 instructional minutes
no extracurricular participation
same grading procedures as on-campus learning
Coursework and grading expectations for both On-Campus and Remote learning will be the same.
Daily student participation in learning activities is required.
Coursework expectations and grading will be the same.
Grades that earn graduation credit will count in GPA calculation and class rank.
Face Coverings
STAFF REQUIREMENTS
Staff will wear face coverings in the building and when physical distancing is difficult outside
STUDENT REQUIREMENTS
Students in grades 3-12 will wear face coverings as feasible, including in the classroom
The individual needs of students will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Requests for accommodations should be submitted to the campus administration.
This requirement may be modified as the community enters minimal to low transmission and in accordance with government orders.
Health Screenings
All students and staff will be regularly screened for COVID-19 symptoms.
Individuals who present with symptoms will be separated from the general population and sent home.
Staff will be required to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms prior to reporting to work each day.
Parents/guardians are expected to screen their students for COVID-19 symptoms each day prior to sending their student to school.
Teachers will monitor students and refer them to the nurse if symptoms are present.
Isolation
Should a student display COVID-19 symptoms, the school nurse will conduct a clinical assessment to determine if a student needs to be sent home.
Students who are ill will be separated from their peers until a parent/guardian can pick them up.
Other students will be removed from the classroom and taken to an alternate location on campus so that the classroom can be disinfected.
District communication will be provided to the parents of students who came in contact with a COVID-19 positive student or staff member.
Staff members displaying COVID-19 symptoms will follow district protocols including isolation from students and other staff members.
Students or staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 will be required to submit a letter of good health from a physician’s office prior to returning to school.
Notification Process
Schools will notify all teachers, staff, and students’ families in a school if a lab-confirmed COVID-19 case is identified among students, teachers or staff who participate in any campus activities.
In addition to the district notice, a written notice will be issued to all staff and parent/guardians of students who were possibly exposed to a lab-confirmed or presumed positive COVID-19 individual.
Cleaning/Disinfecting
Each classroom and restroom will be disinfected daily.
All high/frequent touch areas will be disinfected a minimum of twice daily.
Custodians will wear masks and gloves during work hours.
The cafeteria will be disinfected between lunch periods.
Staff will have access to disinfectant to sanitize working surfaces and shared objects after each use and during breaks in instruction.
Water fountains will only be used by teachers to refill students’ water bottles. Each student will be encouraged to bring a personal water bottle labeled with their name each day. Teachers will keep a limited supply of water for students without personal water bottles.
Disinfecting and Hand Sanitizing
Hand sanitizer will be available at the main entry to each campus, in classrooms, in the cafeteria, and in common areas throughout the campus.
Shared objects will be disinfected between each use.
Staff will be expected to regularly wash and/or sanitize their hands
Students will be provided hand sanitizer upon entry to classrooms and have period teacher reminders throughout the day.
Students will thoroughly wash hands a minimum of twice daily.
Staff will have access to disinfectant to regularly sanitize high-touch and working surfaces and shared objects.
Staff will limit the use of shared supplies.
Arrival/Dismissal
- Campuses will assign groups of students to different areas in order to limit large gatherings.
- The campus will be open for drop off starting at 7:00 am.
- Pick up will begin at dismissal, 3:35pm.
- After school tutoring and activities can be requested until 5:30pm. Please contact your campus principal to make this arrangement for your child.
Meal Times
Breakfast and lunch times will be staggered in order to prevent large gatherings. Places will be marked on the floor to space students while standing in line. Meal pick up for remote learners will be available at the front of the high school each day from 10:30AM-11:00AM.
Classrooms
Desks and/or tables will be socially distanced as much as instructionally possible.
When possible, shared supplies will be eliminated.
Supplies will be sanitized between use.
Campuses will be organized so that students remain in the same groups for as much of the day as possible.
Multiple locations of hand sanitizer, tissues, and trash cans will be available in several locations to limit student and staff movement.
Occupancy will be limited in common areas.
Classroom doors will be propped open to reduce high touch areas when possible.
Traffic patterns will be established throughout the campus that separates individuals to the greatest extent possible.
When transitioning between classes, students shall travel in corridors as far to the right as possible.
Where possible, one-way traffic throughout campus corridors will be established.
Transportation
Students are encouraged to arrive by car or walk to school. In order to accommodate parents who work in other towns, we will open the schools beginning at 7:00am to allow an earlier drop off. Tutorials and after school activities will be organized until 5:30pm each day for those who prefer to pick up their students after work. Please sign up with your campus principal.
There will be no bus stops in the city limits in order to limit the number of students on the bus.
Hand sanitizer will be provided at the bus entry.
Bus drivers will wear face coverings during Substantial and Moderate transmission levels.
During Substantial and Moderate transmission levels students are required to wear face coverings while on a school bus.
All buses will be disinfected after each use.
Bus windows will be lowered as often as possible.
Students will have assigned seats on the bus. Seating will be assigned in family groups (siblings).
Campus Events
School-wide events will adhere to physical distancing requirements.
UIL activities will follow UIL established guidelines. (See Extracurricular Activities)
School-wide events will be live streamed and/or occur virtually when possible.
Extracurricular Activities
Extracurricular activities will only be available for students choosing on-campus learning.
District health screening and cleaning policies will be followed at all practices and events.
UIL Guidelines and Regulations will be followed & can be found here: https://www.uiltexas.org/policy/covid-19
Visitors
Visitors will be restricted to only those essential to school operations, and must be cleared prior to arrival through the campus administrator.
All visitors who enter the building will be required to wear a face covering.
Virtual meetings will be used whenever possible.
Students who need to be checked out early should have their parent/guardian call the campus office to have the student sent outside.
Individuals proceeding beyond the reception area will follow the following guidelines:
All visitors will be subject to screening by completing a symptom screening form
Visitors and staff will maintain physical distance (6 feet or greater) for ARD and other meetings in smaller conference areas.
PPE & Safety Supply Procurement
At this time, the district has the following items in stock or on order:
4,752 Disposable Masks
1,188 Reusable Masks
2,584 Disposable Gloves
6 Touchless Thermometers
55 Gallons Hand Sanitizer
76 Face Shields
10 Touchless Hand Sanitizer Stations
3 Gallons Concentrated Disinfected - will make 640 gallons spray
CRI Thermal Mirrors for each campus that instantly check & log temperatures and alert should an individual exceed temperature limits
Mart Independent School District
Email: betsy.burnett@mymartisd.org
Website: www.martisd.org
Location: 700 East Navarro Street, Mart, TX 76664
Phone: (254) 876-2523