Central Cass
Emergency Response Plan, March 15, 2020, @ 6:30 pm
A Message from Mr. Forness
The Central Cass Public School District is working closely with North Dakota Government Officials, the North Dakota Department of Health, and our local community health officials to respond to COVID-19. We are approaching this with an all “hands on deck” approach, and want to keep our community in the know. As the situation changes, we will continue collecting information and relaying it to our stakeholders.
Thank you for your understanding, patience, and calm response to the uncharted territory we now find ourselves in. It is important to remember that students often take their emotional cues from adults, and how we proceed and respond over the course of the next few weeks is essential to their well-being as well.
Travel Restrictions for Students and Staff
**Starting immediately Central Cass staff/students that travel outside the state of North Dakota and/or internationally must take this survey from the North Dakota Department of Public Health before returning to school to determine whether a self-quarantine of 14 days is necessary to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 to our community.
https://ndhealth.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eb7sJjKhR2UfB7n
Because the situation is changing rapidly, prior to returning to school after international travel, we advise you to follow the procedures in place from the North Dakota Department of Health for proper steps regarding any self-monitoring that could be required. If you have personal travel plans, monitor the travel recommendations at www.travel.state.gov and www.cdc.gov for updated information.
Trips and Events
Central Cass will be canceling all travel for both students and staff until April 6th (this will be reevaluated when we near that date). Non-school related activities like traveling basketball teams that include students and staff should be limited as well. Central Cass will follow guidance from Governor Burgum and the North Dakota Department of Health on recommendations for public gatherings.
Current Recommendations from Governor Burgum and NDDPI
SITUATION: There are COVID-19 cases in North Dakota, but not in your community
The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) does not recommend school closures if cases are not occurring in your community. Schools should follow CDC guidance regarding preparing for COVID-19. The guidance includes monitoring absenteeism, keeping sick children out, ensuring handwashing, environmental cleaning, communicating with parents, etc.
SITUATION: There is a COVID-19 case in your community, but there is not community spread and there are no cases in your school
The NDDoH does not recommend school closures if the ongoing spread is not identified in your community. Schools should follow CDC guidance regarding preparing for COVID-19. The guidance includes monitoring absenteeism, keeping sick children out, ensuring handwashing, environmental cleaning, communicating with parents, etc.
SITUATION: COVID-19 has spread in your community, but there are no cases in your school
The NDDoH may recommend schools close to reduce spread in the community. The NDDoH will work with school and community leaders to provide guidance.
SITUATION: There are one or more cases of COVID-19 in your school
- If there is a COVID-19 case in your school, the NDDoH will notify the facility. If a school is made aware of a COVID-19 case, before being contacted by the NDDoH, please report the case to the NDDoH at 1-800-472-2180 or 701-328-2378.
- The NDDoH recommends that a school close for at least 72 hours following a confirmed case (in an employee or student). 72 hours will allow the NDDoH to conduct contact tracing and make recommendations for which close contacts should be quarantined and excluded from the school. This time also allows the school to conduct environmental cleaning.
- If a second case occurs in the school within 14 days of the first case, then the school is recommended to close for 14 days to reduce spread in the school. The school should conduct environmental cleaning during this time.
- If three or more cases occur in the school, then ongoing spread in the community is likely. The NDDoH will guide the future as to how long schools should close when the ongoing spread is occurring in the community.
What Central Cass Will Do To Keep Your Child Safe and Help the Spread of COVID-19 While in Our Building
Above and beyond the regular cleaning schedule that we do we will add:
Mandatory hand-washing
All teachers will emphasize hand-washing at the elementary school. All teachers will ensure that each student washes their hands for at least 20 seconds in the morning and once again in the afternoon. We are requiring classroom teachers to set aside time and provide direct supervision during this task.
All teachers will emphasize hand-washing at the middle school and. high school level. All teachers will ensure that each student washes their hands for at least 20 seconds in the morning and once again in the afternoon.
Cleaning assistance
All teachers will be provided with disinfectant cleaner and clean towels. Teachers will spray all desks/furniture down once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Please pay close attention to frequently-touched surfaces/objects. The custodians will deep clean your room every night as well. Primary teachers will need to limit the availability of classroom toys, electronic devices, and other frequently touched objects. If these objects are used, they will need to be sanitized regularly. Physical education teachers will need to sanitize equipment before and after use. Please consult with your custodian for additional cleaning materials.
Custodian added duties
Custodians will place extra emphasis on cleaning frequently-touched surfaces/objects regularly. Custodians will clean these surfaces throughout the school at minimum two times a day (9:00 am and 1:00 pm). These areas include front entrances, doorknobs, lockers, bathrooms, sinks, drinking fountains, etc.
Buses will be disinfected daily.
Food Service
Starting on March 16th, our food service will no longer have self-served foods until further deemed safe.
Cancellations
We always try to keep the best interests of our students and staff in mind, working closely with the Center for Disease Control, North Dakota Department of Health and other local schools to make our final decisions.
Equal Educational for All Students
Central Cass Public Schools will be planning to equitably distribute distance learning to our students should we need to close schools statewide for a longer period of time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are currently defining distance learning to mean that a student receives daily interaction with their licensed teacher(s) and appropriate educational materials.
As you know, the complexity of the decision of closing schools is immense. Our leadership team is working diligently to put together a strong operational strategy.
We are committed that every child will be given the opportunity to get a healthy meal.
We are committed that every child will receive a high quality education.
Our educators will be giving thoughtful planning to our distance learning plan, offering careful consideration for students in a variety of areas, including students receiving special education services, multilingual learners, students experiencing homelessness, and students who rely on meals served at school.
In the Event Central Cass Schools Close for an Extended Amount of Time ...
- Elementary Teachers Pre-K-5th Grade will implement home learning activities through the SeeSaw platform.
- Teachers in Grades 6-12 will implement online learning through the Edmodo Platform utilizing their Chromebook and Macbook Devices.
- Students with IEP's and 504's will be contacted by case managers to plan ways that educational goals can progress at home during the closure.
- Students in need will be able to pick up school lunches on a daily basis to ensure a healthy meal is provided even during the closure. A schedule and sign-up will be posted weekly as the need arises.
As always we are wanting to work with families to meet difficult technology needs, please complete the information in the attached link if your family is unable to access the above platform(s) or lacks other technology needs and we will work with you to provide instruction in other ways. Link
Student Absence Questions
If your student has tested positive for COVID-19, shows symptoms after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for the virus, or is self quarantined due to travel we want you to protect your child and others by keeping them home for the recommended 14 days. The school will work with your student and family to ensure that instruction continues at home and attendance is recorded appropriately. For efficient record-keeping students missing school will be counted absent according to our policy, but students missing school due to COVID-19 restrictions WILL NOT lose credit for a course provided an educational plan is put into place as soon as the concern is imminent, work for the course is completed successfully by the student, and the student returns to school after the "all clear" is given.
If I keep my child home for personal preference due to the COVID-19 outbreak will they be counted absent?
The school will work with your student and family to ensure that instruction continues at home and attendance is recorded appropriately. For efficient record-keeping students missing school will be counted absent according to our policy, but students missing school due to COVID-19 restrictions WILL NOT lose credit for a course provided an educational plan is put into place as soon as the concern is imminent, work for the course is completed successfully by the student, and the student returns to school.
Absentee Form
What about Athletics and Activities?
Please see the statement from the North Dakota High School Activities Association on the attached link. https://ndhsaa.com
Keep in mind that the statement says, "suspended indefinitely" and not canceled like the NCAA. I would encourage student-athletes and fine arts participants to continue to practice their skills outside of organized practices, so it is a very short period of time to get back to participation when we are allowed. The School Leadership Team will be in constant communication as we do our best to try and answer questions and communicate a plan for what lies ahead. Please be patient and we will do our best to keep you informed as information gets passed onto us and decisions are made. For now, all K12 practices and events are on hold. Thank you.
* Please note due to extra precautions, cleaning, and disinfecting of our facility we are also suspending all gym and building evening rentals for outside groups until further notice. If groups have questions about their specific rental please call Penny Seawert or Travis Lemar in the district office.
Email: Travis.Lemar@k12.nd.us
Phone: 701-347-5352
A Message from Our Counselors
Talking to Children About COVID-19
Information and misinformation about the COVID-19 is everywhere. How we discuss the pandemic with our children at home is important. However, it is a challenge to balance all of the information in a way that is reassuring yet being mindful to not worry our children more than they already may be.
Here are some suggestions and helpful resources to consider as you provide support to your child(ren) regarding the coronavirus:
https://childmind.org/article/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavirus/
School Counselors at our school are available to:
- Support students, school staff, and parents in helping our children
- Provide a calming influence to students as needed
- Help students address their fears
North Dakota Department of Health
Keep informed with the latest information on COVID-19 at the ND Department of Health's website: https://www.health.nd.gov
Some resources you may find of interest are:
- COVID-19 Cases in North Dakota
- Resources for the Public
- Resources for Childcare and Schools