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Health and Safety Plan

JAMS Health and Safety School Plan

Adopted 07/29/2020

This document is planned with the TEA SY 20-201 Public Health Planning Guidance as posted on July 7, 2020 and may be updated at any point to meet new guidelines.  Please note that quarantine times, social distancing distances, etc. will change automatically as the state updates the guidelines. 

COVID-19 Symptoms (As stated in the TEA SY 20-21 Public Health Planning Guidance 07/07/20)

In evaluating whether an individual has symptoms consistent with COVID-19, consider the following questions: 

  • Have they recently begun experiencing any of the following in a way that is not normal for them?
  • Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Loss of taste or smell
  • Cough
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Headache
  • Chills
  • Sore throat
  • Shaking or exaggerated shivering
  • Significant muscle pain or ache
  • Diarrhea
Close Contact (As stated in the TEA SY 20-21 Public Health Planning Guidance 07/07/20)

This document refers to “close contact” with an individual who is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19.  Close contact is determined by an appropriate public health agency.  For clarity, close contact is defined as:

Being directly exposed to infectious secretions (e.g., being coughed on while not wearing a mask or face shield); or

Being within 6 feet for a cumulative duration of 15 minutes, while not wearing a mask or face shield;

If either occurred at any time in the last 14 days at the same time the infected individual was infection.

Individuals are presumed infectious at least two days prior to symptom onset or, in the case of asymptomatic individuals who are lab-confirmed with COVID-19, two days prior to the confirming lab test.

Attendance and Enrollment

Note:  Per Texas Education Code (TEC), ⸹25.092, students must attend 90% of the days a course is offered (with some exceptions) in order to be awarded credit for the course and/or to be promoted to the next grade.  This requirement remains in force during the 2020-21 school year. (As stated in the TEA SY 20-21 Public Health Planning Guidance 07/07/20)

We will be using a 4 phase plan for the health and safety during the school year.

Phase Green:  This phase is for when there is no health threat.  Classes will be held in the classroom and the class schedule will be normal.  All programs will resume to pre-COVID-19 schedules.  Students will not be social distanced and masks are not required.  Students may sit at tables or desks.  Lunch will be in the lunchroom.  Students who exhibit symptoms of illness will be required to join us in the virtual classroom until they are cleared for class.

Phase Yellow:  This phase is for a time with mild health concerns.  We will continue to have classes, but parents may choose to have their students join us in the virtual classroom or in-school classroom.  The following plan will be in place:

  1. Students will be sitting at desks that will be properly distanced apart (6 ft where possible) or placed facing outward.  Students will be encouraged to practice social distancing. 
  2. Students who are working on group projects in closer than 6 ft proximity will be wearing masks as required by the state/local laws and guidelines.
  3. Lunch will be eaten at the students’ desks to maintain proper distance.
  4. Masks/shields will be worn as required by state and/or local laws and guidelines. (As long as state and/or local laws allow, students may remove their masks after they sit down and the teacher gives permission.  However, when required, students will wear a mask when moving around the room.)  The school will have extra masks available. (made from the CDC website instructions and washed in the manner the CDC instructs.) These masks must remain at school.  Please note:  The school will comply with mask laws and guidelines while students are participating in athletics, recess and extracurricular activities including when they need to be worn and when they may be removed. 
  5. Students who are medically cleared to be in school, yet have a persistent cough, must cover their mouth when they cough.  Students who have trouble remembering to cover their mouth when coughing may be asked to wear a mask over their mouth until their cough clears up.  Students who cough or sneeze must immediately wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or should use hand sanitizer.
  6. Students will enter the school by the lobby doors (where there will be hand sanitizer available) and exit through the playground doors and/or classroom fire doors. Students will stay in their classroom or sit outdoors in a designated location at the end of the day until their ride is called. 
  7. Students will be screened for health issues each day.
  8. Parents can visit the school by appointment only and must wear masks as required by state and/or local laws.  Parents should keep these meetings to a minimum and only for essential meetings.
  9. The school will undergo extra cleaning to prevent illness. 
  10. As often as possible, recess will be outdoors. 
  11. Students will have more frequent required hand washing or hand sanitizer applications.
  12. Each day, the classrooms will be aired out to allow fresh air transfer.
  13. Parents/students are required to follow virtual classroom rules if joining the classroom from home.
  14. Treats that are brought from home with the specific purpose to share (birthday sweets, etc.) need to be pre-packaged in individual wrappers.  (Consider bringing something like Little Debbie’s or ice cream sandwiches, etc.)
  15. Field trips will be postponed or canceled during this phase.

Phase Orange:  This phase is for a time with significant health concerns. All students who have the ability to join us in the virtual classroom will do so.  All students who do not have virtual classroom capability and/or the parents are not able to stay home with them, will join us at the in-school classroom. 

  1. Students will be sitting at desks that will be properly distanced apart (6 ft where possible) or placed facing outward.  Students will be encouraged to practice social distancing. 
  2. Students must maintain social distancing for group projects as well as individual work.
  3. Lunch will be eaten at the students’ desks to maintain proper distance.
  4. We will stagger all recesses to maintain maximum social distancing. 
  5. Masks/shields will be worn as required by state and/or local laws. (As long as state and/or local laws allow, students may remove their masks after they sit down and the teacher gives permission.  However, when required, students will wear a mask when moving around the room.) The school will have extra masks available. (made from the CDC website instructions and washed in the manner the CDC instructs.) These masks must remain at school.  Please note:  The school will comply with mask laws and guidelines while students are participating in athletics, recess and extracurricular activities including when they need to be worn and when they may be removed. 
  6. Students who are medically cleared to be in school, yet have a persistent cough, must cover their mouth when they cough.  Students who have trouble remembering to cover their mouth when coughing may be asked to wear a mask over their mouth until their cough clears up.  Students who cough or sneeze must immediately wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or should use hand sanitizer.
  7. Students will enter the school by the lobby doors (where there will be hand sanitizer available) and exit through the playground doors and/or classroom fire doors.  Students will stay in their classroom or sit outdoors in a designated location at the end of the day until their ride is called. 
  8. Students will be screened for health issues each day.
  9. Parents can visit the school by appointment only and must wear masks as required by state and/or local laws.  Parents should keep these meetings to a minimum and only for essential meetings.
  10. The school will undergo extra cleaning to prevent illness. 
  11. As often as possible, recess will be outdoors. 
  12. Students will have more frequent required hand washing or hand sanitizer applications.
  13. Each day, the classrooms will be aired out to allow fresh air transfer.
  14. Parents/students are required to follow virtual classroom rules if joining the classroom from home.
  15. Treats that are brought from home with the specific purpose to share (birthday sweets, etc.) need to be pre-packaged in individual wrappers.  (Consider bringing something like Little Debbie’s or ice cream sandwiches, etc.)
  16. Field trips will be postponed or canceled during this phase.

Phase Red:  This is for a mandatory shut down as decreed by the state and/or for days when a high percentage of students are sick and we need to close down for recuperation.

When the school is closed down due to illness, all classes will cease. 

When the school is closed down due to federal, state or local laws and guidelines, classes will be held in the virtual classroom.  All students are required to attend virtually.

Virtual Classroom Rules
  1. Students who are joining class in the virtual classroom must be logged into the classroom by 8:00 am and stay logged in for all classes or until dismissed for the day by the teacher.  (Please note that students may be allowed to log off during recess and lunch periods but will need to rejoin the classroom when instruction begins again.) 
  2. Attendance will be taken as if the student is in the physical classroom.  They may be counted tardy and/or absent if they miss portions of class and/or not following the virtual classroom rules.
  3. The home portion of the virtual classroom needs to meet the following criteria:
    • Background noise needs to be minimal and not distracting to the student or the in-school students.
    • Background activity needs to be minimal and not distracting to the student or the in-school students.
    • The student must be sitting at a table or desk and be clearly visible by the in-school teacher at all times. (Profile pictures and/or silhouettes do not count)
    • Students must participate in class by contributing to the discussions, working on projects or homework and following all instructions. 
    • Homework must be turned in by all posted deadlines.
  4. Virtual classroom parents are responsible for the following:
    • Home connectivity issues
    • Home virtual classroom devices
    • Knowing the daily schedule for the virtual classroom
    • Preparing for the day/class with all textbooks and copies that are necessary for the day.  If textbooks and/or copies are needed, it is the parent’s responsibility to get those from the school or print the needed copies.
    • Ensure that all homework deadlines are met with the homework turned in correctly.
Music and Physical Education Classes

During Phases Yellow, Orange and Red, music and P.E. classes will be modified as follows:

  1. Students who attend in-school classes will participate in music and P.E. classes.
  2. If the student is joining us in the virtual classroom for the entire quarter, they will not receive a music or P.E. grade from the school.  If they wish to receive a music or P.E. grade, they must present the school with a certificate of attendance/completion for some form of regularly attended music class (i.e. piano or guitar lessons) or regularly attended physical education class (i.e. karate class).  The teacher of the class will need to write an attached letter specifying the regularity of the class as well as the time frames for the class.
  3. Students who wish to receive a music or P.E. grade from the school must attend at least 70% of the class periods.
  4. Music Classes:
    • Students in grades PK-4 will attend a music appreciation/theory class instead of choir.
    • Students in grades 5-7 will attend a music appreciation/theory class or handbell class instead of choir.
    • All church music performances will be done by the handbell choirs or specially chosen students.
  5. Physical Education:
    • Classes will be held outdoors as much as possible. 
    • During indoor classes, students will not be required to wear masks once the activity has begun, but social distancing will be required in accordance with state guidelines for athletic activities.  However, masks must be worn while arranging themselves in positions for such activities. 
Health Screening Procedures and Health Practices

During Phases Yellow and Orange, we will be screening for COVID-19.

  1. Teachers and staff will self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms before coming onto campus each day.  The self-screening should include teachers and staff taking their own temperature.  Teachers and staff must report to the school system if they themselves have COVID-19 symptoms or are lab-confirmed with COVID-19, and, if so, they must remain off-campus until they meet the criteria for re-entry as noted in this document.  Additionally, they must report to the school administration if they have had close contact with an individual who is lab-confirmed with COVID-19, and, if so, must remain off campus until the 14-day incubation period has passed.
  2. Parents must ensure they do not send a child to school on campus if the child has COVID-19 symptoms (as listed in this document) or is lab-confirmed with COVID-19, and instead should opt to receive remote instruction until the conditions for re-entry are met.  Parents must opt to have their student receive remote instruction if their child has had close contact with an individual who is lab-confirmed with COVID-19 until the 14-day incubation period has passed. If an immediate family member in the home may be COVID-19 positive or tested COVID-19 positive, the student must receive remote instruction until the COVID-19 person is cleared by the doctor and/or the 14-day quarantine has passed.   JAMS may screen students for COVID-19 as well.  This screening may include asking the students and parents screening questions as well as taking a child’s temperature.  The school administration reserves the right to make the final determination considering all factors presented, including the parent input that will be heavily weighed and considered.
  3. The school will immediately separate any student who shows COVID-19 symptoms while at school until the student can be picked up by a parent or guardian. 
  4. The school will clean the areas used by the individual who shows COVID-19 symptoms while at school (student, teacher, or staff) as soon as is feasible.
  5. Students who report feeling feverish should be given an immediate temperature check to determine if they are symptomatic for COVID-19.
  6. Excluding parental drop-off and pick-up, before parents and visitors are allowed onto campuses, the school will screen all visitors to determine if the visitors have COVID-19 symptoms (as listed in this document) or are lab-confirmed with COVID-19, and, if so, they must remain off campus until they meet the criteria for re-entry as noted in this document.
  7. If a visitor/parent/student has had close contact with an individual who is lab-confirmed with COVID-19, they must remain off campus until the 14-day incubation period has passed.  Students may join us in the virtual classroom during this quarantine period so as to not miss any schoolwork.
  8. Any individuals who themselves either: (a) are lab-confirmed to have COVID-19; or (b) experience the symptoms of COVID-19 (as listed in this document) must stay at home throughout the infection period, and cannot return to campus until the school system screens the individual to determine any of the below conditions for campus re-entry have been met:In the case of an individual who was diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual may return to school when all three of the following criteria are met:
  9. At least three days (72 hours) have passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications);
  10. The individual has improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and
  11. At least ten days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
  12. In the case of an individual who has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and who is not evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19, such individual is assumed to have COVID-19, and the individual may not return to the campus until the individual has completed the same three-step set of criteria listed above.
  13. If the individual has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and wants to return to school before completing the above stay at home period, the individual must either (a) obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for return based on an alternative diagnosis or (b) receive two separate confirmations at least 24 hours apart that they are free of COVID-19 via acute infection tests at an approved COVID-19 testing location found at https://tdem.texas.gov/covid-19/ .
  14. If an individual who has been in a school is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19, the school will notify the local health department, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, including confidentiality requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
  15. The School will close off areas that are heavily used by the individual with the lab-confirmed case (student, teacher, or staff) until the non-porous surfaces in those areas can be disinfected, unless more than 3 days have already passed since that person was on campus.
  16. Consistent with school notification requirements for other communicable diseases, and consistent with legal confidentiality requirements, schools must notify all teachers, staff, and families of all students in a school if a lab-confirmed COVID-19 case is identified among students, teachers or staff who participate in any on campus activities.