Return to School Plan - DRAFT June 30, 2020 

Table of Contents

Message from the Superintendent

Message from the School Board Liaison to the Task Force

Description of the HCPS Return to School Task Force and Its Work

Outreach to HCPS Families

Virginia’s Recover, Redesign, Restart plan and the HCPS Draft Plan

Instructional Plan: A Blend of Distance & In-Person Learning with Parent Choice

In-Person Schedules

Upgrades to Distance Learning Practices

Grading

Support for Teachers and Parents

Parent Choice

Specials (ES) and Electives (MS & HS)

Counseling and Mental Health Practices

Identifying Student Needs

In-person

Virtual

Staying Connected to Students & Families

Special Education Considerations

Testing

IEP Services

Athletics

Marching Band

Driver’s Education: Behind the Wheel

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Extracurriculars and Special Activities (Craig)

Health & Safety Plan: Mitigation & Containment Strategies

The Importance of the Partnership between Schools & Families

Collaboration between HCPS & the VA Department of Health (VDH)

Immunizations

Transportation: Bus Mitigation Protocols

Bus Capacity and Walk Zones

Daily Health Screenings

Entering and Exiting the Buildings

Social Distancing

Classrooms

Other Areas

Playground Use and Recess

Meals at School

Mask Requirements

Use and Cleaning of Shared Materials

Student and Staff Personal Hygiene Protocols

Protocols in the Event of Illness

Visitors to Schools

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Message from the Superintendent

When the Governor closed all schools in Virginia on March 13, I was both relieved and filled with apprehension. Relieved because I was preparing to close HCPS unilaterally. Closing schools was the right thing to do for public health. I was apprehensive about opening schools again in the midst of a pandemic. Despite Virginia making strides to flatten the curve, we are still in a pandemic. Students need the opportunity to be back in school with their teachers and their peers, and yet, we must always keep our students and staff safe. I love the expression “It Takes a Village,” and because I think it is such a special expression that describes a truly rare and beautiful reality, I use it sparingly. But I wholeheartedly use it here. This takes a village. We must work together to salvage what we can of the very special and unique education Harrisonburg has offered. We must create a smart plan that allows agility as situations shift and one that works toward the ultimate goal of getting our students back on track academically and socially. And we must do it all while also keeping everyone as safe as possible. Any solution is a balance of needs, with many needs, unfortunately, going unmet. What follows is the HCPS Return to School Plan as it is now. This is only a draft. Parts of it are likely to change as we continue to collect public and staff feedback. We face an unprecedented challenge that shifts daily. I offer a heartfelt thanks to the many who have engaged in this project so far -- via the Task Force and its subcommittees, by answering surveys, by sharing insight, and by simply being patient and allowing us to take a careful and reasoned approach -- and the many more who will join us in the days ahead. Michael G. Richards, Ed.D. Superintendent

Message from the School Board Liaison to the Task Force

Central to every return-to-school decision in this public health crisis is the inevitable realization that what is best for our student’s physical health can conflict with what is best for their academic education and their social and emotional development. And yet decisions must be made, risks must be balanced, and trade-offs need to be measured. Kids need to go to school.

It’s impossible to count the number of hours HCPS has put into the formidable task of creating a reopening plan, from discussions in zoom rooms, mask-to-mask meetings in large, airy spaces in our schools, and countless phone calls. My thanks go to every HCPS staff and administrator that contributed thought and time into the development of this draft plan. That appreciation extends to the MTC and RCPS board, admins and staff, who have been in regular contact with HCPS as together we all prepare to return to school. Education in our community does not stop at the city line, and it’s important that joint programs we offer throughout the central Shenandoah Valley continue in a coherent and coordinated way.

Our strength as a community is our remarkable diversity, and that means that any reopening plan will affect our families and our students in very, very different ways. We live in a university town, and HCPS returns to school this fall alongside JMU and EMU, with the population growth within the city the end of summer always brings. My thanks go out to every family that

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completed the HCPS community reopening survey. The input you’ve provided is enormously helpful and will be used not only to tune and adjust the plan now, but to inform decisions throughout the year.

Our plan is conservative, and school in 2020 will appear different in many important ways. Our roles – student, parent, teacher, coach, administrator - are going to change. We recognize that reopening in this measured way will control risk and allow us to be very responsive to changes in public health conditions. Even though school will feel unfamiliar, our mission in these scary and uncertain times remains the same: in Harrisonburg, learning has no limits, and together we work for the success of all.

Deb Fitzgerald School Board Member & Liaison to the Task Force

Description of the HCPS Return to School Task Force and Its Work

On May 28, 2020, the Superintendent convened the first meeting of the Return to School Task Force to study the latest data, research, and state and federal guidance, and to make recommendations to him and the School Board for a comprehensive return to school plan. Members were selected by the Superintendent to encompass a variety of skill sets, experiences, and geographic areas. All employment areas of the Division -- instruction, student support, operations, and finance -- were represented. A list of members appears below. The School Board Chair appointed School Board member Deb Fitzgerald to liaison between the Task Force and the Board. A Google form was used to collect input from other employees of the Division, and the input gathered was shared with the Task Force. The Task Force spent its first three weeks studying more than 30 documents that members placed in a shared drive and listening to and reacting to presentations by the Departments of Instruction, Student Support, and Operations. After the Governor and the Virginia Department of Education announced the Recover, Redesign and Restart guidance, the Task Force shifted to planning mode. Four subcommittees (list below) had been formed early in the process to focus on specific areas of concern, and each subcommittee held its own meetings and reported its findings to be used in planning. After much lively discussion and great care and consideration, the Task Force finalized recommendations and submitted them to the Superintendent on June 25, 2020. With minor exceptions (e.g. Marching Band and Athletics), the HCPS Return to School Plan is based on both formal recommendations as well as discussions that occurred within the Task Force and its subcommittees. Members of the Task Force Andrea Early, Executive Director of School Nutrition Anne Lintner, Principal - Bluestone Elementary

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April Howard, Chief Officer for Student Support Brian Nussbaum*, Secondary Mathematics Coordinator & HHS Teacher Carrie Martell*, Special Education Coordinator Chloe Jerlinski*, Social Worker Craig Mackail, Chief Operating Officer Daniel Kirwan*, Principal - Skyline M.S. Deb Fitzgerald, School Board Liaison Jeremy Aldrich, Director of Teaching and Learning Jill Hart, Principal - Waterman Elementary Jill Martorana, Autism Specialist Joy Blosser*, Director of Federal Programs and Teacher Development Kathy Holter, Teacher - Stone Spring Elementary & President of HEA Laura Feichtinger McGrath*, Director of EL Services and Title III Michael Richards*, Superintendent of HCPS Mike Davis*, Executive Advisor to the President at JMU Missy Hensley, Principal - HHS Pat Lintner, Chief Academic Officer Sal Romero*, Director of Equity & Community Engagement Tola Ogundipe*, Teacher - Skyline M.S. Toni Sheets, Executive Director of Technology Tracy Shaver*, Chief Financial Officer *Parents of HCPS students Subcommittees of the Task Force Academic Transitions

Chairs: Jeremy Aldrich & Pat Lintner Family Engagement & Communication

Chairs: Sal Romero & Chloe Jerlinski Special Education (& other vulnerable populations)

Chairs: Carrie Martell & Jill Martorano (w/Laura Feichtinger McGrath) Student Needs

Chairs: Andrea Early & April Howard Subcommittees were made up of members of the Task Force as well as other members of HCPS staff. Guests from outside HCPS were invited as needed. Invited Guests of the Task Force Kevin Hutton, Director of the Massanutten Technical Center (MTC) Laura Toni-Holsinger, Executive Director of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham United Way Oskar Scheikl, Superintendent of Rockingham County Public School Rachel Linden, HHS Director of Counseling

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Notable Contributors to the Plan Separate from the Task Force Brandon Burley, Athletic Director Daniel Upton, HHS Band Director

Outreach to HCPS Families

On June 23, 2020, the Task Force Subcommittee on Family Engagement & Communication sent a survey to all HCPS families in seven languages. Home-School Liaisons reached out to families during the survey period to get as many responses as possible. The intention of this survey was to capture, in broad brushstrokes, the sentiments of our community in terms of the realities faced so far and those that will be encountered as we return to school in the fall. The survey response rate was around 27 percent. After a plan is approved by the School Board, another communication will be sent to families asking them for specific information related to their intentions for transportation to and from school, their choice of either 100% distance learning or whatever in-person model is decided upon, and other child-specific questions. The Superintendent and the Co-chairs of the Family Engagement & Communications Subcommittee are putting together a student panel to get feedback on distance learning experiences, reactions to the draft Plan, social-emotional needs, hopes for the future, etc.

Virginia’s Recover, Redesign, Restart plan and the HCPS Draft Plan

On Tuesday, June 9, 2020, Governor Northam and the VDOE announced the State’s plan for reopening Virginia’s K-12 schools. The plan is titled Recover, Redesign, Restart (RRR), and a link to it can be found here. The RRR follows the State’s Forward Virginia plan, which describes the reopening of the State with a focus on the business sector. It is important to note that the Forward Virginia plan and the RRR both encourage regional and local variance considerations. Early in the pandemic, Harrisonburg was identified as a “hot spot” due to active case numbers that grew at faster rates than other parts of the state. This, coupled with the fact that JMU intends to bring students back in the fall, means that we need to be cautious. The HCPS Return to School Task Force has developed a plan that is cautious but also creates opportunities to pivot to a less cautious model if local data trends and public health guidance indicate that it would be safe to do so. This Return to School Plan is based on the RRR’s Phase 3 of reopening. It is possible that we might be beyond Phase 3 when school actually opens. The State has not offered details of what beyond Phase 3 looks like. When and if such details are provided, and if mitigation guidance is relaxed, we will adjust what we can to create additional in-person learning opportunities.

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Instructional Plan:

A Blend of Distance and In-Person Learning with Parent Choice

Note: the word “would” is used in parts of the plan that are conditional because they require Board approval and may be impacted by further feedback from the public and staff. The word “will” is used in parts of the plan that are necessary regardless of the balance of in-person and distance learning. For example, mental health strategies and health and safety protocols are items we will carry out under any scenario.

In-Person Schedules

The division calendar in this draft has been changed to accommodate the blended learning plan for the fall semester. The first day of school would now be August 31. This would allow for adequate time for safety and instructional preparation. The updated calendar would be posted on the division website after a decision is made. During Phase 3, HCPS would have in-person learning 4 days a week. Certain identified students and grades PK, K and 1 would attend each of the four days, and all other grades would attend 2 of the 4 days on an AB schedule. Every attempt would be made to schedule siblings in the same A or B cohort so that childcare would be less of a challenge. Family requests to align A and B day schedules for their children who attend in more than one school would be accommodated to the greatest extent possible.

Phase 3 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Elementary

Identified students

Identified students

Virtual

Identified students

Identified students

PK-1 PK-1 PK-1 PK-1

2-5 A 2-5 B 2-5 A 2-5 B

Middle Identified students

Identified students

Identified students

Identified students

6-8 A 6-8 B 6-8 A 6-8 B

High School Identified students

Identified students

Identified students

Identified students

9-12 A 9-12 B 9-12 A 9-12 B

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School Start and End Times School start and end times are suggested to provide for clustering east and west side schools to accommodate families and to maximize transportation volume, which would permit siblings to sit together on a bus. The schedule also takes into consideration some childcare issues by having the elementary and middle schools to attend school at the same time. These times may be adjusted should there be additional time needed between bus runs. Because in-school transitions would be limited and because teachers would be accommodating virtual learning daily, the suggested length of the school day is 5 hours.

School Start/End Times

High School 7:45

12:45

THMS BES KES WES

9:00

2:00

SKMS SES

SMES SSES

10:00

3:00

Upgrades to Distance Learning Practices

HCPS students in grades 2-12 will all have devices that will permit them to fluidly manage learning whether learning is face to face or virtual. The Learning Management System (LMS) for grades 2-5 will be Google Classroom. The LMS for grades 6-12 will be Canvas. Each LMS will serve as a platform for curricular documents, assignments, and resources. When involved in distance learning, work will be primarily asynchronous. However, instructors will use synchronous meetings to support learning and to check in on students' wellbeing. A general guide regarding time for the days when students are not face to face will be 2 to 3 hours at grades 2-5 and 4 hours at the middle and high school level. K-1 will have work sent home with them to complete on Wednesdays.

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To address WIFI access challenges, HCPS has purchased mega-WIFI hotspots and positioned them strategically throughout the City.

Grading In this blended learning environment, grades would be given for specific assignments and assessments. Students would be expected to complete assignments and engage in daily learning activities.

Support for Teachers and Parents

For the blended learning experience to be successful, support for teachers and parents is critical. Three weeks of staff support would occur prior to the start of school. Instructional technology resource teachers are being supported in building their capacity to support teachers. To help build parents’ capacity, HCPS would provide technology information to families so that they can help their students navigate the distance learning required to be successful. Information would be shared in face-to-face sessions with parents, as well as through documents and videos. Every parent should feel comfortable reaching out to teachers and schools when additional support is needed. We realize that any school attendance schedule short of full days five days a week presents childcare challenges. HCPS would work both internally and with childcare providers in Harrisonburg to address these challenges.

Parent Choice

Parents/guardians would have a choice of either 100% distance learning or a blend of distance and in-person learning described in the schedule above. Parents would be asked to provide their preference for each of their children via a census that would be circulated as soon as a plan is approved by the Board, so that we can ensure proper staffing assignments. Parents who choose 100% distance learning would not have the option of switching to a blended schedule unless the Division announces that such changes are available.

Specials (ES) and Electives (MS & HS)

Involvement in the arts, STEM, CTE and other non-core courses is vitally important for many students. Schools will arrange for student experiences in these areas while minimizing transitions for students.

Counseling and Mental Health Practices

Identifying Student Needs

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HCPS will develop a protocol for screening mental health concerns and a referral system for individuals who need targeted support services. Staff will receive professional development focused on identifying mental health needs and appropriate tools to support responding to stress reactions from others. HCPS will partner with local community agencies to provide staff with tools they need to detect abuse or neglect in all learning environments. It is equally important that staff feel their needs are supported. HCPS will increase communication efforts to make school staff aware of resources available for self-care and mental health support. In-person HCPS will prioritize efforts to address the evolving social emotional, behavioral and mental health needs of staff and students. Resources will be available to support students well being in addition to procedures that promote their physical health. Counselors will be available to address social emotional and mental health needs during the school day. The division website will continue to list crisis numbers and additional information. Student Support staff will remain available for consultation regarding access to school and community resources. Counselors from the McNulty Center will provide intervention services in the schools as case load dictates. Referrals for Therapeutic Day Treatment will be made as deemed appropriate. Staff will provide social emotional learning to re-engage students and rebuild relationships and school communities. Tools may include morning/class meetings in-person or virtually, explicit instruction in the social emotional learning competencies or other resources like the HCPS virtual relaxation room. https://sites.google.com/harrisonburg.k12.va.us/hcpsstudentservices/home

Virtual Counselors will provide outreach and support to students during virtual learning. Clinical staff will be available for telehealth opportunities for students who present with more significant mental health needs unable to be addressed by school counselors or other support staff.

Staying Connected to Students & Families

Feedback from families, students, and staff from the spring indicates that students may become more easily disengaged from learning when not meeting in person each day. With this in mind, each school will develop a system for routinely communicating with families beyond the connections made via distance learning itself. That is, schools will call, email, or otherwise contact parents/guardians routinely while teachers are also connecting to students through distance learning opportunities such as synchronous learning and class meetings. This is likely to involve multiple staff members. We ask that families also routinely reach out to their school(s).

Special Education Considerations

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Testing Protocols have been developed to allow staff and students to safely resume the testing for special education eligibility purposes. Staff will be seeking parental consent to begin testing this summer. The protocol includes prioritizing initial referrals at this time. IEP Services Every student identified with a disability is entitled to a free and appropriate education and to receive special education services based on their individualized education program (IEP). Students with disabilities may have more difficulty transitioning back into the school setting. Division personnel will create a protocol to review the needs of each student with an IEP. School based case managers will communicate with families regarding individual needs. In-person learning and related services will be provided if the IEP team decides it is appropriate and the parent consents. The IEP team may decide distance learning is the most appropriate for some students with disabilities.

Athletics

A plan has been developed based on VHSL and NFHS recommendations for Return to Play. A VHSL physical form dated after May 1, 2020 will be required for participation. Certain practices and training will begin the week of July 6, 2020.

Marching Band

A plan has been developed following all applicable VDOE and VDH guidelines.

Driver’s Education: Behind the Wheel

In his June 18th memo, the Superintendent of Public Instruction advised that schools may resume Behind the Wheel instruction. However, “school divisions are strongly encouraged to require students and staff to wear cloth face coverings and gloves.“ Additionally, students should be screened prior to participating and cars should be stringently cleaned between drivers.

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Health & Safety Plan: Mitigation & Containment Strategies The Importance of the Partnership between Schools & Families

This Plan describes several key partnerships, but the most important is between schools and families. Without the help of our families, we cannot carry out this plan. Families should do daily at home monitoring of student health and communicate any issues with the schools. HCPS will provide multiple resources to assist families with this. Also, families should be aware of all health and safety protocols as described in this Plan and remind their students of these on a regular basis. By working together, we can maintain the highest level of health and safety for students and staff. We encourage our families to ask any questions at any time and to engage with us on any areas of concern.

Collaboration between HCPS & the VA Department of Health (VDH)

The Harrisonburg City Public Schools has developed a strong working relationship with the VDH and the City of Harrisonburg’s Emergency Manager. We have worked collaboratively with both during the pandemic and will continue to do so. The VDH has assigned a member of their local team to work directly with the school divisions within the region.

Immunizations

School entrance physicals and Immunization requirements for admission to school remain unchanged for the 2020-21 school year. It is vital that all students receive required vaccinations, including those behind as a result of the pandemic. Families are encouraged to make appointments with their pediatrician or primary care provider now to avoid any delays from the “back to school rush”. HCPS will work with the local health department to create a collaborative approach to support the increased demand for vaccinations. Additionally, the influenza vaccination is highly encouraged for all students. Transportation: Bus Mitigation Protocols

The RRR calls for the following during Phase 3: Physical distance should be created between children on school buses when possible (e.g. seat children one per seat, every other row) limiting capacity as needed to optimize distance between passengers. Children (such as siblings) living together may sit together on the bus. If we maintain a 6-foot distance between students, we can fit only 12 students on each bus. (Normally, as many as 74 students can ride on a bus.) It may be possible to double the capacity to 24 students if the following are adhered to:

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● Students may sit one per seat as long as they are wearing face coverings ● Students with siblings should sit together allowing for up to 3 siblings per seat as long as

they are wearing face coverings ● Buses will be disinfected following the CDC guidelines throughout the transportation day

HCPS will submit a variance request to be able to put 24 students on each bus while following the above rules. Bus drivers and bus aides will wear the appropriate PPE when transporting students. The Harrisonburg City Transportation Department will establish protocols to ensure that all transportation employees (drivers, aides etc.) are health screened before reporting to work.

Bus Routes and Walking Zones

Due to social distancing requirements, our school bus capacity has been reduced from about 74 students per bus to 24. (This would be with a variance. Only 12 students per bus would be allowed without a variance.) This means that no scenario allows us to transport our current bus riders to school when we reopen in August even though we are cutting the number of students attending each day in half. One solution to this is to ask parents who can drive their students to school to do so. Another way, which is healthier for both individuals and the general population, is to require students who live a certain reasonable distance from school and have a safe route to school to walk. HCPS currently does not have walking zones designated within School Board policy. Creating such zones would dramatically reduce the number of bus riders and bus routes. HCPS is currently working with Sentara Safe Routes to School and the City Planning Department to designate safe routes to school within certain reasonable radii from certain school buildings. (Some of our schools are not conducive to walk zones.) This work will result in a recommendation from the Superintendent to the School Board at its first meeting in August. The recommendation will be in the form of a policy that defines walk zones and exceptions due to safety. Since the determination of potential walk zones will not be approved by the Board until the first week of August, we strongly encourage families that live within a half (0.50) mile radius from Thomas Harrison MS, Keister ES, Spotswood ES, and Waterman ES to prepare to be within a walk zone. Maps that reflect current thinking on safe walking and biking routes within these school zones can be found here.

Daily Health Screenings

Staff and students will be required to complete a daily symptom checklist before reporting to the school. The division will conduct temperature checks for students upon arrival at school and a health screening checklist for students unable to screen before arriving. School nurses have

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developed a protocol for clinic visits to limit the exposure to students who are sick. The daily symptom checklist includes the following questions:

● A fever (100℉ or higher) or a sense of having a fever? ● A cough that cannot be attributed to another health condition? ● Shortness of breath that cannot be attributed to another health condition? ● Chills that cannot be attributed to another health condition? ● A sore throat that cannot be attributed to another health condition? ● Muscle aches (myalgia) that cannot be attributed to another health condition or

specific activity (such as physical exercise)? ○ If an individual answers YES to ANY of the screening questions before

arriving, they should stay home and not enter the building. Staff members and guardians of students should notify the Principal if they have had a positive self-screen.

Entering and Exiting the Buildings

To allow for the recommended social distancing, staff members and students will be assigned entry and exit points into the building. All social distancing guidelines should be followed when entering and exiting the buildings. Hallways and common areas will be designated as one-way movement areas throughout the building to enhance social distancing. Health screenings as described elsewhere in the Plan will be administered upon entry to an HCPS building.

Social Distancing Social distancing is a mitigation strategy that has been proven to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Social distancing is the backbone of the mitigation strategies presented by the CDC/VDH/VDOE. To operate a school safely and efficiently, it is important that social distancing protocols be put in place at each school building. School capacity as well as class size will follow all social distancing guidelines. Class enrollment will be reduced and adjusted to meet the 6-foot separation guideline within a designated space. Student work stations will be adjusted to allow for a 6-foot separation between students. Hallways and high traffic areas will be marked with 6-foot separation markers on the floor. Communal areas (if applicable) will be adjusted to allow for a 6-foot separation. All office and work areas will be adjusted to allow for a 6-foot separation between employees. Staff will monitor and remind students and other staff members of the 6-foot separation rule. Posted signage will serve as a reminder to all members of the school community that the 6-foot rule is in place. Social distancing will not only occur within the buildings; outside activities will also follow the prescribed guidelines and mitigation strategies particular to the activity. Clearly, 6-foot separation cannot be maintained at all times in a school building or bus, where students and teachers need to move freely. The VDH defines incidental contact as being in brief proximity of another person, such as walking past another person in the classroom, hallway, or

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bus and does not consider such contact to pose a risk of spreading or contracting the virus. While we have gone to great lengths to social distance via reduced school capacities, reduced class sizes, social distancing practices, and structural avoidance of gatherings, it is important to recognize that schools are warm and nurturing environments, and so incidental contact will not be monitored and controlled.

Playground Use and Recess

Recess and the use of playgrounds play an important role in a student’s overall well being. Playgrounds pose a unique challenge (due to their construction and size) since they fall under social distancing and the disinfection guidelines established by the CDC. Playgrounds will be limited in use due to the 6-foot social distancing guideline as well as the requirement that after each use the playground’s hard services will need to be disinfected. The playgrounds structures (swings, climbing apparatus, etc) should remain closed unless a disinfection schedule can be maintained and all social distancing guidelines can be followed. Recess will be limited to 50 students at any time.

Meals at School

School meals will be provided to students for both in-person and distance learning days. HCPS will participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) divisionwide this school year. This means that breakfast and lunch will be available to all students at no cost without completion of a free and reduced price meal application. The CDC has indicated that there is no evidence to suggest that handling food or consuming food is associated with COVID-19. School nutrition staff will follow protocols for social distancing, use of PPE, and increased focus on sanitation during the preparation and service of school meals. During in-person instruction, meals will be served in a combination of ways based on individual building and class needs. Some meals may be served and consumed in classrooms, while others may be served and consumed in cafeteria dining or outdoor dining spaces. Social distancing protocols will be observed in the service and consumption of school meals while students are in school buildings. Students receiving in-person instruction on alternating days will receive bagged meals to be consumed at home on distance learning days. For example, students in the A cohort will pick up a meal bag at the end of the day on Monday containing meals for Tuesday and Wednesday. On a Thursday afternoon, they will receive meals for Friday.

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Students who are participating in all distance learning will have an opportunity to receive five days’ worth of school meals. These meals will be available for pick up or delivery each Wednesday. At-home meals will contain a combination of cold ready-to-eat foods, as well as foods that may be heated at home. In all meal scenarios, school nutrition staff will ensure that dietary accommodations are provided for students with documented medical needs. A variety of food choices will be offered to accommodate other dietary preferences and restrictions.

Face Covering/Mask Requirements

According to public health experts, face coverings and masks mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Studies have shown that many carriers of the COVID-19 virus are asymptomatic. A face covering or masks should be worn by students if developmentally appropriate (middle and high school aged students) when physical distancing cannot be maintained. Staff members should wear face masks in times when at least 6 feet of social distancing cannot be maintained. Face masks will be provided to staff and students as needed. Use and Cleaning of Shared Materials

Managing the use of shared materials presents significant challenges. This will be particularly difficult with younger students. Sharing of objects between students and staff members should be avoided when possible If objects must be shared, objects should be cleaned or disinfected between uses. Staff members should consider the following when sharing objects:

● Discourage sharing of items that are difficult to clean or disinfect ● Keep each child’s belongings separated from others’ and in individually labeled

containers, cubbies, or areas ● Ensure adequate supplies to minimize sharing of high touch materials to the extent

possible (e.g., assigning each student their own art supplies, equipment) or limit use of supplies and equipment by one group of children at a time and clean and disinfect between use

● Avoid sharing electronic devices, toys, books, and other games or learning aids

Student and Staff Personal Hygiene Protocols

Hand washing is a proven strategy to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. Students, staff, and volunteers will be encouraged and at times required to wash hands with soap and water. Hand sanitizing dispensers will be located throughout the building where sinks and other hand washing facilities are not readily available. If unavailable, use hand sanitizer often:

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1. After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. 2. After using the restroom. 3. Before eating or preparing food. 4. Before and after touching your face. 5. After contact with animals or pets and playing outside. 6. Before and after providing routine care for another person who needs

assistance (e.g., a child). 7. Before putting on and after removing gloves. 8. After touching frequently touched areas (e.g., doorknobs, handrails, shared

computers) 9. Individuals providing health care services should perform hand hygiene before

and after contact with each patient, contact with potentially infectious material, and before putting on and after removing PPE, including gloves. Hand hygiene after removing PPE is particularly important to remove any pathogens that might have been transferred to bare hands during the removal process.

HCPS will remind students and staff to:

1. Encourage individuals to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze, place the used tissue in the opened-top wastebasket, and then wash their hands.

2. If tissues are unavailable, encourage individuals to cough or sneeze into the upper sleeve or elbow, not onto their hands. Then they should wash their hands.

3. Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub with at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol alcohol content and rub until the contents are dry. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/hand-hygiene.html

4. Encourage individuals to avoid touching their face with their hands as much as possible.

5. Individuals may be asked to put on a face covering to protect others. 6. Encourage individuals to avoid close contact with people who are sick. 7. Staff, students, volunteers should be instructed not to come to work or school if

they are feeling ill.

Protocols in the Event of Illness

In the event that a student arrives at school and does not pass the health screening, the school will follow the procedures developed to evaluate and contain the possibility that the student is positive for the Coronavirus. The procedures will be sensitive to student well being, as well as their physical health.

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When provided a report of an individual testing positive for COVID-19, the Harrisonburg/Rockingham Health Department (HRHD) determines the need and extent of a contact investigation in accordance with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) policies and takes action accordingly. HCPS will cooperate with the HRHD in such potential investigations and strongly recommends that families do as well. The HRHD will guide HCPS on any potential decisions to close all or part or all of a facility.

Visitors to Schools

The Harrisonburg City Public Schools has always encouraged parents and community members to become involved in our educational programs. HCPS takes pride in allowing people from our community to visit and participate in our school programs. We realize how important community involvement is within our schools but now must balance this involvement with knowing that limiting access to our students and buildings may mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The school division will limit any nonessential visitors, volunteers, and activities involving external groups or organizations as possible – especially with individuals who are not from the local geographic area (e.g., community, town, city, county). All visitors will be screened prior to entering the building.

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