Corning-Painted Post Area School District

REOPENING PLAN (July, 2020)

NOTE: This is an archive. Links contained within the content below may no longer be valid or work. This is due to our website change over in July 2022 and content sourced by other organizations we linked to may have changed since July 2020.

School Reopening Steering Committee
Michelle Caulfield, Superintendent of Schools
Jeff Delorme, Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services
Kerry Elsasser, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education
Linda Perry, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education
Bill Pierce, Assistant Superintendent for School Operations
Paul Webster, School Business Official
Jen Batzing, Director of Pupil Personnel Services
Larry Eccleston, Director of Transportation
Joseph Kilmer, Director of Food Service
Damian Saks, Director of Athletics
Jerry Dieg, Director of Technology
Becky Henderson, Supervisor of Special Education
Jeff Marchionda, Supervisor of Special Education
Rick Kimble, Supervisor of School Operations
Bill Cameron, Public Information Coordinator
Leslie Kapur, Corning Teachers’ Association President
Becky Scouten, CSEA
Joanne Bellardini, CTAA
Ann Stefanini, District Lead Nurse
Robin Sheehan, Executive High School Principal
Michael Ginalski, Interim Middle School Principal
John Whaley, Elementary Principal
Frank Barber, High School Assistant Principal
Karen Dutcher, District Clerk
Colin Sinko, Administrative Intern
Kelley Louthan, Administrative Intern
Sharla Yarnell, BOCES, Administrative Intern
Bryan Kelley, Building Instructional Technology Specialist
Marie DeBolt, ELL teacher - Erwin Valley

Parent Engagement Committee
Cassie Seymour, Carder, PTA Secretary
Jennifer Ellison, Carder, PTA President
Shelley Dilllon, Carder, Secretary, TA
Michelle Roberts, Gregg, Member, TA
Joshua White, Gregg, PTA President
Megan Russo, Winfield, President
Collen Inthanongsak, Winfield, Vice-President.
Melanie Moon, Smith, Vice-President
Amy Huneau ,Smith, Parent, Nurse
Karan Sternquist, Severn, PTA Treasurer
Timothy Skarbek, Middle School, Parent
Marybeth Greene, High School, PTSA
Fred Collins, High School, Parent
Stephanie Manning, High School Parent
Victoria Ehlen, High School Parent
Sheila Sutton, High School Parent
Dustin Hewit, High School Parent
Randi Hewit, High School Parent
Lisa Marshall, High School Parent
Lisa Gill, High School Parent
Bob Lecher, High School, PTSA President
Melissa Grinnell, Parent
Janet Cleary, High School, PTSA, Parent
Denise Layton, High School
Cari Stage, Family Service Society
Lori Payne, Pathway

Student Engagement Committee
Natalie Ginalski, Smith
Aditya Aiyar, Erwin
Haylee Cliff, Gregg
Corynn Roberts, Severn
Logan Flynn, Winfield
Makenna Page, Middle School
Alexandria Bixby, Middle School
Ezra Despain, Middle School
Alyssa Ainsworth, Middle School
Alivia Jiang, High School
Nick Jubilee, High School
Brooke Yorio, High School
Payton Kizis, High School
Cassidy Galusha, High School
Merica Griffin, High School
Kathryn Ouyang, High School
Emily Landolf, High School
Brookelyn Batzing, High School
Surav Amin, High School
Brodie Ainsworth, High School
Sydney Hewit, High School

COMMUNICATION/FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

As required by the New York State Education Department, C-PP will:

engage school stakeholders and community members (e.g., administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents, legal guardians of students, local health departments, local health care providers and affiliated organizations, such as unions, alumni, and/or community-based groups) when developing reopening plans.
develop a communications plan for students, parents,or legal guardians of students, staff, and visitors that includes applicable instructions, training, signage, and a consistent means to provide individuals with information.
ensure all students are taught or trained how to follow new COVID-19 protocols safely and correctly, including but not limited to hand hygiene, proper face covering wearing, social distancing, and respiratory hygiene.
encourage all students, faculty, staff, and visitors through verbal and written communication (e.g., signage) to adhere to CDC and DOH guidance regarding the use of PPE, specifically acceptable face coverings
provide communications in the language(s) spoken at home among families and throughout the school community and will be accessible to those with visual and/or hearing impairments.

The District engaged school stakeholders and community members in multiple ways in the development of its Reopening Plan. This has included, but has not been limited to, (administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents/legal guardians of students, local health departments, local health care providers, and affiliated organizations, such as unions, and community-based groups). Using the Reopening Task Force as our starting point, we gathered input and feedback from a variety of district stakeholders and community members. Numerous formats were used that included surveys and both in-person and virtual meetings. The information collected drove our planning process and our decision to move forward with an A/B blended instructional model to begin the 2020-2021 school year. Families will be able to select between the A/B model and a 100% virtual instructional model.

The District has detailed below, information on how the Communication Plan has been delivered and what methods we will continue to use to ensure family and stakeholder engagement.

Development of the Reopening Steering Committee that includes administration, faculty, and staff representing all the collective bargaining units in the District.
Development of the Parent and Family Advisory committee that met with the Superintendent on July 23, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.
Development of the Student Advisory Task Force consisting of 20 students, grades 5-12, that met with the Superintendent on July 24 from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm.
Administered a Remote Learning Survey to teachers and staff to obtain feedback relative to virtual teaching and learning during the school closure period.
Conducted teacher focus group sessions, both virtually and in-person, July 15-28. Over 400 of the District’s 500 teachers participated.
Administered two surveys: Community-wide survey aimed at parents and families via the District website, July 2020. This was communicated via the website, social media and a phone call to our parents/guardians from the Superintendent. The District has 4,590 students and 3,429 survey responses were received. A second survey was opened to determine the preferred educational model by parents/guardians (2 models were developed and presented).
The District has a landing page for all Reopening content located here: https://www.corningareaschools.com/Content/reopening. Our website includes a language translate function for text content and also accessibility options.
The District has a Communications Committee led by our Public Information Coordinator for the purpose of developing continual communications for stakeholders, to gather input and also generate ideas on communications.
Published a web page of the plan as-submitted to New York State at this location: https://www.corningareaschools.com/Content/reopeningplan
The Superintendent utilizes our website and district smartphone app to communicate with stakeholders and our community. Messages are available here: https://www.corningareaschools.com/Superintendent
The District utilizes social media to communicate with stakeholders on the reopening plan.
The District designated a coordinator to be the main contact upon the identification of positive COVID-19 cases and to be responsible for subsequent communication.
The District will ensure that required communications are detailed in the categories of this plan. For example, the Health and Safety and Facilities categories detail communications for those areas, including signage and training of staff and students.
The District will provide communications in the language(s) spoken at home among families and throughout the school community. Our ELL teachers will work to help support our students and families as we move ahead. Our written plans will be accessible to those with visual and/or hearing impairments.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

As required by the New York State Education Department, C-PP will:

review and consider the number of students and staff allowed to return in person. These factors will be considered when determining resumption of in person instruction:

(1) Ability to maintain appropriate social distance or face coverings;

(2) PPE and face covering availability;

(3) Availability of safe transportation; And

(4) Local hospital capacity – in consultation with our local department of health.

work with school stakeholders and community members (e.g., administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents/legal guardians of students, local health departments, local health care providers, and affiliated organizations, such as unions, alumni, and/or community-based groups) in developing our reopening plan and will identify those that participated in the reopening plans.
ensure a communications plan for students, parents/guardians, staff, and visitors that includes applicable instructions, training, signage, and a consistent means to provide individuals with information.
provide a written protocol for daily temperature screenings of all students and staff, along with a daily screening questionnaire for faculty and staff and periodic use of the questionnaire for students.
ensure that ill students and staff be assessed by the school nurse (registered professional nurse, RN) or medical director and that if a school nurse or medical director is not available, ill students and staff will be sent home for follow up with a healthcare provider.
provide a written protocol requiring students or staff with a temperature, signs of illness, and/or a positive response to the questionnaire to be sent directly to a dedicated isolation area where students are supervised, prior to being picked up or otherwise sent home.
provide a written protocol to address visitors, guests, contractors, and vendors to the school which includes health screening.
provide a written instruct the parents/guardians observe for signs of illness in their child that require staying home from school.
provide a written protocol and appropriate signage to instruct staff and students in correct hand and respiratory hygiene.
provide a written protocol to ensure all persons in school buildings keep social distance of at least 6 feet whenever possible.
provide a written protocol detailing how the district/school will provide accommodations to all students and staff who are at high risk or live with a person at high risk.
provide a written protocol requiring all employees, adult visitors, and students to wear a cloth face covering whenever social distancing cannot be maintained.
obtain and maintain adequate supplies of cloth face coverings for school staff, students who forget their masks, and PPE for use by school health professionals.
provide a written protocol for actions to be taken if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the school.
provide a written protocol that complies with DOH and CDC guidance for the return to school of students and staff following a positive screen for COVID-19 symptoms, illness or diagnosis of confirmed case of COVID-19 or following quarantine due to contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19. Return to school will be coordinated with the local health department.
provide a written protocol to clean and disinfect schools following CDC guidance.
provide a written protocol to conduct required school safety drills with modifications ensuring social distancing between persons.
provide a written plan for district-run before and aftercare programs (this is not applicable for our District) .
provide a designated a COVID-19 safety coordinator (administrator) whose responsibilities include continuous compliance with all aspects of the school’s reopening plan, as well as any phased-in reopening activities necessary to allow for operational issues to be resolved before activities return to normal or “new normal” levels.

Interim Operational Health and Safety Guidelines and Protocols

The following Health and Safety guidelines and protocols have been in developed in alignment to the following:

NYSED Reopening Guidance issued July 16, 2020 http://www.nysed.gov/common/nysed/files/programs/reopening-schools/nys-p12-school-reopening-guidance.pdf
NYS Department of Health Interim Guidance for In-Person Instruction at PRE-K to Grade 12 Schools during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/Pre-K_to_Grade_12_Schools_MasterGuidence.pdf
CDC Considerations for Schools https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html
CDC Preparing K-12 School Administrators for a Safe Return to School in Fall 2020 (issued July 23, 2020) learning standards https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/prepare-safe-return.html

Additional guidance documents are referenced throughout the plan.

These guidelines are subject to change based on updated guidance and regulations from local, state and federal agencies.

Engagement with the Community and Stakeholders

The District has engaged with stakeholders and community members in multiple ways (e.g., administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents/legal guardians of students, local health departments, local health care providers, and affiliated organizations, such as unions, alumni, and/or community-based groups) when developing the District’s plan for its school reopening plan, including the area of health and safety.

These have included:

A school reopening Steering Committee that included administrators, faculty, and staff representing all of the collective bargaining units in the District
A parent and family advisory committee that included representatives from each school in the district and the District’s PTA
A student advisory committee
A survey of teachers regarding the virtual teaching and learning that took place from March to June 2020
Teacher focus group sessions (a total of twenty-four) were held both virtually and in-person in July 202. Over 400 of the District’s 500 teachers participated in these feedback sessions.
A community-wide survey aimed at parents and families was held in July 2020. This was announced via the website, social media and a phone call from the Superintendent. 3,429 responses were received. The District has 4,590 students.
The Superintendent and her team held additional parent focus groups in late July 2020 to obtain feedback as the model was being determined.
The Superintendent and her team held ten (10) teacher focus groups in late July 2020 to obtain feedback on the instructional models.

The Board of Education received an overview of the plan in a public meeting on July 30, 2020.

Review of District and Regional Capacity

Instructional Capacity

The Corning-Painted Post Area School District has reviewed and considered the number of students and staff allowed to return in person, based on the requirements within the state guidance to maintain proper social distancing.

Each school in the district has been assessed:

number of instructional spaces in the building;
number of students and staff each space may hold given the state’s requirements for social distancing;
ability to provide non-instructional operations (ex. meals) given the state’s requirements for social distancing.

The District has determined that given the state’s social distancing and other safety requirements, we are unable to provide instruction on a traditional schedule of all students in school, in-person on an everyday basis.Therefore, an alternative model for in-person instruction is necessary. The Health and Safety guidelines and protocols are designed to support students and staff in the model.

The exception shall be the District’s High School Learning Center, which is located at Corning Community College. The High School Learning center will be operated in accordance with the Corning Community College guidelines, per direction from the Steuben County Executive and the Steuben County Public Health Department.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Capacity

The District has determined the availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and cloth masks, as well as worked to obtain and maintain an adequate supply. This is outlined in the section on PPE and masks.

Transportation Capacity

The District has audited its transportation system and determined the capacity to safely transport students under the requirements of the state’s guidance to maintain proper social distancing on school busses. That capacity supports the instructional model adopted by the District. That is covered in more detail in the plan section on Transportation.

Regional Hospital Capacity

The District is located in Steuben County, which is part of the Southern Tier Region for the purposes of New York’s COVID-19 response and reopening plans. The Southern Tier Region is composed of Steuben, Schuyler, Chemung, Tompkins, Tioga, Broome, Chenango and Delaware counties.

The District has also consulted with the Steuben County Public Health Department regarding the capacities of the hospitals in our region.

As of July 23, 2020, the region had twenty (20) patients hospitalized due to COVID-19. Ten (10) of those patients were in Intensive Care Units (ICU’s).

New York State has provided a dashboard of metrics for COVID-19 which includes the hospitalization rate for the state and its regions. That dashboard can be accessed at https://forward.ny.gov/covid-19-regional-metrics-dashboard

Communications Plan

The District has developed a communication plan for students, parents/guardians, staff, and visitors that includes:

information about how school will look and operate in September 2020
the options available to students and their families
training in the necessary health and safety practices
signage related to health and safety practices

The District has set up a web portal on its website as well as on the District’s app named "Reopening C-PP". This site will grow and change as the District’s plan continues to be refined and further information needs to be shared with the school community. It is located at:

https://www.corningareaschools.com/Content/reopening

There will also be a mailing in August to all district families about the District’s reopening plan.

The District will continue to use its website with this dedicated section, its app, print resources, local media, text and email groups, and social media to continually inform the school community and all stakeholder groups of the District plans for school reopening.

Instruction of Staff in the Identification of Signs of Illness in Students and Staff

The following protocols have been developed in collaboration with the District’s Chief School Physician to:

instruct staff to observe for signs of illness in students and staff
require symptomatic persons to be sent to the school nurse or other designated personnel.
review and consider the number of students and staff allowed to return in person. These factors will be considered when determining resumption of in person instruction:

(1) Ability to maintain appropriate social distance or face coverings;

(2) PPE and face covering availability;

(3) Availability of safe transportation; and

(4) Local hospital capacity – in consultation with our local department of health.

ensure that school stakeholders and community members collaborate (e.g., administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents/legal guardians of students, local health departments, local health care providers, and affiliated organizations, such as unions, alumni, and/or community-based groups) in developing our reopening plan and will identify those that participated in the reopening plans.
ensure a communications plan for students, parents/guardians, staff, and visitors that includes applicable instructions, training, signage, and a consistent means to provide individuals with information.
a written protocol for daily temperature screenings of all students and staff, along with a daily screening questionnaire for faculty and staff and periodic use of the questionnaire for students.
ensure that ill students and staff be assessed by the school nurse (registered professional nurse, RN) or medical director and that if a school nurse or medical director is not available, ill students and staff will be sent home for follow up with a healthcare provider.
a written protocol requiring students or staff with a temperature, signs of illness, and/or a positive response to the questionnaire to be sent directly to a dedicated isolation area where students are supervised, prior to being picked up or otherwise sent home.
a written protocol to address visitors, guests, contractors, and vendors to the school which includes health screening.
a written protocol to ensure that parents/guardians observe for signs of illness in their child that require staying home from school.
a written protocol and appropriate signage to instruct staff and students in correct hand and respiratory hygiene.
a written protocol to ensure all persons in school buildings keep social distance of at least 6 feet whenever possible.
a written protocol detailing how the district/school will provide accommodations to all students and staff who are at high risk or live with a person at high risk.
a written protocol requiring all employees, adult visitors, and students to wear a cloth face covering whenever social distancing cannot be maintained.
obtain and maintain adequate supplies of cloth face coverings for school staff, students who forget their masks, and PPE for use by school health professionals.
written protocol for actions to be taken if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the school.
written protocol that complies with DOH and CDC guidance for the return to school of students and staff following a positive screen for COVID-19 symptoms, illness or diagnosis of confirmed case of COVID-19 or following quarantine due to contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19. Return to school will be coordinated with the local health department.
written protocol to clean and disinfect schools following CDC guidance.
written protocol to conduct required school safety drills with modifications ensuring social distancing between persons.
written plan for district-run before and aftercare programs.
designated a COVID-19 safety coordinator (administrator) whose responsibilities include continuous compliance with all aspects of the school’s reopening plan, as well as any phased-in reopening activities necessary to allow for operational issues to be resolved before activities return to normal or “new normal” levels.

Health Screenings

Parents/guardians and staff members will be provided resources to educate them regarding the careful observation of symptoms of COVID-19 and the health screening that must be conducted each morning before coming to school. Parents/guardians will be asked to complete a health screening each day via school district application. If a family is unable to access the school wellness screener app, parents/guardians will be asked to complete a paper version of the screening on a weekly basis for elementary aged students. At the secondary level students will be asked to complete the screening electronically or on paper on their own behalf.

Students’ Screening Including Temperature Checks

Parents/guardians and school staff shall be instructed that any student with a fever of 100°F or greater and/or a symptom of possible COVID-19 virus infection should not be present in school. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) keeps an up to date list of symptoms of Coronavirus on its website. This list is not all inclusive as some individuals may display other symptoms or none at all.

As of 7/13/2020, the following are listed as the most common symptoms of COVID-19:

Fever or chills (100°F or greater);
Cough;
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing;
Fatigue;
Muscle or body aches;
Headache;
New loss of taste or smell;
Sore throat;
Congestion or runny nose;
Nausea or vomiting; and/or
Diarrhea.

All staff shall be educated to observe students or other staff members for signs of any type of illness such as:

Flushed cheeks;
Rapid or difficulty breathing (without recent physical activity);
Fatigue, and/or irritability; and
Frequent use of the bathroom.

Students exhibiting any of these signs or symptoms should be sent to the school health office for an assessment by the school nurse. If a school nurse is not available, the school should contact the parent/guardian to come pick up their ill child.

Students are required to have a daily temperature check and periodic completion of a screening questionnaire. A student who has a temperature of 100°F or greater or has a positive response on the screening questionnaire must be isolated from others and sent home immediately.

Student Screening at Home Including Temperature Checks

Per NYSED and NYSDOH guidance, the District and its schools shall encourage parents/guardians to screen their child(ren) before sending them to school. Screening by the parent/ guardian prior to school is preferred in lieu of temperature checks and symptom screening performed after arrival to school.

Screening of students includes a daily temperature check and weekly completion of a screening questionnaire, as previously described.

The District anticipates the use of an on-line screening questionnaire available through an app and/or the District website. Paper copies of the screening questionnaire will also be available at each school as needed.

The screening questionnaire will determine whether the individual has:

knowingly been in close or proximate contact in the past 14 days with anyone who has tested positive through a diagnostic test for COVID-19 or who has or had symptoms of COVID-19;
tested positive through a diagnostic test for COVID-19 in the past 14 days;
has experienced any symptoms of COVID-19, including a temperature of greater than 100.0°F in the past 14 days: and/or
has traveled internationally or from a state with widespread community transmission of COVID-19 per the New York State Travel Advisory in the past 14 days. More information on the travel advisory can be found at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory

Each school shall designate one or more staff members (ex. Administrator, administrative assistant, attendance person, or school nurse, with consideration of their primary job duties) to review the incoming reports of screening by staff and/or parent/ guardians and attesting that they are completed. The designated staff member(s) may also be the contact for staff and/or students to inform if they later experience COVID-19 symptoms.

If the parent/guardian symptom screen evaluation is done at home, each school in the District shall:

Ensure all students are treated equally; and
Ensure students whose parent/guardian did not complete the screening are not singled out.

The District recognizes that it may not be possible for some families to conduct screenings at home for various reasons which may include the following:

The family may not have access to use of an online system or phone app;
The information may not be in their primary language;
The home environment may not be conducive to this process each morning; and/or
The family may not remember to complete the screening.

As stated, the District shall ensure that the screening process has multiple avenues of completion and that it is not used as a basis to exclude students from school.

Student Screening at Home

Students who may require screening to be completed at school must be treated in a confidential manner and must have the screening completed as quickly as possible to minimize time away from class.

The District shall adhere to New York State Department of Health guidance that schools are prohibited from keeping records of student, faculty, staff, and visitor health data (e.g., the specific temperature data of an individual), but are permitted to maintain records that confirm individuals were screened and the result of such screening (e.g., pass/fail, cleared/not cleared).

The District anticipates the use of on-site touchless screening monitors that register whether a staff member or student has a temperature of 100.0°F or greater. These monitors will not register or record an actual temperature but will use a Green or Red indicator to show whether a person is at or above a temperature of 100.0°F. If the student being screened registers as “Green”, then the student may proceed to class. If the student registers as “Red”, then the student will be moved to a seating area where they will await a second temperature screening using a thermometer. If their temperature remains 100.0oF or greater, the student will proceed to the health office for further screening by the school nurse. The monitors also do not record an individual user’s name or identity.

Staff members shall be assigned to supervise students who are waiting their turn for screenings. Students shall wear a mask and will be socially distanced, when able, while waiting.

All staff members involved in administering temperature screenings, including nurses, shall be provided with and shall use necessary PPE. They shall also perform good hand hygiene which shall include washing of hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, then they shall use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

In the event that a student answers “Yes” to a question on the health screening questionnaire and is still in attendance then the student shall be referred for further evaluation by the school nurse. This shall include a temperature screening using a thermometer. The school nurse shall then follow the procedures for the student to be sent home.

Students will be supervised in the isolated area while awaiting transport home.

Schools shall refer parents/guardians and students to a healthcare provider and provide resources on locations in the community where COVID-19 testing is available.

Students are required to notify the school when they develop symptoms or if their answers to the questionnaire change during or outside school hours. The school shall set up a means to collect this information through a dedicated email although parents shall be encouraged to contact their child’s school directly. health@cppmail.com

The District will provide parents/guardians periodic reminders of the requirement for daily temperature checks. This will be accomplished by:

Providing weekly or daily reminders - such as an automated telephone message, email, or text; and
Weekly written notices to homes in the parent/guardian’s native language where it is known that families cannot access the information through the other methods.

Pursuant to NYSDOH guidance, if a student shows one of the COVID-19 symptoms, that student shall be sent home and all members of the student’s household shall also be sent home. All members must remain home until the student with the positive symptom sees a healthcare provider, completes COVID-19 testing, receives COVID-19 testing results, and is symptom free for 72 hours. If the COVID-19 testing is negative, all members may return to school/work. If the COVID-19 testing is positive, the student who tested positive must isolate for 10 days and be symptom free for 72 hours before returning to school. The household members must quarantine for the 14 day incubation period and remain symptom free before returning to school. Upon return to school, the parent/guardian must provide a healthcare provider note to the school prior to attendance.

Staff Screenings including Temperature Checks

School staff shall be instructed that any student or staff member with a fever of 100°F or greater and/or any symptom of possible COVID-19 virus infection should not be present in school. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) keeps an up to date list of symptoms of Coronavirus on its website. This list is not all inclusive as some individuals may display other symptoms or none at all.

As of 7/13/2020, the following are listed as the most common symptoms of COVID-19:

Fever or chills (100°F or greater);
Cough;
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing;
Fatigue;
Muscle or body aches;
Headache;
New loss of taste or smell;
Sore throat;
Congestion or runny nose;
Nausea or vomiting; and/or
Diarrhea.

All staff shall be educated to observe students or other staff members for signs of any type of illness such as:

Flushed cheeks;
Rapid or difficulty breathing (without recent physical activity);
Fatigue, and/or irritability; and
Frequent use of the bathroom.

Staff exhibiting any of these symptoms shall be sent home.

Health screenings including daily temperature checks and completion of a screening questionnaire are required for staff, contractors, vendors, and visitors.

Anyone who has a temperature of 100°F or greater or has a positive response on the screening questionnaire must be isolated from others and sent home immediately. Schools should refer such persons to a healthcare provider and provide resources on locations in the community where COVID-19 testing is available.

All staff members must complete a daily screening questionnaire that answers the required questions listed below. The District shall encourage and expect staff members to complete the required screening prior to arrival at school or work. The District anticipates the use of an on-line screening questionnaire available using an app and/or the District website. Paper copies will also be available at each school and worksite.

The screening questionnaire will ask and determine whether the individual has:

knowingly been in close or proximate contact in the past 14 days with anyone who has tested positive through a diagnostic test for COVID-19 or who has or had symptoms of COVID-19;
tested positive through a diagnostic test for COVID-19 in the past 14 days;
has experienced any symptoms of COVID-19, including a temperature of greater than 100.0°F in the past 14 days: and/or
has traveled internationally or from a state with widespread community transmission of COVID-19 per the New York State Travel Advisory in the past 14 days. More information on the travel advisory can be found at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory

Staff members are not required to complete the on-site touchless screening monitors described below since they will complete and attest to temperature screening on their daily questionnaire. Staff may choose to use the screening monitors to check themselves at work and are encouraged to do so if they experience any of the possible signs or symptoms of COVID-19 previously described.

All staff members involved in administering temperature screenings, including nurses, shall be provided with and shall use necessary PPE.

In the event that a staff member answers “Yes” to a question on the health screening questionnaire and is still in attendance, then the staff member shall be referred for further evaluation by the school nurse. This shall include a second temperature screening using a thermometer. The school nurse shall then follow the procedures for the staff member to be sent home.

Schools shall refer such staff members to a healthcare provider and provide resources on locations in the community where COVID-19 testing is available.

Staff members are required to notify their administrator when they develop symptoms or if their answers to the questionnaire change during or outside school hours. The District shall collect this information through a dedicated email, although staff members are encouraged and expected to contact their immediate administrator.

The District will provide staff members with periodic reminders of the requirement for daily screenings including temperature checks. This will be accomplished by providing weekly or daily reminders such as by email or at staff meetings.

Visitor Screening

Pursuant to NYSED and NYS DOH requirements, the District shall conduct health screenings including a daily temperature check and completion of a screening questionnaire for visitors, contractors, and vendors.

Anyone who has a positive response on the screening questionnaire shall be denied entry to the school or district building.

For visitors, the questionnaire shall be a paper copy available upon entry at each school or building.

The screening questionnaire will determine whether the individual has:

knowingly been in close or proximate contact in the past 14 days with anyone who has tested positive through a diagnostic test for COVID-19 or who has or had symptoms of COVID-19;
tested positive through a diagnostic test for COVID-19 in the past 14 days;
has experienced any symptoms of COVID-19, including a temperature of greater than 100.0°F in the past 14 days: and/or
has traveled internationally or from a state with widespread community transmission of COVID-19 per the New York State Travel Advisory in the past 14 days. More information on the travel advisory can be found at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory

Additional Visitor Screening Procedures

Each school and building in the District shall maintain a log of all visitors to that building. Schools will continue with normal sign-in processes including the use of Raptorware in schools as a safety measure to protect students.

Each school or building will have each visitor, contractor or vendor complete the health self-screening questionnaire form that includes the above. A visitor must answer and attest that they answer “No” to these questions to be allowed access to a District building and/or issued a visitor badge.

This screening form will be collected by the receptionist and secured in a file apart from the regular visitor log to ensure confidentiality. The forms must be maintained until further notice for contact and tracing purposes.

The District shall provide visitor screening forms for all buildings to ensure consistency across the District. These forms will be utilized by all buildings.

Signage will be posted on entry doors used by visitors that outline the screening questions and that visitors must answer “No” to be allowed access. The District shall provide signage to all buildings.

The visitor screening questionnaire form will ask visitors for a current phone number. This is for tracing and contact purposes in the event there is a case of COVID-19 in that building.

Any questions or issues should be referred to an administrator or to Jeff Delorme, the District’s COVID 19 Safety Coordinator, at jdelorme@cppmail.com or at 936-3704, extension 1023.

Instruction of Students and Staff in Hand and Respiratory Hygiene

Written in collaboration with the CPPASD medical director, this protocol should be followed by all staff members.

All staff members will receive instruction on recognizing signs and symptoms of illness in students and the district protocol that requires symptomatic persons to be sent to the school nurse. The initial instruction will be provided via written documents and video presentations created by the head nurse of the district prior to the start of the school year. Periodic reviews will occur throughout the school year to ensure that all staff are up to date on any changes made by the CDC and/or NYSDOH.

The following are signs/symptoms of general illness and the Coronavirus**, per the CDC:

Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell** (specific to Coronavirus only)
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea

Student:

If a student displays any of these illness signs/symptoms, please call the health office to let the school nurse know that there is a student that needs to be assessed.
The school nurse will then send an escort to come to the classroom to get the student and bring them to the health office for assessment.

Staff:

If a staff member displays any of these illness signs/symptoms, please call the health office and notify the school nurse.
The school nurse will work with the building principal to ensure assessment by the school nurse, in a timely manner.

All: If a nurse is not present in the building, ill students and staff will be sent home for follow-up with a healthcare provider.

Social (Physical) Distancing

The District shall follow the NYSDOH, NYSED and CDC guidance concerning social distancing - additionally called “physical distancing” – meaning to keep a six foot space between yourself and others, in all directions.

Pursuant to NYSDOH Guidance, all schools must ensure that appropriate social distancing (i.e. 6 feet/barriers) is maintained between individuals while in school facilities and on school grounds (inclusive of students, faculty, and staff), unless safety or the core activity requires a shorter distance. Schools must maintain protocols and procedures for students, faculty, and staff to ensure appropriate social distancing to protect against the transmission of the COVID-19 virus when on school grounds and in school facilities, including the responsibility to configure spaces so individuals can maintain social distancing.

The District’s schools and departments shall develop and implement building and student management methods and schedules, and enforce social distancing in all school facilities and on school grounds, including transportation.

The District’s adopted instructional schedule and the class assignments set by each school shall ensure that student groupings are as static as possible by having the same group/cohort of students stay together to the greatest extent possible.

Additionally:

The size of groups/cohorts of students have been determined by the number of students who can be in each classroom while maintaining 6 feet social distancing (see prior section on Instructional Capacity).
Arrival and/or dismissal times may be staggered to allow increased social distancing on buses as well as in classrooms. Additional student entry points may be established at schools rather than funneling all students through the same entry space while still maintaining school safety, so as to limit the amount of close contact between students in high-traffic situations and times.
Schools shall follow all safety requirements when considering the use of other entrances and ensure that all entrances are monitored and are locked after use.
Arrival schedules may be changed for students who walk or are dropped off at school by a parent or caregiver to avoid congestion with the arrival of bussing students.
Schools shall establish designated areas for student drop-off and pick-up, limiting contact and entry of parents/guardians into the building, to the greatest extent possible.

In-school movement shall be reduced where possible by keeping students within a defined area or classroom and modifying class schedules or class transitions using these actions:

Whenever possible, the same cohort of students will attend class with the same teacher each day.
Special area teachers (e.g., music, art, physical education) may go to individual classrooms versus rotating all students through a shared space that is not able to be cleaned with each new use.
Whenever possible, hold physical education and music classes outside and encourage students to spread out.
The use of restrooms may be staggered, allowing use at other times when necessary. Bathrooms may be monitored by staff to ensure social distancing, that they are clean, and students are washing hands after use.
Desks shall be turned to face in the same direction rather than facing each other to reduce transmission caused by virus-containing droplets (e.g., from talking, coughing, sneezing);
Open windows to improve ventilation if appropriate. Do not open windows if there is a health or safety risk (e.g., allergies, or potential fall);
Individual student belongings shall be kept separated. The use of shared supplies to one group of students shall be limited or not allowed at all, and supplies shall be cleaned between use by cohorts of students if allowed;
Visual aids and signs shall be used (e.g., painter’s tape, stickers, posters, cones etc.) to illustrate traffic flow and appropriate spacing to support social distancing;
The use of alternate spaces shall be considered (e.g., classroom) for eating lunch and/or breakfast. If an alternate space is not used, classroom groups shall be together in lunchrooms while adhering to the social distancing rules.
The use of classrooms and other places where students, faculty, and staff gather (e.g., lockers, cubbies, entryways, hallways) shall be restricted, so that individuals can be socially distanced.
Lockers and other student storage areas shall be assigned whenever possible by cohort or possibly eliminate their use. However, students shall not carry an unreasonable number of books or materials throughout the day.
Gathering in or the use of small spaces (e.g., elevators, faculty offices) by more than one individual at a time shall be restricted, unless all individuals in such space are wearing acceptable face coverings. However, even with face coverings in use, occupancy should not exceed 50% of the maximum capacity of the space, unless it is designed for use by a single occupant.
Playgrounds will be used with proper safeguards in place. In elementary school settings, playground use shall be staggered rather than allowing multiple classes to play together. Other activities where multiple groups interact shall be limited or not conducted. Students will wash hands before and after touching play structures and shall keep 6 feet of space from other children as much as possible. When possible, visual cues shall be placed that demonstrate physical spacing;
A distance of twelve feet in all directions shall be maintained between all students and staff while participating in activities that require:
- projecting the voice (e.g., singing)
- playing a wind instrument
- aerobic activity resulting in heavy breathing (e.g., participating in gym classes).
Student assemblies, athletic events/practices, performances, and school-wide parent meetings shall not be held until guidance changes. Field trips shall be virtual until guidance changes. Certain in-school events may be converted to a virtual format.
Visitors to school buildings shall be limited and subject to the visitor screening process. Online meetings with parents and other persons will be used when appropriate.

Face Coverings (Masks)

The District and its staff, students and visitors, contractors and vendors shall adhere to all state laws, regulations and guidance related to face coverings.

Definition of Face Coverings

Per NYSDOH Guidance, acceptable face coverings include but are not limited to cloth-based face coverings (e.g. homemade sewn, quick cut, bandana) and surgical masks that cover both the mouth and nose

Cloth face coverings are meant to protect other people in case the wearer is unknowingly infected but does not have symptoms. Cloth face coverings are not surgical masks, respirators, or other medical personal protective equipment.

When Face Coverings Must be Worn

All students, staff members and visitors, contractors and vendors must wear an acceptable face covering any time or place that individuals cannot maintain appropriate social distancing (defined as six feet all directions in most circumstances – see section on Social Distancing)

All individuals in District facilities and on District property must be prepared to put on a face covering if another person unexpectedly cannot socially distance. For this reason, all students, staff members and visitors, contractors and vendors must wear cloth face coverings:

Whenever they are within 6 feet of someone;
In hallways and when traveling moving around the school or building;
In common areas such as entrances and exits and lobbies;
In restrooms; and
In other congregate settings, including on school buses.

When Face Coverings May Be Removed

Face coverings may be removed for instruction when social distancing (defined as six feet in all directions in most circumstances) may be maintained.

Face coverings can be removed for meals when social distancing (defined as six feet in all directions in most circumstances) may be maintained. Students must be six feet apart or be separated by a barrier while consuming meals.

Face coverings may be removed in the school and workplace in settings where social distancing (defined as six feet in all directions in most circumstances) may be maintained.

All students, staff members and visitors, contractors and vendors should be aware that while face coverings are “strongly recommended” by the New York State Department of Health at all times, except for meals and instruction with appropriate social distancing, the District can require face coverings at all times, even during instruction. This is strongly recommended in areas with higher rates of COVID-19 community infection. Therefore if the community rate of infection were to increase and the District was advised or directed by local or state agencies to require face coverings at all times, the District’s allowance of removing masks in situations where social distancing can be maintained – ex. instruction, meals – would have to be altered as a safety measure.

Provision of Face Coverings

The District shall allow students and employees to wear their own acceptable face covering but may not require them to supply their own face coverings.

The District shall provide acceptable face covering to employees (and students if they forget their own) and shall have an adequate supply in case of need for replacement per Executive Order 202.16.

Face coverings should be cleaned or replaced after use and must not be shared. Students and parents/legal guardians as well as employees should take responsibility for maintaining their face coverings.

Accommodations

Employees with healthcare provider documentation stating they are not medically able to tolerate face covering may seek an accommodation for this. (See plan section on Accommodations for Staff)

Students with healthcare provider documentation stating they are not medically able to tolerate face covering may seek an accommodation for this. (See plan section on Accommodations for Students)

Appropriateness of Masks

The District acknowledges that face coverings may be challenging for students (especially younger students) to wear in all-day settings such as school, so scheduling mask breaks is important and shall be done as necessary.

Face coverings should not be placed on:

Children younger than 2 years old;
Students where such covering would impair their health or mental health, or where such covering would present a challenge, distraction, or obstruction to education services and instruction (see section on Student Accommodations);
Anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious; or
Anyone who is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance.

The District and its schools shall instruct students, parents/guardians and staff, contractors and vendors on:

The proper way to wear face coverings;
Washing hands before putting on and after removing their face covering;
Proper way to discard disposable face coverings;
The importance of routine cleaning of reusable face coverings; and
Face coverings are for individual use only and should not be shared.

Information and resources in instructing on the proper use and cleaning of face masks are on the CDC webpage on cloth face coverings.

Students and staff may use alternate PPE (i.e., face coverings that are transparent at or around the mouth) for instruction or interventions that require visualization of the movement of the lips and/or mouths (e.g., speech therapy). These alternate coverings may also be used for certain students (e.g., hearing impaired) who benefit from being able to see more of the face of the staff member.

Mask Breaks

It is expected that face coverings will be challenging for students (especially younger students) to wear in an all-day setting, so scheduling mask breaks is important.

It is anticipated that the need for scheduled mask breaks will be alleviated by allowing students to remove their face coverings during instruction and meals.

However, there may be other times when teachers will need to provide students with short breaks when students may remove their masks, subject to being able to maintain the necessary social distancing requirements while doing so. This will be especially the case if masks were required to be worn during instruction due to a high community infection rate.

In such an event, at the elementary level, each class will be assigned mask breaks approximately every two hours. However, the need may be greater based on the age and needs of students.

At the secondary level, students will be encouraged to take mask breaks, as necessary, when socially distant and/or protected by physical barriers. These will be permissible throughout the school day, including during class, off periods, and at lunch.

The manner in which a mask break might be conducted while maintaining social distancing may include but is not limited to:

during quiet reading or study time in the classroom
while having a class outside

Obtaining and Maintaining Adequate Supplies of Face Coverings and PPE

The District has reviewed and continues to use the OSHA document “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19” which can be found at https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf as foundation for its efforts in maintaining a safe and healthy workplace.

The District is committed to obtaining and maintaining adequate supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including face coverings, respirators (N-95 masks), face shields, eye coverings, gloves, gowns and other necessary materials.

For example, the District has calculated that for a twelve week period, it should have a stock of approximately 105,000 disposable masks on hand.

Having adequate amounts of additional materials related to hand and respiratory hygiene including hand soap, hand sanitizer, dispensing stations, facial tissues, touchless waste cans, cleaning wipes, and other such supplies are also part of the District’s plan. Polycarbonate barriers are also part of the plan.

The District continues to work with its primary supplier to source and obtain these materials. There is currently an adequate supply available. However, the District has identified alternative sources for the supply of these materials if necessary.

Purchasing of these supplies is being done centrally through the District’s Buildings and Grounds department rather than through individual schools.

The exception is that the District’s Pupil Personnel Services Department which oversees school nurses and school health offices shall purchase materials needed for those settings.

Both departments are working collaboratively in this effort with the District’s Business Services office. All purchasing related to the District’s COVID-19 response is being tracked in the event that any avenue for reimbursement becomes available.

Staff Accommodations

Staff members and employees who believe they may need an accommodation in the workplace due to COVID-19 or any other medical reason or disability should contact the Personnel Services office or Jeffrey Delorme, Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services at 607-936-3704, ext. 2723 or at jdelorme@cppmail.com.

Requests for workplace accommodations will be handled pursuant to the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), which addresses whether a person has a disability (physical or mental) which substantially limits a major life activity as compared to most people in the general population. The ADA requires that an employer engage in an interactive process with an employee seeking an accommodation and that each case be handled on an individual basis.

As a general description of the ADA process, the District would go through an individualized assessment with the employee in an interactive manner. This assessment may require an employee to provide medical documentation from a health care provider(s) to determine:

whether the employee needs a reasonable accommodation (in addition to the steps the District has already put in place to keep employees safe and healthy);
what accommodation, if any, is reasonable without taking away essential functions of the job;
whether providing the accommodation would be an undue burden.

Medical providers may suggest but not require a recommended accommodation. It is the employer’s right to determine what accommodation if any is reasonable and appropriate.

Further, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal equal employment opportunity laws, including the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act, continue to apply during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, but they do not interfere with or prevent employers from following the guidelines and suggestions made by the CDC or state/local public health authorities about steps employers should take regarding COVID-19.

Additional resources regarding the ADA can be found at:

The U.S. Department of Labor website at https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/disability/ada
The EEOC website at https://www.eeoc.gov/wysk/what-you-should-know-about-covid-19-and-ada-rehabilitation-act-and-other-eeo-laws
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) website at https://askjan.org/topics/COVID-19.cfm

Additionally, staff members and employees who have situations related to COVID-19 that may require them to take leave from work should contact the Personnel Services office.

There may be federal and/or state laws, such as the federal Families First Coronavirus Relief Act, the Expanded Family and Medical Leave Act and/or New York’s COVID-19 Leave Law, that may be applicable and which may provide certain personal leave or other benefits. Each case will be assessed individually as specific circumstances may factor into a determination of the applicability of these or any other state or federal laws.

Student Accommodations

All students, especially those with special needs or students who are medically fragile, may not be able to maintain social distancing, hand or respiratory hygiene, or wear a face covering or mask. It is important for parents/guardians to discuss with their healthcare providers on how best to meet the child’s needs at school while protecting their health and safety. This information should be shared with your child’s building administrator. The administrator will confer with the district medical director and/or district head nurse in order to guide the school and family to create an appropriate, individualized plan for the student. Transitioning students back to school requires:

Planning and coordination with:
- school health services personnel
- general education personnel
- special education personnel
- other related personnel
- pupil personnel services and
- administration
Being aware that families are already under significant stress and COVID-19 has made their situations more critical.

Alternate plans created in consultation with the district medical director and/or head nurse on how to meet the needs of the child while keeping social distancing may include:

Additional PPE for staff caring for such student;
Assigning only one staff member to care for the student; and/or
Decreased students in a classroom, alternating schedules, and provision of related services to an individual instead of group setting

Individual plans may be outlined in a student’s Individualized Healthcare Plan (IHP), 504 plan, and/or Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Response to a Positive Case of Covid-19 in a School

Required Notification
- All staff members are required to inform their administrator immediately if they have tested positive for COVID-19, pursuant to the District’s screening system.
- Similarly, all students and their parents/guardians are required to inform the school’s designated person immediately if they have tested positive for COVID-19 pursuant to the District’s screening system.

District administrators will in turn immediately notify the District’s COVID-19 Safety Coordinator, Jeffrey Delorme at 607-936-3704, extension 2723 or at jdelorme@cppmail.com, of the notification of a positive case in their school or department.

The District – typically the COVID-19 Safety Coordinator - shall notify the state and Steuben County Public Health Department immediately upon being informed of any positive COVID-19 diagnostic test result by an individual in school facilities or on school grounds, including students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Quarantine and Isolation

The District is aware that the State and local health departments will implement monitoring and movement restrictions of COVID-19 infected or exposed persons, including isolation or quarantine.

The District will then work with the Steuben County Public Health Department to ensure that reporting plans are in place for individuals who are alerted that they have come into close or proximate contact with a person with COVID-19, and that they have been alerted to such exposure via tracing, tracking or other mechanism.

Tracing Support

In the case of an individual testing positive, the District shall support and cooperate with the Steuben County Public Health Department in tracing all contacts of the individual, in accordance with the protocols, training, and tools provided through the New York State Contact Tracing Program. Confidentiality must be maintained as required by federal and state law and regulations. The District acknowledges its responsibility to cooperate with the state and local health department in contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine efforts.

More information on the state’s contact tracing program can be found at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/new-york-state-contact-tracing

Cleaning and Disinfection Following Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Case

It is assumed that in the event of a positive case that a school or building will be closed for sufficient time to allow implementation of the necessary cleaning and disinfecting. However, while the District is not required to completely close a school or building if it can close off the affected areas (e.g., classroom, restroom, hallway), the District shall always consult with the Steuben County Public Health Department in responding to any case.

The District shall provide for the cleaning and disinfection of exposed areas in the event an individual is confirmed to have COVID-19, with such cleaning and disinfection to include, at a minimum, all heavy transit areas and high-touch surfaces.

The District shall also follow the CDC guidelines on “Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility,” https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html if someone is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 which include:

Close off areas used by the person who is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19.
Open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in the area.
Wait 24 hours before you clean and disinfect, unless waiting 24 hours is not feasible, in which case, wait as long as possible.
Clean and disinfect all areas used by the person suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19, such as offices, classrooms, bathrooms, lockers, and common areas.
Once the area has been appropriately cleaned and disinfected, it can be reopened for use. This will be done in consultation with the state and local health department.
Individuals without close or proximate contact with the person suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 can return to the area and resume school activities immediately after cleaning and disinfection.
If more than seven days have passed since the person who is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 visited or used the facility, additional cleaning and disinfection is not necessary, but routine cleaning and disinfection should continue.

The District shall consult with the state and local health department on the determination to resume school or operations after a closure due to a positive case of COVID-19.

Return to School of a Student or Staff Member Following Illness

The District and its schools shall follow CDC guidance for allowing a student or staff member to return to school after exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.

The District shall also follow the NYS DOH “Interim Guidance for Public and Private Employees Returning to Work Following COVID-19 Infection or Exposure” regarding protocols and policies for faculty and staff seeking to return to work after a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 or after the faculty or staff member had close or proximate contact with a person with COVID-19. That guidance is available at: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2020/06/doh_covid19_publicprivateemployeereturntowork_053120.pdf

If a person is not diagnosed by a healthcare provider (physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant) with COVID-19, they can return to school:

Once there is no fever, without the use of fever reducing medicines, and they have felt well for 72 hours;
If they have been diagnosed with another condition and have a healthcare provider written note stating they are clear to return to school.

If a person is diagnosed with COVID-19 by a healthcare provider based on a test or their symptoms or does not get a COVID-19 test but has had symptoms, they should not be at school and should stay at home until:

It has been at least ten days since the individual first had symptoms;
It has been at least three days (72 hours) since the individual has had a fever (without using fever reducing medicine); and
It has been at least three days since the individual’s symptoms improved, including cough and shortness of breath.

The District’s returning to learning (students) or return to work (employees) protocol shall typically include at a minimum:

documentation from a health care provider evaluation and,

negative COVID-19 testing, and
symptom resolution,
if COVID-19 positive, release from isolation.

The CDC provides specific guidance for individuals who are on home isolation regarding when the isolation may end. This can be found at the CDC’s website - Discontinuation of Isolation for Persons with COVID-19 Not in Healthcare Settings. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/disposition-in-home-patients.html

The District is aware that the NYSED and the NYS DOH have stated that the CDC recommendations for discontinuing isolation in persons known to be infected with COVID-19 could, in some circumstances, appear to conflict with recommendations on when to discontinue quarantine for persons known to have been exposed to COVID-19. CDC recommends 14 days of quarantine after exposure based on the time it may take to develop illness if infected. Thus, it is possible that a person known to be infected could leave isolation earlier than a person who is quarantined because of the possibility they are infected.

Therefore, in all cases, the District shall work in collaboration with the Steuben County Public Health Department and the District’s Chief School Physician to determine when a staff member or student may return to school under these circumstances.

Covid-19 Testing

The District shall follow and comply with NYSED and CDC guidance in that the District shall not conduct COVID-19 testing itself nor shall the District require testing or antibody testing of students or staff members. The decision of whether a test needs to be conducted should be determined by a healthcare provider or the Steuben County Department of Health. Additional guidance from the CDC on this can be found at CDC Interim Considerations for K-12 School Administrators for SARS-CoV-2 Testing - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-testing.html

The District shall work collaboratively with the Steuben County Public Health Department Schools to help staff, students and families identify who in the community is responsible for referring, sourcing, and administering testing (e.g., local health department testing site, physician offices, local hospital system) particularly in the event that large-scale testing at a school is needed.

Staff who consider testing for COVID-19 on their own initiative will be directed to consult with their healthcare provider and/or to use the NYS Department of Health website, https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/find-test-site-near-you

Cleaning and Disinfecting Schools

The District has implemented and will continue to follow the CDC protocols entitled Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/reopen-guidance.html.

That provides specific guidance for schools along with the Cleaning and Disinfection Decision Tool to aid in determining what level of cleaning and/or disinfection is necessary. School wide cleaning must include classrooms, restrooms, cafeterias, libraries, playgrounds, and busses. The guidance provides a general framework for cleaning and disinfection practices.

The framework is based on doing the following:

Normal routine cleaning with soap and water will decrease how much of the virus is on surfaces and objects, which reduces the risk of exposure;
Disinfection using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved disinfectants against COVID-19. Where disinfectants are used, products should be registered with EPA and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Frequent disinfection of surfaces and objects touched by multiple people is important;
When EPA-approved disinfectants are not available, alternative disinfectants can be used (e.g., 1/3 cup of bleach added to 1 gallon of water or 70% alcohol solutions). Do not mix bleach or other cleaning and disinfection products together. This can cause fumes that may be extremely dangerous to breathe in. Keep all disinfectants out of the reach of children;
Schools must identify cleaning and disinfection frequency for each facility and area type; and
Schools must maintain logs that include the date, time, and scope of cleaning and disinfection in a facility or area.

In addition, the District has worked with representatives of the Hillyard Company to assess the District’s schools and all spaces within them to create a cleaning and disinfecting plan for each school, including necessary levels of staffing necessary to achieve the plan. The District has then staffed each school to the necessary level, but is prepared to add supplemental temporary staff if needed.

The District’s cleaning plans include considerations regarding the safety of custodial staff and other people who are carrying out the cleaning or disinfection. As mentioned above, additional staff may need to be trained and employed on a temporary basis in order to disinfect areas frequently.

For more information on concerns related to cleaning safety, including training staff, can be found at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s website on Control and Prevention at https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/controlprevention.html.

The District’s plan addresses high touch surfaces which should be cleaned and disinfected frequently throughout the day. Examples of high touch surfaces include:

Tables;
Doorknobs;
Light switches;
Countertops;
Handles;
Desks;
Phones;
Keyboards and tablets;
Toilets and restrooms; and
Faucets and sinks.

Cleaning and disinfection are the primary responsibility of the school’s custodial staff. However, the District may also choose to provide appropriate cleaning and disinfection supplies to faculty and staff for shared and frequently touched surfaces, especially in one’s own classroom or work area.

Students shall not be present when disinfectants are in use and shall not participate in cleaning and/or disinfection activities.

The District has established and maintained a schedule for cleaning and/or changing heating/air conditioning system filters. Opening windows, if it can be done safely, and conducting classes outdoors are other possible strategies to increase airflow.

Electronics

The District has and will continue to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and disinfection of electronic devices such as laptops, iPads or Chromebooks, keyboards and computer mice, etc., between use.

In some cases, the District has and will continue to use wipeable covers for electronics. This option will be expanded as supplies become available.

The District uses alcohol-based wipes or spray having at least 70% alcohol per the CDC Guidance. Surfaces are then dried thoroughly to avoid the pooling of liquids.

Other Areas

Musical instruments, especially wind instruments, should not be shared. If an instrument of any kind is shared, such as a percussion instrument, the instruments should be cleaned between use per the manufacturer’s directions.

Playgrounds should be cleaned per CDC guidance, which states:

outdoor areas, like playgrounds in schools and parks generally require normal routine cleaning, but do not require disinfection
do not spray disinfectant on outdoor playgrounds- it is not an efficient use of supplies and is not proven to reduce risk of COVID-19 to the public
high touch surfaces made of plastic or metal, such as grab bars and railings should be cleaned routinely
cleaning and disinfection of wooden surfaces (play structures, benches, tables) or groundcovers (mulch, sand) is not recommended
sidewalks and roads should not be disinfected.
shared athletic/gym equipment (e.g., balls, protective gear) should be cleaned between use per manufacturer’s directions.

School Health Office Cleaning

The District has set protocols for the cleaning of school health offices which states that cleaning must occur after each use of:

Cots;
Bathroom; and
Health office equipment (e.g. blood pressure cuffs, otoscopes, stethoscopes, etc.) should be cleaned following manufacturer’s directions.

District health office staff will use disposable items as much as possible including:

Disposable pillow protectors; or
Disposable thermometers, or disposable thermometer sheaths or probes, and disposable otoscope specula.

The District has and will continue to follow the guidance regarding cleaning in school health offices from the New York State Center for School Health website under COVID-19 at https://www.schoolhealthny.com/

Required Safety Drills

The District will ensure compliance with Education Law § 807 that requires that all schools conduct eight (8) evacuation and four (4) lockdown drills each school year. Evacuation drills are most typically done as “fire drills”. In addition, the NYS Fire Code requires that an evacuation drill be conducted monthly for a total of ten (10) drills for the school year.

Further, since the District’s model for in-person instruction has students divided into two separate groups for attendance on different days, each school shall conduct sufficient drills so that each group of students has the required number of safety drills. That is, schools will conduct ten (10) evacuation drills (one per month) and four (4) lockdown drills - as well as any other District-directed drills (ex. Lockout, shelter in place, hold in place) for each of the two groups of students.

Consideration will be given to how schools may modify their drill procedures to minimize risk of spreading infection. Conducting drills is an important part of keeping students and staff safe in an emergency, however, steps will be taken to minimize the risk of spreading infection while conducting drills. As such, it will be necessary for schools to conduct drills in the 2020-21 school year using protocols that are different than they are used to.

However, regardless of the modifications used when conducting a drill, students and staff will be instructed that if it was an actual emergency that required evacuation or lockdown or other necessary response, the most imminent concern is to get to safety; maintaining social distancing in an actual emergency that requires evacuation or lockdown may not be possible and should not be the first priority.

Lock Down Drill Modifications

Lockdown Drills will be modified as follows:

Lockdown will be conducted on a scheduled, school-wide basis with the drill announced to the school and the entire school participating at the same time. However, the drills will be carried out in classrooms without “hiding” or “sheltering”. Instead, teachers and faculties will provide instruction as to how students should react in an actual situation, including how to shelter or hide in the classroom.
Drills will be scheduled so that students in different attendance groups each receive the required number of drills.

These modifications shall continue until such time that social distancing and face coverings are no longer necessary.

Evacuation (Fire) Drill Modifications

Modifications to evacuation (fire) drill protocols will include, but are not limited to:

It will be required that the drill be conducted with all students in the school building on that school day. Therefore, it may be necessary to extend the class period for this purpose.
Drills will be conducted on a school side basis in which the fire alarm is sounded so as to familiarize students with the sound of the alarm and how to respond appropriately.
Drills will be pre-announced so that students can be prepared for leaving the classroom and entering hallways and common areas which require the use of a face covering.
Each school will review its current evacuation plan, and may develop and use a modified evacuation plan so as to reduce congestion in evacuation points if necessary.
Drills will be scheduled so that students in different attendance groups each receive the required number of drills.
These modifications shall continue until such time that social distancing and face coverings are no longer necessary.

District COVID-19 Safety Coordinator

The District has designated Jeffrey Delorme, Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services, as the COVID-19 Safety Coordinator. His contact information is:

Jeffrey Delorme

Corning-Painted Post District Administration Building

165 Charles Street, Painted Post, NY 14870

Phone:607-936-3704, extension 2723

E-mail: jdelorme@cppmail.com

District COVID-19 Resource Person

The District has designated Anne Stefanini, RN, Head Nurse, as the District’s COVID-19 Resource Person.

Anne Stefanini

Corning-Painted Post District Administration Building

165 Charles Street, Painted Post, NY 14870

Phone:607-936-3704

E-mail: astefanini@cppmail.com

FACILITIES

As required by the New York State Education Department, C-PP will:

ensure that changes or additions to facilities will comply with the requirements of the 2020 New York State Fire Prevention and Building Code (BC) and the State Energy Conservation Code and submit all changes to the OFP.
compliance with the 2020 Building Condition Survey and Visual Inspection, where applicable
conduct Lead-In-Water Testing as required by NYS DOH regulation 67-4.
ensure all existing and new Alcohol-based Hand-Rub Dispensers which are installed in any location are in accordance with FCNYS 2020 Section 5705.5.
ensure that detailed floor plans involving installation of dividers in classrooms, libraries, cafeterias, auditoriums, gymnasiums, doors, and other points of congregation will be submitted to OFP for review.
ensure that all new building construction and temporary quarter projects will be submitted to OFP for full code review.
consult with OFP for a preliminary evaluation prior to leasing new facilities.
provide plans adhering to BCNYS for the temporary or permanent use of Tents.
ensure that the existing or altered number of toilet and sink fixtures meets the minimum standards of the BCNYS.
ensure that each building provides one drinking fountain per one hundred occupants or we will provide a written plan for a reasonable alternate source of drinking water.
provide written plans on how to maintain adequate, code required ventilation (natural or mechanical) as designated.
ensure that all project submissions only dedicated to “COVID-19 Reopening” will be labeled as such.
ensure that the use of plastic separators will comply with the 2020 BCNYS Section 2606.

The C-PP Area School District Operations Department encompasses the Facilities, Transportation, and Child Nutrition components of the C-PP Area School District Reopening Plan. The C-PP Area School District developed a communications plan for students, parents or legal guardians of students, staff, and visitors that includes applicable instructions, training, signage, and a consistent means to provide individuals with information.

Training

Hazard Communication/Right-To-Know (annual)
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Exposure Control/Blood borne Pathogen (BBP)
Respirator Training (N 95 masks)
COVID Awareness
- New cleaning Protocols
- Hand washing
- Face Covering (sizing, use, wear & care)
- Personal Health and Hygiene
- Respiratory Etiquette
- Special working conditions with face coverings (strenuous activity)

Required personal protective equipment (PPE)

Disposable gloves
Face Covering
Face Shield (if required)
Respirator (N 95 masks)
Gown/Apron (if applicable)

Roles and responsibilities

Supervisor (Head and Sole Custodians)

Create weekly and bi-weekly plans per guidance
Inventory necessary materials and supply chain for cleaning, disinfecting, and preventing spread of disease
Conduct a facility walkthrough to ensure that the classrooms, offices, common spaces, and the exterior are ready for staff and students
Provide training to staff members on operating procedures, proper cleaning techniques, proper use of chemicals and personal protective equipment
Provide ongoing communication and feedback to staff on a weekly basis
Participate in planning meetings as needed

Cleaning & Maintenance staff

Maintain social distancing as much as possible
Wear face coverings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain
Use all chemical cleaners and disinfectants in the manner recommended by the manufacturer and your supervisor
Wear all required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when cleaning and using chemicals
Follow CDC Guidelines for Cleaning and Disinfecting
Wash hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropyl alcohol.

Cleaning Procedures

The Corning-Painted Post Area School District will adhere to hygiene and sanitation requirements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Department of Health (DOH) and maintain cleaning logs on site that document the date, time, and scope of cleaning:

A cleaning log will be maintained in the office of the head or sole custodian of each school. The head and sole custodian will be responsible for maintaining the cleaning log, which will include the date, time and scope of cleaning for each area.
Handwashing stations for personnel, including handwashing with soap, water, and paper towels, or an alcohol-based sanitizer containing 60% or more alcohol for areas where handwashing is not feasible, will be provided in restrooms used by faculty and staff.
Employees will be provided with training to promote healthy hygiene practices and will ask supervisors for more information as needed. Teachers will provide demonstrations and instruct students on healthy hygiene practices.
- This will include:
  - Proper handwashing techniques
  - Use of hand sanitizer
  - Respiratory etiquette, including covering coughs and sneezes
  - Proper use of cloth face coverings
  - Encouraging staff and students to use the self-assessment and stay at home when they are sick

Signs shall be posted on how to stop the spread of COVID-19, properly wash hands, promote everyday protective measures, and properly wear a face covering:

Classroom, office area, common areas signage:
- Post CDC Handwashing Poster
- Post CDC Cover Your Cough Poster
- CDC Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19
Restrooms:
- Post CDC Handwashing Poster
- Post CDC Stop the Spread of Germs Poster
Building entry door signage
- Post CDC Stay Home if You Are Sick Poster

Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols

The Asst. Supt. for School Operations and the Head Building Maintenance Mechanic will formulate, review, and distribute written protocol to clean and disinfect each school following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance to Building Administration and the Head/Sole Custodian.

Cleaning protocols, procedures, and frequencies are in compliance with applicable regulatory guidelines. All custodial staff have been trained in District procedures. Adequate supplies are located at each school. Staff have been trained in appropriate PPE and PPE supplies are readily available in all schools.

Tasks, Frequencies & High Touch Spots

Category One- Enhanced – High Touch Areas and Items

High Touch Areas will be cleaned and disinfected 1x day when school is in session
- After all Students are in their classrooms (school day)
- After student dismissal (Afternoon)
High Touch Areas shall be cleaned and disinfected 1X day when students are NOT in the building. (evening)

Enhanced - High Touch cleaning and disinfection will include the following:

Door Handles, Push Plates and Crash Bars
Elevator buttons
Cafeteria tables
Handrails
Office Counters
Refill Stations
Restroom Check*

Category Two - Routine Cleaning and Disinfection

Routine Daily Cleaning/Disinfection tasks will take place after the end of classes for the day. It will include the following:

All high contact surfaces
Classroom and office furniture
Light switches
Remove Trash and trash can
Dust and wet mop or auto scrub floors
Clean all restrooms
Wipe Heat and air conditioner vents
Spot clean walls
Spot clean carpets
Dust horizontal surfaces and light fixtures
Spills
Vacuum entryways and high traffic areas
Countertops
Water dispensers
Mirrors and Glass
Desks, Tables, Chairs, and Phones

Restroom Checks

Faucet handles
Toilet and urinal flusher
Soap Dispensers
Paper Towel Dispensers
Toilet Seats
Door latches/handles/push plates

General Cleaning

Ensure all cleaning staff have been trained on any new PPE, cleaning products and techniques
Ensure safe and correct application of disinfectants and keep products away from children
Ensure the facility has been cleaned/disinfected as per current NYSDOH/CDC protocols and that all high touch surfaces are routinely cleaned/disinfected (document and define frequency)
Clean surfaces using detergent or soap and water. Practice routine cleaning of frequently-touched surfaces

General Disinfecting

Clean the area or item with detergent or soap and water.
Use EPA-registered disinfectant. Follow the instructions on the label to ensure safe and effective use of the product.
Keep surfaces wet for the entire contact time (see product label)
Take precautions such as wearing proper PPE and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product
Diluted bleach solutions may also be used if appropriate for the surface
Check the label to see if your bleach is intended for disinfection, and ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Some bleaches, such as those designed for safe use on colored clothing or for whitening may not be suitable for disinfection
Unexpired bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Never mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser
Leave bleach solution on the surface for at least 1 minute
Soft Surfaces - Clean the surface using detergent or soap and water

Regular Cleaning and Disinfecting will Occur at Least Daily

The District is using New York State Registered EPA disinfectants.
When surfaces are dirty, clean them. The District cleaning schedule should be followed. Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection. Then, use a household disinfectant. Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work.

Cleaning

Clean surfaces using detergent or soap and water, then use disinfectant.
Cleaning with detergent or soap and water reduces the number of germs, dirt and impurities on the surface. Disinfectants kill germs on surfaces.
Practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces. High touch surfaces include: Tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc.
Store and use disinfectants in a responsible and appropriate manner according to the label. Do not mix bleach or other cleaning and disinfection products together–this can cause fumes that may be very dangerous. Keep all disinfectants out of the reach of children.
Do not overuse or stockpile disinfectants or other supplies. This can result in shortages of appropriate products for others to use in critical situations.
Always wear gloves appropriate for the chemicals being used when you are cleaning and disinfecting. Additional personal protective equipment (PPE) may be needed based on setting and product. .
Soft Surfaces - Clean the surface using soap and water or with cleaners appropriate for use on these surfaces.

Classroom Cleaning

Trained Custodial staff will be responsible for heavier cleaning and disinfecting within classrooms.
Teachers, Teaching Assistants, and Aides will be provided appropriate cleaning supplies for light cleaning areas within the classrooms they are assigned.
Cleaning supplies will be stored out of reach of children and are not to be used by any students, regardless of age.
All students are expected to pick up after themselves and then wash their hands.
Schedule (at least daily) cleaning and disinfecting of touched surfaces during the regular school day. Cleaning and disinfecting should include frequently touched surfaces (PE equipment, door handles, sink handles) and shared objects (toys, games, art supplies) between uses. Consider scheduling this task early morning and late afternoon, ensuring adequate contact time for the disinfection.
In order to facilitate cleaning and disinfection, classroom materials must be removed and be put away by the teacher and students at the end of the school day
Frequency of room cleaning should be greater than the regular cleaning schedule/rotation

Restroom Cleaning

Signs will be placed in restrooms for hand washing reminders after using the restroom.
Paper towels will be provided in restrooms.
Open top trash cans will be provided.
Restrooms will be cleaned, properly disinfected and restocked at least daily.

Cafeteria Cleaning

Clean and disinfect lunch tables regularly (at least once daily)
Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces including but not limited to:
- Bottle fillers
- Door handles and push plates
- Light switches
- All trash receptacles emptied and trash removed from area
Floors fully mopped
Window in the door is cleaned at minimum once per week
Walls are spot cleaned
Clean/Disinfect sink and toilet area if applicable
Re-stock all paper and soap products
Clean Baseboards - Weekly
Clean Light Fixtures - Weekly
Replace Lights (as necessary)

Electronics Cleaning

For shared electronics, such as tablets, touch screens, keyboards, and remote controls.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning and disinfecting.
- If no guidance, use provided cleaning wipes or sprays containing the approved bleach to water mixture . Dry the surface thoroughly.

Health Office Cleaning

Nurse’s Offices need to be thoroughly cleaned on a regular, defined basis. Cleaning of this area must occur at least daily.

Clean the area, use an EPA-registered disinfectant/cleaner. (EPA's list of products for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19)
Follow the instructions on the label to ensure safe and effective use of the product.
Keep the surface wet with disinfectant for the entire contact time (see product label for dwell time). Precautions such as appropriate PPE and making sure you have good ventilation should be followed during use of the product
Soft Surfaces - Clean the surface using soap and water or with cleaners appropriate for use on these surfaces
Clean and disinfect health cots after each student use
Discard or launder coverings after each use
Cover treatment tables and use pillow protectors
Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces (for example):
- Desks and chairs
- Door handles and push plates
- Bathroom faucets
- Light switches
- Shared telephones
- Shared desktops
- Shared computer keyboards and mice
All trash receptacles emptied and trash removed from the room
Tables and furniture wiped clean, counter tops, high and low dusting
Window in the door is cleaned daily or at least once per week
Walls are spot cleaned
Clean/Disinfect sinks and toilet area

Laundry

Laundering and cleaning (if possible) of the isolation curtains in the Nurse’s Office regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Use the warmest appropriate water setting and dry items completely or disinfect with an EPA-registered disinfectant.

Dirty laundry from a person who is sick may be washed with other people’s items. Do not shake dirty laundry
Clean and disinfect clothes hampers according to guidance above for surfaces.
Remove gloves and wash hands right away

Procedures for Cleaners

Cleaning/disinfecting procedure

Appropriate cleaners:

Surface cleaner

Spray bottle*
Bucket

*Spray bottle recommended to minimize cross contamination

Disinfect and Clean:

Wear disposable gloves or any other required PPE to clean and disinfect
Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces
Clean surfaces using an appropriate cleaner/ disinfectant making sure you produce friction on the surface
Take all precautions on the label such as PPE, and safe handling procedures
Use EPA-registered disinfectant/cleaner. Follow the instructions on the label to ensure safe and effective use of the product. Many products recommend:
- Keeping the surface wet for the entire contact/dwell time (see product label)
- Precautions such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product
Change out cleaning cloths (microfiber) often or use disposable products
Cleaning reduces the number of germs, dirt and impurities on the surface. Friction action breaks biofilm on any virus allowing disinfectant to contact the area
Cleaning and disinfecting with our approved disinfectant cleaner is a one step process.
Practice routine cleaning of frequently-touched surfaces. Be sure not to miss high touch surfaces (i.e. PE equipment, door handles, sink handles, drinking fountains) and shared objects (toys, games, art supplies
Diluted bleach solutions may also be used if appropriate for the surface

⅓ cup bleach per gallon of water - highly concentrated solutions may result in adverse health effects, discoloration and residue
Bleach solutions should be made fresh and not kept for more than 24 hours
Check the label to see if your bleach is intended for disinfection, and ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Some bleaches, such as those designed for safe use on colored clothing or for whitening may not be suitable for disinfection
Unexpired bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation
Never mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser
Leave solution on the surface for at least 1 minute

Disinfection of Contaminated Areas

To ensure the school district and its employees comply with cleaning and disinfection requirements, the Corning-Painted Post Area School District will do the following:

Maintain a log for cleaning, disinfect potentially contaminated areas in the event of a positive case.

In the case of a person testing positive for COVID-19, guidelines from CDC and Steuben County Dept. of Health will be followed regarding cleaning and disinfecting the building/facility::

Wait 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting. If 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible.
Clean and disinfect all areas used by the person who is sick, such as offices, bathrooms, common areas, shared electronic equipment like tablets, touch screens, keyboards, remote controls, machines, etc.
Vacuum the space if needed. Use a vacuum equipped with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, if available.
Do not vacuum a room or space that has people in it. Wait until the room or space is empty to vacuum, such as at night, for common spaces, or during the day for private rooms.
Temporarily turn off room fans and the central HVAC system that services the room or space, so that particles that escape from vacuuming will not circulate throughout the facility.
Once the area has been disinfected, it can be opened for use.
Continue routine cleaning and disinfection. This includes everyday practices that businesses and communities normally use to maintain a healthy environment.

Communication

Signs will be posted throughout the schools to remind personnel and students to adhere to proper hygiene, physical distancing rules, appropriate use of PPE, and cleaning and disinfecting protocols.
Communication and updates for employees, visitors, and parents/guardians will occur through:
- Website
- Email
- Social Media

*C-PP Area School District has in stock and will continue to purchase New York State Registered EPA Disinfectant that is identified as effective against COVID-19 on the New York State Registered Disinfectant EPA List. A list will be provided upon request.

Building Considerations

HVAC System

The C-PP Area School District Operations Department will consult with representatives from Welliver Construction, HUNT Engineers, Architects and Surveyors, and Day Automation to develop written plans to maintain adequate, code required ventilation (natural or mechanical) as designated.

Building ventilation systems will be evaluated and adjusted to run according to optimal manufacturer recommendations.
Occupied areas will be provided with mechanical ventilation of at least 15 cfm per occupant of outside air during periods of occupancy
Ventilation and air filtering capacity may be increased, within design parameters, as needed.
Verify that systems can handle changes such as:
- An increase in MERV filter ratings
- Switching operating schedules to meet needs of the space

*It is recommended that buildings run HVAC systems in occupied mode, in all areas, for a week prior to employees returning to the building.

HVAC Information

Filters consist of media with porous structures of fibers or stretched membrane material to remove particles from airstreams. Some filters have a static electrical charge applied to the media to increase particle removal. The fraction of particles removed from air passing through a filter is termed “filter efficiency” and is provided by the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) under standard conditions.

Filter Type

Efficiency

MERV 1-7

20% to 69% of large particles are captured

MERV 8-10

85% of large particles and 50% of small particles are captured

MERV 11-16

90% of large particles and between 70% and 90% of small particles are captured

*Increased filter efficiency generally results in increased pressure drop through the filter. Ensure HVAC systems can handle filter upgrades without negative impacts to pressure differentials and/or air flow rates prior to changing filters.

Overall effectiveness of reducing particle concentrations depends on several factors:

Filter efficiency
Airflow rate through the filter
Size of the particles
Location of the filter in the HVAC system

When selecting the correct air filter for our HVAC system, higher is not always better. Using an air filter with a MERV rating higher than what your furnace or air conditioner manufacturer recommends can actually impair its performance.

The smaller pores in more highly rated air filters create resistance to air flow, and if the filter is used in an HVAC system that it is not designed to handle this resistance, it can lower the systems efficiency, decrease indoor air quality, and put strain on the systems fan.

The following strategies will be implemented to maximize the air quality in District buildings:

Comprehensive cleaning practices
Education and awareness related to social distancing and proper hygiene
Monitoring relative humidity by managing the mix of outside air and return air
Increase outside air
Install the highest rated MERV filter that is compatible with the HVAC system
Follow the filter change schedule and procedures

*Filtration in building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can be a part of an overall risk mitigation approach, but is not generally regarded as a solution by itself.

HVAC Servicing

For HVAC systems suspected to be contaminated with SARS-CoV-2, it is not necessary to suspend HVAC system maintenance, including filter changes, but additional safety precautions should be taken. The risks associated with handling filters contaminated with coronaviruses in ventilation systems under field-use conditions have not been evaluated. Workers performing maintenance and/or replacing filters on any ventilation system with the potential for viral contamination should wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

A properly-fitted respirator (N95 or higher)
Eye protection (safety glasses, goggles or face shield)
Disposable gloves
Upon completion, immediately wash hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer

*When feasible, filters can be disinfected with a 10% bleach solution or another appropriate disinfectant, approved for use against SARS-CoV-2, before removal. Filters (disinfected or not) can be bagged and disposed of in regular trash.

Fire Prevention and Building Code

GST BOCES Health & Safety Compliance Specialist and C-PP Area School District Operations Department will conduct inspections for compliance at all sites.

The District reopening plan includes the following compliance measures:
- Changes or additions to facilities comply with the requirements of the 2020 New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code
- Compliance with the 2020 Building Condition Survey and Visual Inspection, where applicable with changes submitted for review to the OFP
- The District does not intend to use tents and thereby does not need to provide plans to the BCNYS
- All classrooms and office areas comply with the 2020 BCNYS Section 2606

Water Systems

The C-PP Area School District Lead-In-Water Testing as required by NYSDOH regulation 67-4 is scheduled to be completed by the end of the 2020 calendar year, and is required to be completed during a span when the sites are occupied by students. The GST BOCES Health and Safety Compliance Specialist and the C-PP Area School District Operations Department will coordinate and conduct the testing. At this time, the schedule hasn’t been adjusted by NYSDOH. We are prepared to honor the current timeline.

*The building water distribution system and all outlets shall be flushed for at least 10 minutes before buildings are reoccupied.

Toilet and Sink Fixtures

The Corning-Painted Post Area School District Operations Department and the GST BOCES Health and Safety Compliance Specialist will ensure that the existing or altered number of toilet and sink fixtures meets the minimum standards of the BCNYS. In accordance with the reduced in-person student enrollment, the District plan includes a reduction in toilets and sink fixtures for social distancing purposes and increased cleaning efficiency.

Bubblers and Drinking Fountains

The Corning-Painted Post Area School District Operations Department will ensure that each building provides one drinking fountain per one hundred occupants or will provide a written plan for a reasonable alternate source of drinking water.

Bubblers and fountains will not be used to reduce the spread of the virus. All bubblers in the district will be capped or replaced with a water filler at all current locations in every building. The District will provide every in-person student with a water bottle and disposable paper cup stations near water fillers. Water bottles and disposable paper cups should not be shared and will be monitored by administration, faculty, and staff.

Construction Projects

Corning-Painted Post Area School District Operations Department and School Business Official will ensure that all new building construction and temporary quarter projects will be submitted to OFP for full code review. The District will communicate and consult with Welliver Construction, HUNT Engineers, Architecture, and Surveyors, and Day Automation.

Construction workers shall wear face covering/masks at all times when not able to social distance. A positive COVID 19 test result will result in co-workers under quarantine and the site temporarily closed. This can negatively impact the project timeline and coordination with other subcontractors, as well as the final project cost. Social distance protocol is a priority at the construction site.
Construction employee attendance and daily log is monitored by the prime contractor.
All employees are subject to their company screening protocol. All information and record-keeping is conducted and stored by the construction company. A daily log is available upon request and can be used for contact tracing if necessary.

CHILD NUTRITION

As required by the New York State Education Department, C-PP will:

provide all students with access to school meals each school day. This must include students in attendance at school; and students earning remotely.
address all applicable health and safety guidelines. Staff will be trained The standard operating procedures to comply with these guidelines.
provide all students enrolled in the School Food Authority with access to school meals each school day. This includes students in attendance at school and students learning remotely.
address all applicable health and safety guidelines.
ensure measures to protect students with food allergies if providing meals in spaces outside the cafeteria.
ensure protocols and procedures for how students will perform hand hygiene before and after eating, how appropriate hand hygiene will be promoted, and how sharing of food and beverages will be discouraged
ensure protocols and procedures for cleaning and disinfection prior to the next group of students arriving for meals, if served in the same common area.
ensure compliance with Child Nutrition Program requirements.
ensure protocols for food service communication with families through multiple means in the languages spoken by families.
ensure that students adhere to social distance (six feet separation) while consuming meals in school unless a physical barrier is provided.

The District will provide all students enrolled in the School Food Authority with access to school meals each school day. This includes students in attendance at school and students learning remotely.

Health and Safety

The District will ensure that students adhere to social distance while consuming meals in school unless a physical barrier is provided.
The District will plan to limit the number of students in our dining facilities to ensure proper social distancing.
Students and staff will be required to wear masks while not seated for dinning.
The District will limit the hands-on interaction between food items, use one time disposable service were, and utensils. Food items will be individually packaged to provide student choice while promoting appropriate hygiene.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

The District will ensure protocols and procedures for cleaning and disinfection prior to the next group of students arriving for meals, if served in the same common area. The District will schedule additional cleaners and staff to each dining facility to ensure that areas are disinfected prior to and after usage.

Proper Hygiene

The District will ensure protocols and procedures for how students will perform hand hygiene before and after eating, how appropriate hand hygiene will be promoted, and how sharing of food and beverages will be discouraged. The District will install signage in our dining facilities to provide guidance on appropriate hygiene, discouragement of food sharing and promotion of recommended practices.

Remote Meals

The District will provide access to meals remotely for families who are attending remotely or not scheduled for in-person instruction. A detailed meal plan will be communicated to all families via our school website.

Expectations

Student

Students will be expected to follow campus guidelines for cafeteria procedures.
Students will be seated according to a seating plan for students consistent with social distancing guidelines
All students are expected to wash hands or use hand sanitizer prior to entering the cafeteria.
Students are encouraged to read and adhere to the expectations and posted directional prompts/signs to ensure for proper social distancing.
At schools with open lunch, students are required to wash hands or use hand sanitizer upon their return to school.

Parent

At this time, due to COVID-19, mealtime visitors will not be permitted in the school cafeterias.
Parents are encouraged to speak to their children about safety protocols and social distancing.
Parents are asked to read and be familiar with all school communication regarding health and safety protocols.
Parents should talk to their students about COVID-19 symptoms and prevention strategies.

Staff

Signs will be posted on the walls and floor to ensure appropriate social distancing in cafeteria lines.
A seating plan for students will be followed for social distancing.
Assigned staff will supervise students in cafeteria lines, direct students to open seats, and ensure that students maintain desired social distance.
A seating plan for students will be followed for social distancing.
Teachers will monitor students while in the cafeteria to ensure social distancing.
Staff will ensure to maintain a student consistent cohort for “in person” lunches.

We ensure the following:

1. The District will provide all enrolled students with meal access in-person or learning remotely. The School Food Authority will utilize a combination of socially distanced dining with cafeteria pick up. The district will work to coordinate with families learning remotely to provide meals to eligible students using available waivers from NYSED/USDA for flexibility.

2. The District cafeteria team will collaborate with the district facilities department safety and health guidelines. The district will facilitate social distancing and student movement plans to collaborate with meal service.

3. The District cafeteria team will collaborate with the district/building administration to communicate applicable food allergies from a licensed health-care provider. The district/building will accommodate socially distanced dining spaces for students with food allergies.

4. The District/building administration will work to provide hand sanitizer or hand washing before meal time. Sanitizing stations will be available before, during, and after meal times.

5. The District facilities department will ensure procedures for cleaning and disinfection prior to the next group of students accessing common areas for meal service.

6. The District cafeteria team will develop systems to offer meals in compliance with Child Nutrition Program requirements. Available and applicable waivers will be utilized to deliver resources to students.

7. The District cafeteria team will ensure food service communication in languages spoken by families by utilizing USDA documents with available translations as well as coordinating with the district resources for English as a Second Language.

8. The District/building administration will provide socially distanced dining areas or physical barriers while consuming meals. Examples include gyms, stage areas, classrooms, etc.

TRANSPORTATION

As required by the New York State Education Department, C-PP will:

ensure that all buses (conforming and non-conforming to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Standards, as well as type A, C or D) which are used every day by districts and contract carriers must be cleaned/ disinfected once a day.
ensure that high contact spots are wiped down after each a.m. and p.m. run depending upon the disinfection schedule.
ensure that school buses shall NOT be equipped with hand sanitizer due to its combustible composition and potential liability to the carrier or district.
ensure that school bus drivers, monitors and attendants will not carry personal bottles of hand sanitizer with them on the school buses.
ensure that school bus drivers, monitors, attendants and mechanics will wear a face covering along with optional face shield.
ensure that transportation staff (drivers, monitors, attendants, mechanics and cleaners) will be trained and provided periodic refreshers on the proper use of personal protective equipment and the signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
ensure that transportation staff (drivers, monitors, attendants, mechanics and cleaners) will be trained and provided periodic refreshers on the proper use of social distancing
ensure that transportation departments/carriers will be provided with Personal Protective Equipment such as masks and gloves for drivers, monitors and attendants in bus
provide hand sanitizer for all staff in their transportation locations such as dispatch offices, employee lunch/break rooms and/or bus garages
ensure that drivers, monitors and attendants who must have direct physical contact with a child will wear gloves.
ensure that school bus drivers, monitors, attendants and mechanics perform a self-health assessment for symptoms of COVID-19 before arriving to work
ensure that students who are physically able will wear masks on the bus.
ensure that students who do not have a mask will NOT be denied transportation.
provide masks for students entering the bus who do not have one
ensure that students with a disability which prevent them from wearing a mask will not be forced to do so or denied transportation.
ensure that students are trained and provided periodic reminders on the proper use of the personal protective equipment and the signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
ensure that students are trained and provided periodic reminders on the proper use of social distancing.
ensure that students are trained and provided periodic reminders on the proper use of social distancing.
ensure that, if the school district is in session remotely or otherwise, pupil transportation will be provided to nonpublic, parochial, private, charter schools or students whose Individualized Education Plans have placed them out of the district whose schools are meeting in conducting in-person sessions when/if the district is not.

Roles and Responsibilities

Director of Transportation

Ensure employees are equipped with proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and protective measures to keep them safe.
Be sure employees maintain annual training requirements. Update employees on new policies and/or procedures adopted during COVID-19 pandemic.
Work with the administrative team to develop policies for social distancing, density reduction, bus capacity, routing issues, cleaning and disinfection.
Enforce new policies
Inventory PPE with sufficient lead time for use when schools open
Provide access to mental health resources for transportation staff in crisis or under stress. EAP services provided by the district.
Review employee medical records (19A files) and accommodate (if feasible) employees with underlying medical conditions.
Regularly inspect busses and other transportation vehicles for cleanliness (document all cleanings/inspections via trackable log).
Enforce and communicate the self-screening program for staff before coming to work.
Be prepared for a lack of drivers due to increased absences. Have a protocol established in advance to address these absences.
Provide ongoing communication and feedback to staff on a regular basis.

Transportation

The District will ensure that transportation staff (drivers, monitors, attendants, mechanics and cleaners) will be trained and provided periodic refreshers on the proper use of personal protective equipment and the signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

The District will ensure that transportation staff (drivers, monitors, attendants, mechanics and cleaners) will be trained and provided periodic refreshers on the proper use of social distancing.

The District will ensure that students are trained and provided periodic reminders on the proper use of social distancing and the use of personal protective equipment and the signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

Training (Office Personnel, Drivers, Mechanics, Aides)

Hazard Communication/Right-To-Know (annual)
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (annual)
Exposure Control/Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) (annual)
COVID Awareness
New Cleaning Protocols (Buses, Bus Garages)
Handwashing
Face Covering (sizing, use, wear & care)
Personal Health and Hygiene
Special Working Conditions with Face Coverings (strenuous activity)
NYSED Mandated Three Hour refresher training

The District will provide masks for students entering the bus who do not have one. We will ensure that those who are physically able will wear masks on the bus. Those students without masks will NOT be denied transportation.

The District will ensure that school bus drivers, monitors, attendants and mechanics will wear a face covering along with optional face shield.

The District will ensure that transportation departments/carriers will be provided with Personal Protective Equipment such as masks and will ensure that drivers, monitors and attendants who must have direct physical contact with a child will wear gloves.

Required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

In coordination with the Facilities department, the following PPE equipment will available:

Disposable Gloves
Face Covering/Mask
Face Shield (if applicable)

The District will provide hand sanitizer for all staff in their transportation locations such as dispatch offices, employee lunch/break rooms and/or bus garages.

The District will ensure that school buses shall NOT be equipped with hand sanitizer due to its combustible composition and potential liability to the carrier or district. We will ensure that school bus attendants will not carry personal bottles of hand sanitizer with them on the school buses.

Employees

Self-screen before coming to work. Do not come to work if sick.
Maintain social distancing as much as possible.
Wear an appropriate face covering that covers the mouth and nose when social distancing measures cannot be maintained.
Drivers, monitors, and attendants who must have direct physical contact with a child must wear gloves.
Use all chemical cleaners and disinfectants in the manner recommended by the manufacturer and your supervisor.
Wear all required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when cleaning and using chemicals.
Wash hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropyl alcohol. Hand sanitizers are not allowed on any bus or transportation vehicle. Bus drivers, monitors, and attendants are not allowed to carry personal bottles of hand sanitizer with them.

Communication Procedures to Consider

The District will emphasize to parents and students prior to reopening schools that the District has thoroughly disinfected all buses and student transportation vehicles.
The District will communicate with parents and students that student transportation vehicles are included in the district’s COVID-19 plans and what part students and parents will play in ensuring safety and minimizing infection while utilizing District transportation services.
Training and periodic reminders will be given to all students in regards to social distancing and wearing of face masks.
Advise parents not to send their children to school or board the bus if sick or with an elevated temperature.
Survey parents regarding transportation including an “opt-out” option.
Remind students/parents/guardians that social distancing requirements extend to the bus stop.
Communicate with administration routing options to include which students would be A day students and which students should be B day students.
The District will ensure that students who do not have a mask will NOT be denied transportation but will be provided with a mask.
District ensures that students with a disability which would prevent them from wearing a mask will not be forced to do so or denied transportation.

Social Distancing, Bus Capacity

CDC guidelines suggest creating distance between children on the school bus when possible.
OR, as a density reduction strategy, seat 2 students per row, all students wearing masks. (Source4: National Council on School Facilities and Cooperative Strategies).
- This results in approximately 22 students on a 66-passenger bus and 24 students on a 72 passenger bus.
Allow siblings or those that live in the same household to sit together.
Place floor decals or tape to mark six-foot distances in aisles.
Follow current rules regarding the use of hand sanitizer on buses and other transport vehicles.
Students shall wear face masks while in transit. (unless medically excused)

Routing

Develop an A/B Routing system to accommodate a Blended A/B student day.
- Utilize Transfinder Routing Software to provide administration with A student list and B student list
Limit student movement between bus routes
- The amount of last minute bus changes will be limited significantly, or possibly not able to be honored due to social distancing requirements on the bus.
- If possible, mirror AM and PM routes, so bus riders are the same group each day.
- The District will not be able to accommodate bus passes. Changes will have to go through the bus garage and may take several days for arrangements to be made depending on bus capacity and based upon social distancing guidelines.
- The District will only be able to schedule one AM pickup location and One PM dropoff location. The District will not be able to accommodate alternating day arrangements.

Loading/Unloading & Pickup/Drop-off

Adjustments may need to be made:
- For unloading and entry, and loading and departure.
- Route timing will be affected by delayed loading/unloading processes.
- All bus routes should not load/unload at the same time to maximize social distancing of students.
- Arrival and departure activities shall be supervised to ensure social distancing.

Transporting to Out-of-District Placements

Drivers must keep a log of attendees on the trip in both directions. Upon request, schools may need to supply the log of passengers in addition to cleaning logs in the event the out-of-district placement must assist in contact tracing due to exposures either at their buildings, or during transportation.

The District will ensure that all buses which are used every day by districts and contract carriers must be cleaned/disinfected once a day. We will ensure that high contact spots are wiped down after each am and pm run depending upon the disinfection schedule.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

Buses and other transportation vehicles will be cleaned and disinfected daily (focus on high touch areas) and in between runs if scheduled for multiple routes. At the end of the day, clean and disinfect the entire bus.
Daily Cleaning
- All trash removed
- Floors swept and dust mopped
- Walls and windows cleaned
High Touch Surfaces
- Bus seats, seat backs and seat belts
- Door handles, handrails
- Driver operator area
Drivers will be responsible for daily cleaning and disinfecting procedures.
Use only cleaning and disinfecting products that are approved by the EPA. Read all labels and follow instructions. Wear appropriate PPE (disposable gloves or any other required PPE) to clean and disinfect.
Ensure proper ventilation during cleaning. Open windows, roof hatches, and turn fans on during route operation.
Prohibit eating and drinking on the bus.
Follow up with frequent inspections to be sure cleaning/disinfecting protocols are followed on district owned and contracted buses.
Document and submit all cleanings/inspections.

The District will ensure that students with a disability which prevent them from wearing a mask will not be forced to do so or denied transportation.

Special Education Transportation

Make sure that none of the practices/protocols employed are interfering with the students’ IEP or 504 Plan.
Special Education bus runs are TBD at this time. Routes will be designed taking the below considerations into account.
- Considerations
  - What students will be going to school?
  - How often will students be going?
  - What students can or cannot wear masks?
Collaborate with special education staff to determine best practices for mask use, social distancing, and other safety considerations as needed.
Alternate schedules and transport vehicles for medically fragile children.
Increase training for bus aide staff to manage issues that arise on a bus transporting student(s) with special needs.

Bus Garage

Provide appropriate PPE and cleaning supplies to office and garage workers (i.e.: face coverings/masks, gloves, face shields).
Provide hand sanitizer of at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropyl alcohol for use at the Bus Garage only.
Provide appropriate training for staff.
Develop density reduction protocols to maximize social distancing in the bus garage, office, and dispatch areas.
- Practice physical distancing in lounge areas
- Create one-way walkways
- Require appointments to meet with Head Bus Drivers or Transportation Office Staff
- Eliminate gathering at dispatch area
Cross train staff to provide coverage in the event of absenteeism.
Limit non-essential visitors to the bus garage.

Private/Parochial/Charter/Non-Public School Transportation

The District will ensure that regardless of instructional model; in-person, virtual or hybrid, pupil transportation will be provided to nonpublic, parochial, private, charter schools or students whose Individualized Educational Plans have placed them out of the district. This includes schools that are conducting in-person sessions when/if the district is not.

Transportation to be determined with each school individually based upon their reopening plan.

Additional Items to Consider

Assigned seats. All bus routes should have assigned seats based upon the order of students being picked up and dropped off.
Family and day care facilities can be included in the same seats.
Adjust routes to ensure we can meet these guidelines.
Encourage parents to drive their own children and account for this when doing routes.
Encourage students to walk or ride bikes.
Social distance at stops and when loading and unloading.
Stagger students, both release and load, to limit the number of student interactions.
Increase outside air flow.

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

As required by the New York State Education Department, C-PP will:

Review and update our district-wide and building-level comprehensive developmental school counseling program plan, developed under the direction of certified school counselor(s), to meet current needs.
Maintain an advisory council, shared decision-making, school climate team, or other collaborative working group comprised of families, students, members of the board of education, community-based service providers, teachers, certified school counselors, and other pupil personnel service providers including school social workers and/or school psychologists to inform the comprehensive developmental school counseling program plan.
provide resources and referrals to address mental health, behavioral, and emotional support services and programs.
provide professional development opportunities for faculty and staff on how to talk with and support students during and after the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency, as well as provide support for developing coping and resilience skills for students, faculty, and staff.

The Corning-Painted Post School District is prepared to support our students academically, socially and emotionally. We offer numerous support services and incorporate diversity into our planning for the unique educational needs of our students.

The District will ensure that the district-wide developmental school counseling program plan, developed under the Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS) Advisory Council (inclusive of certified school counselors and social workers), is reviewed and updated to meet current needs. The District plan is inclusive of building specific information that includes lists of programs implemented at each building. The current plan reflects how services are delivered when we are in-person. The plan will be adjusted to reflect how the services will be delivered if we are in a hybrid or remote model.

K-12 Comprehensive School Counseling Plan

The District MTSS Advisory Council meets monthly and is our overarching advisory committee, inclusive of administrators, K-12 classroom and special education teachers, school counselors, social workers and Pupil Personnel Service providers. Representatives from this committee report back monthly to building staff and district level departments.

Each level has a plan on how to refer students/families to both community agencies and District resources that provide support and guidance. Information for parents and families; inclusive of all contact names (building principals, social workers, school counselors) are included within our brochure that is mailed home to all families each year.

Elementary Student Supports Services Brochure

Secondary Student Supports Services Brochure

The District recognizes that the Coronavirus has impacted our faculty and staff and that they too will need support upon returning to school. As students return to school, building relationships and connections, especially if not in-person, will be challenging. We will continue to support faculty and staff. Professional Development opportunities for faculty and staff on how to talk with and support students during and after the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency, as well as providing support for developing coping and resilience skills for students, faculty and staff. The District will also continue to provide an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which is available to all staff members.

Pupil Personnel Services and Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)

Tier 1 Supports: We will promote mental health wellness on a daily basis.

Screening to identify social–emotional needs of students. Ex: Continue and expand the scaffolded implementation of the Devereaux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA) Grounded in resilience theory and directly aligned to the CASEL framework.
The Preparing all Students for Success (PASS) Teams will review student mental health needs to ensure appropriate referrals and or supports are in place.
Use professional development time to increase trauma knowledge and skills as well as training staff to provide supports through a trauma-informed and responsive lens
Utilize trauma-responsive strategies to support the school community.
Offer virtual parent education and access to community resources.
Conduct routine check-ins using a trauma- and resilience-informed lens.
Develop a system to connect with students and families to promote attendance.
Include mental health and wellness resources on district and school websites and in communications with families (newsletters, emails, phone calls etc.)

Tier 2/3 Supports: Targeted Intervention

The school counselors and social workers at all levels will, after assessing student needs,

conduct small groups for students. The groups could target specific areas such as anxiety,

depression, etc. (either face-to-face, hybrid, or remote). In a remote/hybrid setting this would

be done via Google Meet.

Social workers will do home visits at a socially appropriate distance for students as needed
Student Success Team (SST) meetings and Preparing all Students for Success (PASS)
Connect students and families with additional outside supports in the community.
Consider having flexible hours for mental health staff to deliver services
Provide Behavior consultation supports

SCHOOL SCHEDULES

As required by the New York State Education Department, C-PP will:

ensure a school schedule is planned for implementation at the beginning of the 2020-21 school year and, to the extent practicable, contingent scheduling models it may consider if the situation warrants.

The District is prepared to move within the following three models as the infection rates within in our region require:

a traditional, in-person model for 100% of our students ready for implementation if possible,
a blended model of in-person and remote instruction (a hybrid model),
and a 100% off-site, remote model.

Our commitment is to provide the best education in the safest environment possible for all students, while adhering to the guidelines and regulations of both the Department of Health (DOH) and the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Using the Reopening Task Force as our starting point, we gathered input and feedback from a variety of stakeholders in the district and community members. We utilized a variety of formats that included surveys, in-person, and virtual meetings. The information collected drove the development of a Blended Model of Instruction that will provide both in-person and off-site learning in an A/B model that includes plans for a group that is 100% virtual as determined by parent selection.

Our desire is to return all students to in-person instruction in the safest manner possible. With current social distancing guidelines, requirements for masking, and facility limitations, the District will not be able to begin the 2020-21 school year with 100% of our students in traditional, in-person instruction.

As of 7/30/20, our intent is to begin the 2020-21 school year with each family choosing between our blended model or our 100% off-site, remote instruction model.

Beginning in the Blended Model will allow us to move between both in-person and off-site instruction in accordance with regulations from the state.

Students opting to participate in the blended model will be organized into two cohorts. A Monday-Tuesday cohort (shown below as Group A) and a Thursday-Friday cohort (shown below as Group B). We will schedule all students from the same household into the same cohort.

Sample K-12 Schedules

Select students with prioritized needs (some SWD and ENL students, for example) may come in every day for us to provide specialized support services.

As a first step, our transportation team will divide the district into cohorts to ensure we can safely transport within current social distancing guidelines.

Next, at the K-5 level, principals will assign cohorts for days that are in-person to better account for tracking in the event of exposure, however social distance will be planned for in every programmed educational space, with the exception of a limited number of special education situations. The District will make reasonable efforts to ensure that cohorts are fixed – meaning contain the same students – for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The K-5 schedules will optimize movement of adults rather than cohorts with the exception of physical education, related arts, lunch, and recess.

The 6-12 schedules will have students moving to different rooms throughout the day, with adequate time for transitions between rooms using modified hallway traffic that limits congestion.

Limitation will be placed on the following school functions:

Large Groups – Not able to be scheduled/not unless social distancing can be maintained in large space – (gym, auditorium, cafeteria).
Administrators to review ALL courses to determine that classes are evenly split up to an acceptable level.
Restrictions on drop-adds may be required depending on class loads and ability to accommodate limited social distancing with acceptable face coverings.

Each classroom shall configure furniture and fixtures to maximize social distance between students within a defined classroom space. During most instructional time, students will be able maintain 6 feet of distance, facing the same direction so that masks may be removed. In rare cases where this is not possible, masks will need to be worn.

ATTENDANCE AND CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM

As required by the New York State Education Department, C-PP will:

have a mechanism to collect and report daily teacher/student engagement or attendance while in a remote or hybrid schedule.

The Corning–Painted Post Area School District has developed and adopted the following Comprehensive Attendance Policy, the goal of which is to increase and encourage consistent school attendance. We believe that school attendance positively impacts academic success, school completion, and graduation.

The District’s policy is that all students should attend school every day when school is open unless the student is ill or otherwise has an excused reason for absence.

The objectives of this Attendance Policy are as follows:

a) to know the whereabouts of every student for safety, school management, and other reasons;

b) to raise student achievement;

c) to identify attendance patterns in order to design attendance improvement efforts;

d) to verify that individual students are complying with the New York Education Law related to compulsory attendance;

e) to determine the District’s average daily attendance for New York State aid purposes; and

f) to collect and analyze data to increase attendance and student performance.

Attendance and Monitoring Engagement During Periods of Remote Instruction

In many schools and districts, large numbers of students did not log on or otherwise participate in online learning opportunities. It is critical for us to use a variety of creative methods to reach out to students and their families who did not engage in distance learning.

Daily attendance will be reported in School Tool for each K-12 and the district pre-K classrooms. ProAction is responsible for attendance for PreK in their own system.

We will utilize a variety of methods to collect daily student engagement regardless of the instructional setting. Several strategies will be considered to ensure engagement of off-site students:

The attendance feature on Google Meet (students may call in or join over their computer),
Interactive School Messenger Calls,
Various aspects of our Google Platform (chat window activity, call-in activity, quizzes, assignments, timestamps),
Linkage of school personnel to students without internet connectivity at home to serve as Allies to these students, conducting regular check-ins on off-site days to provide an immediate opportunity to offer resources and assess student and family needs, and/or
systems which record student participation in learning by completion of assigned tasks.

Chronic Absenteeism

Extensive research indicates that missing ten percent of school days tends to be the “tipping point” when student achievement declines.

As such, we will:

Establish a clear expectation for participation in each of the learning environments.

Communicate and continually reinforce to both parents and students the importance of attendance in school regardless of setting.

Create and maintain a positive school building culture by fostering a positive physical and psychological environment where the presence of strong adult role models encourages respectful and nurturing interactions between adults and students.

Carefully monitor student attendance (as defined previously) through our student information system.

Work in conjunction with the attendance clerks and other designated staff in routinely reviewing attendance records. This review is conducted to identify individual and group attendance patterns and to initiate appropriate action to address the problem of excessive absences.

Respond to student absences (measuring over 10%) by identifying causes for absences and intervene to improve attendance and encourage students to complete the academic requirements of the course.

TECHNOLOGY AND CONNECTIVITY

As required by the New York State Education Department, C-PP will:

ensure that the District has knowledge of the level of access to devices and high speed internet all students and teachers have in their places of residence.
to the extent practicable, provide devices and internet access to students and teachers who currently do not have sufficient access.
provide multiple ways for students to participate in learning and demonstrate mastery of Learning Standards in remote or blended models, especially if all students do not yet have sufficient access to devices and/or high-speed internet.

Regardless of the model, 100% virtual, in-person or blended; technology will be an essential tool to proceed with the learning process. During the spring school closure, our faculty and staff learned to use numerous tools to deliver instruction. We will work to build on that learning and provide additional platforms for teaching and learning in the fall.

For students to lead productive and successful lives upon graduation, they must understand and know how to use digital technology. Technology knowledge and skills are vital for full participation in 21st Century life, work, and citizenship. Sufficient access to computing devices and high-speed internet are essential for educational equity. Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the inequitable access to technology and internet services in students’ places of residence was a concern. The closure of New York schools and subsequent shift to remote learning only highlighted this urgent need. The period of remote learning due to school closures presented significant challenges, especially due to the digital divide, but also provided unprecedented opportunity for schools, students, and families to leverage technology to support instruction, learning, communication, and meaningful connections.

The effective use of digital technology can assist educators in differentiating and personalizing learning; provide flexibility in scheduling and pace; and provide multiple entry points for students to engage in learning. The District has invested in our staff with training in utilizing technology this summer, with numerous teachers participating in virtual professional development.

The District has also taken many steps to determine the level of access to devices and high speed internet. The following surveys were conducted:

Phone survey to each family to determine the baseline of what our internet connectivity is as a full district.
Personal phone calls to each elementary family to determine their needs relative to internet accessibility. Personal connection made to assess the reason a family may not be able to access the internet and determine ways the District can help support families.
Online survey of inter-connectivity.

In early August we will require the completion of a 2020-2021 registration form where parents/guardians make a selection indicating which form of instruction will be utilized by their student from September 2020 - January 2020 (100% virtual learning or a Blended Model, inclusive of both in-person and off-site instruction).

The District is working with families to help overcome connectivity obstacles. Mobile Hotspots from Verizon and T-Mobile have been purchased and may be distributed to families on an as-needed basis. We also shared the locations of public wifi and provided wifi in the safety of our parking lots for families to connect from our schools. The District will continue to explore ways to support families with no or limited access to internet connectivity. One step may include the formation of a district team that specifically focuses on addressing the needs of families without access or reliable access as we move into the 2020-2021 school year.

The District provided devices to all students that needed one during the school closure. Students were able to keep their issued device over the summer. Staff also had access to bring a device home during the closure and that continued over the summer and will continue during the 2020-2021 school year.

The District will continue to streamline the number of applications that are used across the district. We will utilize high leverage, multi-use tools which can accomplish multiple teaching and learning tasks. The tools will provide multiple ways for students to participate in learning and demonstrate mastery of Learning Standards in virtual or blended models. Our technology department, coupled with our instructional team, will explore additional tools and programs to meet the needs of students during off-site learning. These programs will include, but are not limited to the programs below.

Note: The District will ensure data privacy for all students following EdLaw 2D requirements.

Function

Tool

Grade Level

Video Conferencing

Google Meet

K-12

Content Creation

Google Docs

K-12

Google Slides

K-12

Google Forms

K-12

Content Distribution

Google Classroom

K-12

Zearn

K-5

6-12

eMath Instruction

6-8

History Alive

6-8

Instructional Collaboration

Google Suite

K-12

Secure Assessment

eDoctrina

K-12

Google Forms

K-12

Castle Learning

9-12

Moby Max

3-5

Accelerated Reader

1-5

NWEA

K-8

Into Reading

K-5

Foss Web

3-8

Special Education Instruction, Content Creation, & Assessment

iReady, Read 180, Unique Learning System, System 44, CoWriter, Snap and Read

K-12 Special Education

The District will continue to provide training and professional development for staff and families. As a next step, we will look to provide our community daycare providers and families with instruction in the technology programs we utilize so that they have the opportunity to assist students in both a virtual and hybrid model of instruction. Ongoing training will be provided by our Building Instructional Technology Specialists (BITS) throughout the year, regardless of our instructional setting. Training and professional development will be driven by the needs of our PPS, Instructional and Technology departments. Our Digital Learning Coordinator will work with the departments to determine that the needs of both staff and students are being met in all instructional models.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

As required by the New York State Education Department, C-PP will:

provide a continuity of learning plan for the 2020-2021 school year that includes preparation for in-person, remote, and hybrid models of instruction.
ensure that instruction is aligned to the New York State Learning Standards regardless if instruction is delivered in-person, remotely or in a hybrid model.
provide a program that includes regular substantive interaction between teachers and students whether delivered in-person, remotely or through a hybrid model of instruction.
ensure that equity is at the heart of all school instructional decisions, ensuring that all instruction developed, whether delivered in-person, remotely, or through a hybrid model due to a local or state school closure, provides for clear opportunities for instruction that are accessible to all students. Such opportunities must be aligned with State standards and include routine scheduled times for students to interact and seek feedback and support from their teachers.
ensure a clear communication plan for how students and their families/caregivers can contact the school and teachers with questions about their instruction and/or technology. This information will be accessible to all, available in multiple languages based on district need, widely disseminated, and include clear and multiple ways for students and families to contact schools and teachers.
ensure that eligible agencies with whom we contract for prekindergarten programs will follow health and safety guidelines outlined in NYSED guidance and required by New York State Department of Health. The Corning-Painted Post Area School District will ensure that such agencies have a Continuity of Learning plan that addresses in-person, remote, and hybrid models of instruction.

As required by the New York State Education Department, C-PP will:

include Prekindergarten in the mandatory requirements outlined under Teaching and Learning.
contract with eligible agencies, including CBOs, to provide Prekindergarten programs who attest that they have measures in place to ensure eligible agencies with whom they contract will follow health and safety guidelines outlined in this guidance and required by the New York State Department of Health.
ensure their eligible agencies have a Continuity of Learning plan that address in-person, remote, and hybrid models of instruction.

New York students are entitled to a free public education, even as we face the unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. All students must have the opportunity to feel safe, engaged, and excited about their learning.

Whether in-person or off-site we are committed to providing our students with the best education. At the heart of teaching and learning are the relationships that students have with their peers, teachers, and school community members. Students are searching for a return to their routines and a sense of normalcy; therefore, all efforts will acknowledge the importance of setting a positive routine and welcoming environment that supports students during this unpredictable time. During the upcoming school year, it is of the utmost importance that individual student needs and equity are put at the center of all learning experiences. Flexibility is essential when planning for the fall, and staff will be prepared to shift between in-person and off-site school learning in a way that is the least disruptive to students.

The District must provide 180 days of instruction each year to their students. During the 2020-21 school year, the Board of Regents has adopted emergency regulations affording us flexibility to deliver instruction off-site as part of the 180 day requirement.

The District will implement a continuity of learning plan for the 2020-2021 school year that allows us to meet current State and Department of Health guidelines. The District will be prepared to move within the following three models as directed by state:

a traditional, in-person schedule,
A virtual plan in place if we are unable to bring students into our schools, and
A hybrid model with a blend of in-person and off-site, remote instruction.

The District has a plan to ensure that instruction is aligned to the New York State Learning Standards which represent the core of what all students should know, understand and be able to do as a result of their schooling. We will provide high-quality, rigorous, and meaningful instruction to meet the needs of our learners. Each course has mapped out the course learning objectives and assessments and these are available in our matrices. Focus on the Essential Standards will continue in any of the instructional models. Regardless of the model we are in at any time, teachers will include routine and scheduled times for students to interact and seek feedback and support. We are aware that a virtual environment cannot fully replace an engaging, active classroom; however, our teams are committed to building rigor in our remote learning, establishing a consistent platform for delivery of that instruction, and providing our teachers with high-quality professional development so that they can use all the remote tools to maximize instructional time and meet the needs of our students.

These instructional experiences shall include:

meaningful and frequent interaction with an appropriately certified teacher,
academic and other supports designed to meet the needs of the individual student,
instructional content that reflects rigorous, consistent academic expectations.

The District will share a clear communication plan for how students and their families/caregivers can contact the school and teachers with questions about their instruction and/or technology. This information will be accessible to all, available in multiple languages based on District need, and will include clear and multiple ways for students and families to contact schools and teachers via our Google Platforms, School Tool, email, phone call, and in-person.

Early Learning

The District will continue to contract with ProAction of Steuben County to operate and house our PreK/Headstart programs. We have collaborated with ProAction to ensure that this agency has a plan to follow health and safety guidelines outlined in NYSED guidance and required by New York State Department of Health. We will continue to collaborate with ProAction to align a Continuity of Learning plan that addresses in-person, remote, and a blended model of instruction.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

As required by the New York State Education Department, C-PP will:

whether services are provided in-person, remote, and/or through a hybrid model, ensure the provision of FAPE consistent with the need to protect the health and safety of students with disabilities and those providing special education and services.
ensure meaningful parent engagement in the parent’s preferred language or mode of communication regarding the provision of services to his/her child to meet the requirements of the IDEA.
ensure collaboration between the committees on preschool special education (CPSE) and committees on special education (CSE) and program providers representing the variety of settings where students are served to ensure there is an understanding of the provision of services consistent with the recommendations on individualized education programs (IEPs), there are plans for monitoring and communicating student progress, and commitment to sharing resources.
ensure access to the necessary accommodations, modifications, supplementary aids and services, and technology (including assistive technology) to meet the unique disability related needs of students.
document the programs and services offered and provided to students with disabilities as well as communications with parents, in their preferred language or mode of communication.

Corning-Painted Post Area School District, whether services are provided in-person, remote, and/or through a hybrid model, will ensure the provision of FAPE consistent with the need to protect the health and safety of students with disabilities and those providing special education and services.

In coordination with relevant district departments, prioritization of students in classes that receive multiple services (special classes) to receive as much in-person school time as possible.
Students with Integrated Co-Taught (ICT), Consultant Teacher (CT), and Resource Room (RR), and Related Services only programming will follow the district K-12 hybrid schedule with access to special education instruction as per IEP.
Investigate and evaluate our ability to maximize push-in related services in order to minimize the loss of time out of class and direct instruction. This would minimize hallway traffic and cross contamination of cohorts and other locations within the building.
Continued development of safety protocols (as per DOH, NYSED, CDC) and corresponding training, including video resources for students, parents, and staff. Examples: Evaluation Safety Protocols for Parents, Head Nurse safety training videos, etc)
The development of individualized plans for students who have significant health issues, medical fragility, or the inability to wear PPE. Planning teams may include appropriate staff members, parents, and medical personnel.
In the event of a school closure, the off-site model will provide for individual programming and services.

Corning-Painted Post Area School District will ensure meaningful parent engagement in the parent’s preferred language or mode of communication regarding the provision of services to his/her child to meet the requirements of the IDEA.

Expectations of parent communication will be consistent with current district and department policies and procedures. These expectations will be reviewed at the start of the school year.
Staff will be required to document communications with families using Frontline(IEP/504 database), PPS department tracking logs, and/or individual tracking notes.
Recommendation to conduct CSE meetings, team meetings, etc. following state guidelines via Google Meet or phone conferences.
Collaboration and communication with Corning-Painted Post School District Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA).

Corning-Painted Post Area School District will ensure collaboration between the committees on preschool special education (CPSE) and committees on special education (CSE) and program providers representing the variety of settings where students are served to ensure there is an understanding of the provision of services consistent with the recommendations on individualized education programs (IEPs), there are plans for monitoring and communicating student progress, and commitment to sharing resources.

Maintain lines of communication with our regional BOCES, five non-public schools, homebound, homeschooled and residential settings to be sure that CPP students attending those institutions have access to their IEP services.

Corning-Painted Post Area School District will ensure access to the necessary accommodations, modifications, supplementary aids and services, and technology (including assistive technology) to meet the unique disability related needs of students.

The hybrid model will require us to reimagine/rethink staffing by optimizing our capacity to ensure student access to accommodations, modifications, aids, services, and technology
Continue regularly scheduled department/program and team meetings.
- Special class programs
- Helping Teacher/School Psychologists
- Social Workers/School Counselors
- Related Service Providers
Identify and launch the PPS reopening task force when a model is selected. Including, but not limited to:
- Special class teacher representation
- Pupil Personnel Staff
- Related Service Providers
- Head Nurse
Coordinating with building level administrators to ensure that students have access to differentiated and appropriate materials in any learning model.

Corning-Painted Post Area School District will document the programs and services offered and provided to students with disabilities as well as communications with parents, in their preferred language or mode of communication.

Maintain current district expectations in regards to evaluations and the development, progress monitoring, and reporting of IEP goals regardless of in person, hybrid, or remote learning models.
Provide Professional training in the development, progress monitoring, and reporting of IEP goals.
Expectations of parent communication will be consistent with district and department policies and procedures. These expectations will be reviewed at the start of the school year.

BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND WORLD LANGUAGES

As required by the New York State Education Department, C-PP will:

whether using in-person or hybrid instruction, complete the ELL identification process within 30 school days of the start of the school year for all students who enrolled during COVID-19 school closures in 2019-20, as well as all students who enroll during summer of 2020 and during the first 20 school days of the 2020-21 school year. After this 20 day flexibility period, identification of ELLs must resume for all students within required 10 school days of initial enrollment as required by Commissioner’s Regulations Part 154.
provide required instructional Units of Study to all ELLs based on their most recently measured English language proficiency level during in-person or hybrid instruction.
ensure the maintenance of regular communication with the parents/guardians of ELLs to ensure that they are engaged in their children’s education during the reopening process, and provide all communications for parents/guardians of ELLs in their preferred language and mode of communication

Our ELL learners, like all of our students, have had disruption in their daily lives. The goal of our ELL teachers and our staff is to help rebalance and refocus our students with a positive start to the 2020-2021 school year. Our ELLs will receive a comprehensive program of instruction targeted to their proficiency level and appropriate academic instruction in a language acquisition program.

The Corning-Painted Post Area School District, whether using in-person or hybrid instruction, will complete the ELL identification process within 30 school days of the start of the school year for all students who enrolled during COVID-19 school closures in 2019-2020, as well as all students who enroll during summer of 2020 and during the first 20 school days of the 2020-21 school year. After this 20 day flexibility period, identification of ELLs must resume for all students within required 10 school days of initial enrollment as required by Commissioner’s Regulations Part 154.

The District will provide required instructional Units of Study to all ELLs based on their most recently measured English language proficiency level during in-person or hybrid instruction.
The District will ensure the maintenance of regular communication with the parents/guardians of ELLs to ensure they are engaged in their children’s education during the reopening process, and provide all communications for parents/guardians of ELLs in their preferred language and mode of communication.
The District will establish protocols that promote coordination among English as a New Language (ENL) and content areas teachers for the delivery of remote and hybrid learning.
The District will utilize the district’s process for identifying and monitoring social/emotional well-being of all students, including ELLs.
The District will determine the need for technology and Internet to support off-site learning. We will work to train our ELL students to utilize the specific technology tools that will be used during off-site learning situations.

STAFFING AND HUMAN RESOURCES

As required by the New York State Education Department, C-PP will:

Teacher and Principal Evaluation System
- Pursuant to Education Law 3012-d, Corning-Painted Post Area School District will ensure that all teachers and principals are evaluated pursuant to our currently approved APPR plan, including any variance applications approved by the NYSED.
Certification, Incidental Teaching, and Substitute Teaching
- Pursuant to Education Law 3001, Corning-Painted Post Area School District will ensure individuals employed to teach in New York State public schools hold a valid and appropriate certificate for their teaching assignments except where otherwise allowable under the Commissioner’s regulations (e.g., incidental teaching) or Education Law.

Teacher and Principal Evaluation System

(Education Law 3012-D, Annual Professional Performance Review-APPR)

The District will fully implement its currently approved Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) plan for principals and teachers in the 2020-21 school year, pursuant to Education Law 3012-d.

The District will review with its respective collective bargaining units for teachers and principals the student performance measures based on the both the hybrid and virtual models presented in this plan and the anticipated ability to maintain both forms of instruction throughout the school year.

The District will review with each respective collective bargaining unit the assessment(s) that were chosen as the evidence of student growth in the approved APPR plan to ensure that these assessment(s) are aligned with the models of instruction described in this plan. The District will ensure that any modifications do not result in any testing of students that is not necessary to support teaching and learning

The District will also review its respective teacher and principal collective bargaining units to review the approved APPR plan and ensure that the plan and the processes within it supports the District’s instructional priorities. The District acknowledges that learning and demonstrating understanding during the COVID-19 crisis has taken on new complexities and that what is locally determined to be a year’s worth of growth may look different from previous years.

The District readily acknowledges that any change to the currently approved APPR plan is subject to collective bargaining with the Corning Teachers’ Association and the Corning Administrators’ Association.

Certification, Incidental Teaching, and Substitute Teaching

Certification

The District, pursuant to Education Law 3001, will ensure that all individuals employed to teach in its schools must hold a valid certificate for his or her position. The District has and will continue to review the SIRS 329 Staff Certifications report, which is available in Cognos for authorized users, to ensure that teachers hold the appropriate certificates for their teaching assignments. This report is refreshed weekly and lists all valid certificates for all staff identified as being employed in the District Staff Snapshot.

Incidental Teaching

The District is aware that in response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Superintendent may assign certified teachers to teach a subject not covered by their certificate (incidental teaching) for a period not to exceed ten classroom hours a week during the 2020-2021 school year, when no certified or qualified teacher is available after extensive and documented recruitment. The District is aware that any such action is subject to review and approval by the Greater Southern Tier BOCES, subject to all requirements related to this practice.

However, the District does not – at this time – anticipate the need to do this and intends that all teachers in the District will be employed within their certification area.

Substitute Teachers

Substitute teachers are an important resource every year for the District and may be especially critical during the COVID-19 crisis.

the District will follow all regulations governing the employment of substitute teachers.

Student Teaching

The District values its partnership with higher education institutions and will continue to provide student teaching opportunities to those seeking to pursue teaching as their profession, whether in-person or remote, in the 2020-2021 school year.

Commissioner’s Regulations Section 52.21(b)(1) (xvi) defines student teaching as follows:

Student teaching means a structured, college-supervised learning experience for a student in a teacher education program in which the student teacher practices the skills being learned in the teacher education program and gradually assumes increased responsibility for instruction, classroom management, and other related duties for a class of students in the area of the certificate sought. These skills are practiced under the direct supervision of the certified teacher who has official responsibility for the class.

The District affirms its belief that student teachers can play important roles in terms of bridging gaps related to remote/online instruction, and in supporting the teachers of record and the students, especially during these challenging times.

The District will continue to work with college and university educator preparation programs to identify appropriate ways in which student teachers can support classroom instruction while ensuring that the student teacher is given the opportunity to develop critical knowledge and skills. The District acknowledges that a student teacher may not serve as the teacher of record in a classroom and must be under the direct supervision of a certified teacher who is the teacher of record.

The District will continue to support student teachers and provide experiences in its schools and classrooms to build the teaching profession and to develop the future workforce within our schools.

Corning-Painted Post Area School District | 165 Charles St, Painted Post, NY 14870

Phone: (607) 936-3704