In accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, SASD developed a
Phased School Reopening Health & Safety Plan.
Use the following link for the
full Phased School Reopening Health & Safety Plan (PDF).
The 2020-2021 Health and Safety Plan is broken into the following areas:
Cleaning/Sanitizing
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- All cleaning will follow EPA, CDC and manufacturer guidelines
- All high-touch surfaces will be cleaned/disinfected at least twice a day (door handles, light switches, etc.)
- Water fountains will be turned off and not be used
- Single use bottles will be permitted
- Desks will be cleaned frequently
- All individuals will be required to sanitize/wash hands on frequent basis
- Hand sanitizer will be available in all common areas and classrooms where sinks are not available
- Common meal areas will be disinfected between each meal service
- Recess, playground and physical education equipment will be sanitized daily or more frequent basis when feasible
- School buses and other transportation vehicles will be disinfected between each run
- Utilize ventilation practices in classrooms, in common spaces and in isolated spaces when possible
Transportation
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- Students on school buses and vans will be limited to two (2) students to a seat
- Siblings will be required to sit together
- All students will wear masks while riding the bus
- Students and drivers will be educated on the importance of passengers facing forward on the bus (not sideways or backwards)
- All drivers required to wear masks/shields when the students are entering or exiting the bus
- Bus windows and roof hatch will be opened when feasible
- Buses will be disinfected after each run
Social Distancing
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- Classroom/learning spaces will allow for 6 feet of separation among students and staff when feasible
- Assigned seating will be utilized in classrooms, congregate settings and buses, where feasible
- Faculty rooms and other congregated areas will operate with restricted capacity levels
- Schedules and hallway traffic patterns will be adjusted
- Stagger the use of the Health/Nurse offices
- Meal schedules and seating areas will be modified to maximize social distancing
- Recess and physical education activities will continue as long as those activities limit physical contact and touching, when feasible
- Bus arrival/dismissal schedules will be modified
- Small group field trips for college/career readiness and instruction are allowable.
- Job mentorships, job shadows, and job experience (STARR) are allowable following the social distancing guidelines of the job site.
Classroom Strategies
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- Use of face coverings by students and staff
- Separation of personal belongings
- Good hand hygiene techniques
- Develop procedures for movement in the room
- Use of electronic responses from students (EdPuzzle, Nearpod, and others) and whiteboard, response cards
- Central drop-off bin for returning materials/papers
- No sharing of items, paper, materials
- Procedures for lining up, staying socially distanced, etc.
Health and Safety
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- Hygiene education for all faculty, staff and visitors will be conducted frequently with regular reminders on proper hygiene practices
- Signs will be posted in highly visible locations that promote protective measures and how to stop spread of germs.
- All students and staff will wash/sanitize hands before and after eating as well as after physical education classes
- Identifying and restricting non-essential visitors and volunteers
- Use of face coverings (masks or face shields) by all staff
- Use of face coverings (masks or face shields) by students
- Face coverings provided by the District for students who need them
- Mask breaks provided periodically for students
- Unique safety protocols will be developed for students with complex need or other vulnerable individuals
- Monitoring students and staff for symptoms and history of exposure
- Daily Symptom Screening for students and staff
- Families: perform symptom screening before sending students to school
- Staff members: conduct symptom screening before departing to work
- Isolating or quarantining students, staff, or visitors if they become sick or demonstrate a history of exposure
- Contact tracing will be conducted by the Montgomery County Department of Health
- Returning isolated or quarantined staff, students, or visitors to school
- Notifying staff, families, and the public of school closures and within-school-year changes in safety protocols
Materials and Belongings
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- Supplies, including special areas materials will be sanitized after use
- Eliminating or limiting use of shared materials in specials areas
- Food should not be shared in the classrooms or cafeterias, food classes and labs
- Musical instruments will be taken home and cleaned per instructor guidelines
School Nutrition
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Breakfast in the classroom (elementary) or hallway kiosks and cafeteria (secondary)
- Lunch will be in the cafeteria or other open spaces
- Meals will be pre-packaged to allow for contactless serving
- Contactless checkout
- Student dining areas will be thoroughly cleaned between lunch periods
- Seating charts/assigned seats in the cafeteria for contact tracing
Athletics
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The decision to resume sports-related activities, including conditioning, practices and games, is within the discretion of a school entity's governing body. Accordingly, Souderton Area School District has developed and adopted an Athletics Health and Safety Plan aligned with the PDE Preliminary Guidance for Phased Reopening of Pre-K to 12 Schools. Please use the link link below for the District's athletics plan.