All individuals (staff, students, or visitors) must wear a face covering when on site. For most environments, a cloth face mask is sufficient. The Washington State Department of Health has issued the following guidance on who should not wear a face mask:
Children under two years of age
People who have disabilities that prevent them from comfortably wearing or taking off face coverings or prevent them from communicating while wearing face coverings
People who have respiratory conditions or breathing trouble
People who have been told by a medical, legal, or behavioral health professional not to wear face coverings
Students will be asked to bring a clean face mask from home each day plus one additional change as a back-up; we will have additional masks should the need arise. If a student is medically exempt from wearing a face covering, due to the above referenced criteria, a written note of exemption from the family will be requested and the student may wear a face shield. In exemption situations, staff will engage with the family of the student on how the district can provide appropriate educational services. It is important to note that there is no exception from OSPI or DOH regarding the use of a face mask when on campus, and that this requirement does not change when students are engaging in physical activity or music instruction.
All classrooms and common spaces have been reconfigured to accommodate a minimum of 6' distancing between desks and teaching environment.
CLEANING, SANITIZING & DISINFECTING FACILITIES AND BUSES
In accordance with guidance from the WA State Department of Health, CDC, and Kitsap County Health District, we have developed a cleaning regimen in compliance with regulations for infection control in public schools. Custodial and food service staff will work in concert with teachers and paraeducators to effectively clean, sanitize, and disinfect all areas of use on a daily basis.
Custodial staff will utilize "green seal certified" cleaning agents to clean and remove soils from all surfaces on a daily basis. These products are pH neutral cleaning agents designed with naturally derived plant based surfactants and citric acids. They are generally fragrance free and do not require rinsing if diluted properly. The custodial department has been issued chemical distribution equipment that ensures accurate dilution of all cleaning/disinfecting chemicals at the source, removing the potential for improper dilution.
We have identified and scheduled the disinfection of high touch surfaces multiple times throughout the school day:
After school start time
After each passing period
In between A&B groups
During PM cleaning routines
Restrooms will be cleaned a minimum of two times per day. Custodial staff working the day shift will fully clean/disinfect all restrooms between groups A&B, and again during the PM shift. Custodians will conduct routine checks of the restrooms throughout each three hour span of instruction and address soiled areas and high touch surfaces as needed. The list below indicates the type of surface and product used to maintain infection control in our facilities.
Electronics - 70% Isopropyl Alcohol & distilled water at a ratio of 1:1
Student desks, high touch surfaces, restrooms, drinking fountains, sinks and countertops - cleaned with soap and water and disinfected utilizing epa registered disinfectants.
Shared play and learning materials/tools - clean with soap and water prior to sanitizing with food grade and contact safe sanitizer.
Restrooms will be cleaned thoroughly with soap, water, and mechanical means prior to complete disinfection and rinse with clean water.
Buses - neutral cleaner and sanitizer will be used to clean all seats and touch points(a hydrogen peroxide product may be substituted to provide some disinfectant capacity while protecting the indoor air quality of the bus. Handrails will be disinfected with an EPA registered disinfectant. Driver seats and operating equipment will be disinfected utilizing an alcohol mixture.
Floors - will be cleaned with water that has been positively charged by electrode to increase cleaning capacity and then mopped with a hydrogen peroxide product diluted to a minimum of 5%.
Systematic and prevalent signage will be furnished in each building to illustrate the importance of hand hygiene and inform staff and students of the best practices for thorough hand washing.
School buildings sites have been reviewed to identify all classrooms and general areas with insufficient hand washing capacity/capability. All spaces identified in this review, including building entry points, will receive a portable hand washing station to satisfy the needs of staff and students the ability to wash hands effectively on an as needed basis determined by the individual.
Custodial staff will be responsible for facilitating the stations on a daily basis. Facilities staff have installed additional supply dispensers to ensure that each individual restroom facility and specific classroom environments are less likely to run out of soap and disposable paper towels.
Various training and resource documents are being created and will be delivered to staff and students upon return to sites and classes.
WHEN SOMEONE IS SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19
If any individual, whether through the screening process or once on campus, develops the following symptoms we will engage the process outlined below.
Symptoms identified by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for COVID 19 :
If while on campus, an individual reports that they have a confirmed case of COVID-19 or if they are exhibiting any of the symptoms identified above, they will be immediately escorted by a staff member to a room identified (at each site) for isolation and will need to maintain at least six feet of physical distance from any other individuals in this location until they can safely be picked up by a family member. NOTE: Once the individual exhibiting symptoms has left the premise our custodial team will secure the room and determine the best time frame for cleaning to occur. The isolation room will then be thoroughly cleaned by our custodial staff who will wear appropriate PPE for the sanitation and disinfection of an area in which there has been suspected COVID-19. CDC guidance for the cleaning and disinfection of the isolation room and other identified areas will be followed.
The school district central point of contact (POC) will be notified of the suspected or confirmed case. The two POCs for the Bainbridge Island School District are Dane Fenwick and Erin Murphy. One of the POCs will then contact the Kitsap Public Health District to make them aware of the suspected or confirmed case. The POCs will honor the confidentiality of all information related to suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19. For the purposes of the contact tracing process, additional information regarding confidentiality is outlined below.
Confidentiality: State and federal laws protect the privacy of personal health information. The POC will limit the access and amount of information shared to only what is operationally needed. POCs will not divulge personally identifying information—including name—to other employees, students, or families and will maintain the confidentiality of this information. In some cases, the absence of a specific employee or student combined with notification to close contacts may reveal the identity of a confirmed or suspected case. However, as long as the POC does not specifically reveal the name or other confidential health information, the POC will proceed to notify close contacts to secure the health and safety of the workplace.
Prior to being sent home, individual with symptoms or reporting a confirmed case of COVID-19 should follow guidance outlined in the two attachments - both of which will be provided:
DOH guidance on what to do if you have symptoms for COVID-19 and have not been around anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 .
What to do if you have confirmed or suspected COVID-19
They will also be provided with the name and contact information of the district POCs, and awareness that either the Kitsap Public Health District or the school district POCs may be contacting them related to contact tracing. Though medical testing for COVID-19 is not a requirement for access to school, we will ask the student's family to inform the school right away if the person is tested and diagnosed with COVID-19.
At this time, our current health district is working at capacity, and we have been informed that school district staff will likely be asked to assist in contact tracing and subsequent communication with individuals who have either shown symptoms or have confirmed cases of COVID-19, as well as with other individuals who may have been in contact with the aforementioned individuals.
Our health district has directed us to utilize the "Healthy Workplace: The Role of Employers in Effective Contact Tracing" to establish our procedures and noted that in any instance where the word "employees" is noted that the words "and students" should be included.
The following procedures have been established by our district to facilitate contract tracing.
Identify and inform any close contacts in the school environments within 24 hours.
Identify any close contacts (within 6 feet for more than 15 min) that the suspected or confirmed COVID-19 student or staff member had in the school environment in the 48 hours prior to the onset of symptoms or prior to a confirmed test if the COVID-19 positive person is asymptomatic. Note: We will not disclose the name of the contact unless we have express written consent from the staff -or- student and/or their family.
Review logs/ databases of who was present in the identified school environment (i.e. classroom(s), bus, athletics, etc.)
Review school related calendars and/or schedules
Ask student or staff member and other staff (i.e. student's teacher or supervisor) for their recollections and cross reference with other data sources
If we learn about a case from Public Health, they may provide some names of contacts
Communicate possible exposure to close school environment contacts. Note: We will not disclose the name of the contact unless we have express written consent from the staff -or- student and/or their family.
Inform the staff member or the student and/or student's family that they were in close contact with a suspected or confirmed COVID19 case. Note: The first contact for a student will always be made to the family and any discussion with the student will be approached in an age appropriate manner.
Ensure that the student or staff member is wearing their face covering, immediately separate from others, and ensure safe transport home.
Direct them to quarantine for 14 days.
Recommend testing to assist with further contact tracing. Note: Quarantine period remains 14 days regardless of test results as it takes up to 14 days for the virus to incubate.
If the exposure date is known, test no sooner than 48 hours after the exposure.
If the exposure date is unknown, or if the exposure was continuous, immediate testing is recommended.
Provide information including:
DOH: What to do if you were potentially exposed to someone with COVID-19
Kitsap Public Health District: What is Contact Tracing
Information related student's attendance and missed school work.
Criteria for return to the school environment.
Communicate out to the school community, as determined appropriate.
Be transparent about confirmed cases and close contacts to maintain confidence while taking steps to protect student/ staff confidentiality.
Announce steps being taken to reduce transmission.
Restate our collective responsibility to reduce transmission and where they can find additional information or resources.
Provide COVID-19 POC contact information for any questions or concerns
RETURNING TO SCHOOL (AFTER A SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASE)
When an individual with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 is sent home, the following guidelines will be in place regarding when they will be able to return to a school district site.
Symptomatic Confirmed COVID-19 Case
Asymptomatic Confirmed COVID19 Case
Symptomatic Suspected COVID19 Case
Close Contact with Confirmed COVID19 Case
MINIMUM TIME:
10 days since symptoms first appeared
10 days since positive test result with no symptoms
14 days since last known contact
SYMPTOM STATUS BEFORE RETURN:
Improved symptoms
No symptoms
FEVER STATUS BEFORE RETURN:
No fever for at least 24 hours without the use of medication
No fever
All 3 must be met
If symptoms appear, follow guidelines for symptomatic confirmed COVID-19 case
If an individual is symptomatic, gets tested and is confirmed negative they can return to school 24 hours after fever is gone without use of medications and other symptoms improving.
If an individual is symptomatic and does not get tested they can return after 10 days and,at least 24 hours fever free without use of medications and other symptoms improving.
When to test:
1) If symptoms develop, test. If negative, return after 14 days. However, if there is a high suspicion of COVID19, regardless of test result, treat it like suspected/ confirmed case
2) If no symptoms, test no sooner than 48 hours from last known exposure. (If the exact exposure date is unknown or is ongoing, immediate testing is appropriate.) If negative, return after 14 days