• Hardin ISD Return to In-Person and Continuity of Services Plan

    HARDIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

     

    Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan

     

    IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19

     

    INTRODUCTION

     The conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic are continually evolving and Hardin ISD continues to monitor, evaluate, and adjust plans for the safety of our students and staff. Please know that Hardin ISD will follow recommendations for schools to remain open and operational from state and local health officials.

     SECTION 1: SAFETY OF STUDENTS, STAFF, AND VISITORS

    COVID-19 DISTRICT LIAISON CONTACT

    It is recommended by TEA to designate a person or group as a point of contact for all COVID-19 related concerns or questions. 

    HISD COVID-19 District Liaison:

    Name: Kimberly Citizen Title: District Nurse

    Phone: 936-298-2114 Ext 505

    Email: kcitizen@hardinisd.net

    INFECTION CONTROL MEASURES 
    • Hand sanitizer will be available in each classroom and in various common places throughout the school. Staff and students are expected to regularly wash and/or sanitize hands.
    • Masks and face coverings are optional. Individuals that feel more comfortable may continue to wear masks or face coverings. Those with compromised immune systems are encouraged to wear a mask or face covering. By choosing not to mask you knowingly run the risk of possible exposure.
    • Social distancing of at least 3 feet will be encouraged at all times during the instructional day.
      • It is important to note that under the current TEA guidelines (of offering in- person school every day to every student), that social distancing may not be possible due to the square footage in our classrooms or campuses with most students attending daily.).
    • Students and staff will maintain social distancing in restrooms where possible

     

    VISITOR RESTRICTIONS
    • Social distancing will be encouraged for all meetings.
    • All visitors will be required to complete brief health screening to determine if they have any COVID-19 symptoms or have come into close contact with an individual who has test-confirmed positive for COVID-19 before access is granted into school facilities beyond check-in.
    • Any visitor who has COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms or has come into close contact with an individual who is test-confirmed with COVID-19 must remain off campus until the 10-day incubation period has passed. `

     

    EMPLOYEE SCREENING AND PROTOCOLS

    To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the potential risk of exposure to our employees and students, we will be requiring employees to complete a self-screening which includes a temperature reading and answering a set of questions related to COVID-19 symptoms including:

    • In evaluating whether an individual has symptoms consistent with COVID-19, individuals will be asked if they have recently begun experiencing any of the following symptoms in a way that is not normal for them:
      • Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit
      • Loss of taste or smell
      • Cough
      • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
      • Fatigue
      • Headache
      • Sore throat
      • Chills / Shaking or exaggerated shivering
      • Unexplained congestion or runny nose
      • Significant muscle pain or ache
      • Nausea or vomiting
      • Diarrhea

     

     ISOLATION PROCEDURE RELATED TO COVID-19

      • If a student or staff member has displayed symptoms of COVID-19 during the school day, the school nurse will provide a clinical assessment to determine if and when a student/staff needs to be sent home.
      • If a student or staff member is assessed and exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 during the school day, the student’s class will be located in an alternate area while the room is being disinfected.
      • Any individuals who themselves either: (a) are test-confirmed to have COVID-19; or (b) experience the symptoms of COVID-19 must stay at home throughout the infection period, and cannot return to campus until the school system screens the individual to determine any of the below conditions for campus re-entry have been met:
      • In the case of an individual who was diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual may return to school when all three of the following criteria are met:
        • At least one day (24 hours) has passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications)
        • The individual has improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath)
        • At least five days have passed since the test date. 
      • In the case of an individual that is asymptomatic but has received a positive COVID-19 test result, the individual may not return to the campus until five days have passed since a positive test.
      • If the individual has tested positive for COVID-19 and believes the test was a fake positive, and wants to return to school before completing the above stay at home period, the individual must either (a) obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for return based on an alternative diagnosis, or (b) obtain two acute infection tests (at physician’s office, approved testing location, or other site) at least 24 hours apart that come back negative for COVID-19.
      • In our best efforts to accommodate the needs of our community during this difficult time, we as a district have decided that we will accept the home Covid-19 tests as proof of positive or negative results effective September 1, 2021. You will need to provide a picture of the test to the school nurse on your child’s campus. The test MUST have the students full name, date and time written on the test. 
    • You must provide proof of all positive results that  include name, date and time for attendance.
    • It is highly recommended that you wear a mask for 5 days following your return. 
    • HARDIN ISD will immediately sanitize all areas that had exposure from someone who tested positive. In the event that this cannot be done before the start of the next school day, HARDIN ISD may need to close for a day to complete this process if relocating students is not an option.
    • Any student requiring quarantined will transition to daily assignments via Google Classroom or take home packets for that time period. Communication with your child's teacher is required. 
    • Please contact the school nurse if you are not improving by day 5 for further instruction. 



    CLINIC PROCEDURES RELATED TO COVID-19

    • Students or staff who present with symptoms at school will be evaluated and assessed by the school nurse.
    • If COVID-19 symptoms are present: staff members will be sent home, and students will be isolated from other students and asked to put on a face covering until a parent arrives.
    • Parents will be required to pick up their child 30 minutes to 1 hour after being called.
    • Nurse will notify the campus administrator to move the student’s class so that the space can be disinfected.
    • Nurses will provide parents/staff with Return to School Criteria.
    • Contact tracing for test-confirmed cases of COVID-19 will be conducted by Hardin ISD nursing staff and local health department if needed.

     

    DEFINITION OF “CLOSE CONTACT”

    • This document refers to “close contact” with an individual who is test-confirmed to have COVID-19. The definition of close contact is evolving with our understanding of COVID-19, and the individual scenarios should be determined by Hardin ISD

    nursing staff and if needed the help of the local health department.

    • Contact is determined by Hardin ISD nursing staff. For clarity, close contact is defined as:
    1. being directly exposed to infectious secretions (e.g., being coughed on while not wearing a   mask or face shield); or
    2. being within 3 feet for a total of approximately 15 minutes throughout the course of a day; however, additional factors like case/contact masking (i.e., both the infectious individual and the potential close contact have been consistently and properly masked), ventilation, presence of dividers, and case symptomatology may affect this determination.
    • Either (a) or (b) defines close contact if it occurred during the infectious period of the case, defined as two days prior to symptom onset to 5 days after symptom onset. In the case of asymptomatic individuals who are test-confirmed with COVID-19, the infectious period is defined as two days prior to the confirming test and continuing for 5  days following the confirming test.

    CLOSE CONTACT ISOLATION

     

    • Per TEA (Texas Education Agency) students/staff are not required to isolate for close contact, however are highly recommended to wear masks for 10 days from exposure while at school or school related events.
    •  
    • If the student’s parents choose to keep their child home for close contact exposure the student falls under the following isolation rules: 
    • Students will isolate for 5  days after the last close contact with a lab confirmed ( NOT over the counter test) positive person. If a student chooses to return before completing a full 5  days of isolation they must obtain an acute infection test (at a physician’s office, approved testing location, or other site) that comes back negative for COVID-19.
    • Any student requiring quarantined will transition to daily assignments via Google Classroom or take home packets for that time period. Communication with your child's teacher is required. 


    SCHOOL OPERATIONS

    For more campus specific information, please see each campus’s re-entry guidelines for 2021-2022.

    • Hand sanitizer will be available in each classroom, entrances, and throughout common spaces.
    • Campuses will open multiple entrance/exit points during arrival/dismissal to promote social distancing.
    • Campuses will review options to reduce large group gatherings at the start and end of the day as well as other events.
    • Campuses will not be using lockers.
    • Signs will be used to communicate appropriate spacing and traffic flow throughout the building.
    • Mixing between classrooms will be limited as much as possible *This may not be possible for the entire day as multiple classes join together at dismissal time and for specials like PE.
    • Students and staff will practice social distancing when utilizing each restroom.
    • Classroom doors will be open during transitions to reduce high-touch areas.
    • Procedures and protocols will be put into place to address locker rooms. Protocols will be in place for disinfecting equipment, students changing clothes, students showering, distancing of students, etc. 
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