A Presentation to the ESBOCES Community

August 2020

Reopening Plan

Reopening Planning Committee

AdministrationBusiness Services DepartmentCentral Support ServicesCollective Bargaining Unit LeadershipCommunications OfficeEducational Support Services

DepartmentFacilitiesFood ServiceHealth and Safety

Human Resources Office of Technology IntegrationOperations and MaintenancePurchasingSuffolk Regional Information CenterSupervising NurseSupport StaffTeacher and Paraeducator LeadershipTransportation Department

Began meeting on May 14, 2020Stakeholders included but not limited to:

Lessons Learned Summer 2020

Teacher and staff surveyed three times during summer 2020• What surfaced from the survey

– The importance of minimizing movement of staff and students – Frequent handwashing and cleaning– New protocols for collaboration and communication– Ongoing need for PPE and cleaning/disinfecting supplies – The need to respect colleagues by following safety protocols

with fidelity– The ease of student adjustment to new protocols

Communication/Family and Community Engagement

Other stakeholders and community member engagement:

• Students • Parents• Suffolk County Department of Health• Component School Districts

– Suffolk County School Superintendents Association

– Curriculum Council

Communications subcommittee of the Reopening Committee developed a communications plan for students, parents/persons in parental relation, staff and visitors to address:

– Training on how to safely and correctly follow new COVID-19 protocols– Health protocols and signage throughout ESBOCES buildings– Verbal and written communication regarding DOH guidance related to PPE– Communications provided in both English and Spanish – Reopening plan is accessible to those with visual and/or hearing

impairments– 3 - Community forums for parents and stakeholders– 2 - Community forums for teachers and staff– Dedicated email has been developed for the ongoing submission of

questions COVID-Qs@esboces.org

Communication/Family and Community Engagement

Health and Safety

• Actions Taken to Determine Operations– Classrooms measured to determine capacity– Extra furniture removed from classrooms– Common spaces will be utilized for instruction when needed– Face coverings/masks purchased for staff and students– Instructional gains will be evaluated for student transportation to job

sites/community services activities

• Considerations utilized to determine number of students/staff able to return in person– Appropriate social distancing– Availability of safe transportation– Local hospital capacity

Health and Safety

• Face coverings/masks provided to all employees• Face coverings/masks for students provided as needed• PPE purchased• Regular communication with Suffolk County DOH• Designated Building level COVID-19 Resource Team• Designated Agency COVID-19 Safety Coordinator Team

– Oversee continual compliance– Oversee any phased-in reopening activities

Health and Safety

Health Screening Questions for Staff and Visitors

In addition to attesting to the above:• All Special Education students will have their temperatures taken upon

arrival. • Career and Technical Education students will be provided with a

thermometer to take their temperatures prior to leaving home or their home school.

Statement #1: I am feeling healthy and well today, and have a temperature less than 100degrees.

Statement #2: Within the last 14 days, I have not been in close contact with anyone who as been diagnosed with COVID-19. As defined by the Suffolk County Department of Health, close contact means someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 10 minutes starting from two days before illness onset.

Statement #3: Within the last 14 days, I have not tested positive for COVID-19 nor have I been diagnosed as COVID-19 positive by a healthcare provider.

Statement #4: I am not presently required to quarantine due to New York State traveladvisories.

Health and Safety

Addressing the presence of temperature, signs of illness, and/or inability to attest to the items on the screening questionnaire

– Students• Sent to a dedicated exam room• Assessed by the school nurse• Picked up or sent home for follow-up with

health care provider• On-site COVID-19 testing as needed

– Staff• Assessed by the school nurse (at educational sites)• Go directly home (at administrative buildings)• Notification of supervisor for further guidance• Collaborate with Suffolk County to provide sites for COVID-19 testing

– Visitors/Vendors/Contractors• Not permitted to enter

Plan for Contact Tracing

Contact Tracing (identification and contacting of persons who have come into contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19)• ESBOCES is tracking and monitoring the adults and students in each of our

buildings daily to assist with contact tracing should it be needed.• Should a positive COVID-19 individual be identified, ESBOCES will work

with, support, and supplement the contact tracing efforts of the Suffolk County Department of Health. This will include identifying proximate contacts.

• The agency has a COVID-19 Safety Coordinating Team and each building has a COVID-19 Resource Team that will assist with the above. These teams consist of school nurses, and building and central office administrators.

Health and Safety

• Cleaning Protocols– Instructional facilities deep cleaned and disinfected daily, more

frequently as needed.– High-touch areas cleaned throughout the day– Shared equipment cleaning between usage– Hard surfaces– Classrooms and Offices– Restrooms– Common Areas (hallways/banisters)– Medical Offices

• Fire and Lockdown Drills– Modified to minimize risk as per guidance

Facilities

• Long-standing required school facilities regulations from NYS Office of Facilities Planning continue to be in place and have been enhanced

• Well-trained custodial staff

• Additional PPE for custodial staff

• Cleaning and disinfecting logs developed for monitoring

• Continued exploration of new technologies

Child Nutrition

• No application necessary for ESBOCES Special Education students for free breakfast and lunch

• Lexicon barriers installed at point of sale register and on the serving line to separate instructional staff from food service workers

• Students in attendance at ESBOCES will be served the meal of their choice in their classrooms– All meals packaged and served with single-use disposable containers and

utensils– Sharing of food and drinks will not be permitted

• Students learning remotely can receive breakfast and lunch at no charge

– Meals picked up at grab-n-go locationin Holtsville

– Meal delivery available, if necessary

Transportation

• ESBOCES buses used every day will be cleaned/disinfected daily after the end of the school day so these disinfectants have proper dwell times.

• Drivers will wipe down high-frequency touch areas frequently throughout the day.

• ESBOCES shall ensure that: – School buses are not equipped with hand sanitizer due to its combustible

composition, nor may bus drivers, monitors, or attendants carry personal bottles of hand sanitizer.

– School bus staff and personnel wear a face covering/mask, along with optional face shield (where applicable), and gloves. This PPE will be provided to the employees by the transportation contractor.

– Transportation staff are trained and provided periodic refreshers on the proper use of PPE, the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and proper social distancing.

– Hand sanitizer will be provided for all staff in their transportation locations.– School bus drivers, monitors, and attendants shall perform a self-health

assessment for symptoms of COVID-19 before arriving to work each day.

Transportation

• ESBOCES requires that: – Students wear a face covering/mask on a school bus if physically

and mentally able.– Students who do not have a face covering/mask will NOT be denied

transportation and will be provided one by the bus driver or matron.

– Students with disabilities that prevent them from wearing a face covering/mask will not be forced to do so or denied transportation.

– Students will be trained and provided periodic reminders on the proper use of PPE and the signs and symptoms of COVID-19and appropriate social distancing.

– Pupil transportation will be provided to students whose Individualized Education Programs have placed them out of district.

Social Emotional Well-Being

• School counseling plan reviewed and updated by shared decision teams and collaborative working groups

• Student assessment survey developed to assess needs of students relative to COVID–19

• Resources and referrals developed and distributed to mental health staff for use with students

• COVID-19 mental health training for teaching staff

• Staff survey administered and responded to• Additional professional development

and personal support resources available to staff

Teaching and Learning

• Full return to in-person instruction for K-12 programs for 2020-21 school year inclusive of:– Special Education– Career and Technical Education– Special Career Education

• Preparation for remote instruction will be done in the event that we need to shut down due to increased COVID–19 numbers or the need to quarantine as per Department of Health instructions. NYS Learning Standards imbedded in all models of instruction.

• In the event of the need for hybrid or remote instruction, teacher and student engagement will be tracked and supported.

• Accessible and widely-disseminated contact information for students and families/caregivers is critical.

Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism

• In-Person Instruction– Utilizing traditional mechanisms for collecting and reporting student

attendance for in-person instruction

• In the event of the need for a virtual platform or hybrid model– Student logins– Parent/family engagement

• Necessary support and follow-up will be provided to families of students with chronic absenteeism

Technology and Connectivity

• Instructional staff and families will be assessed for level of access to devices and high-speed internet

• One-to-one remote device program for all students and staff–access to devices and internet connectivity

• Multiple methods will be provided for students to participate in lessons

PresidentLisa Israel

Vice PresidentWilliam K. Miller

Member and ClerkFred Langstaff

MembersSusan Lipman

Joseph LoSchiavoAnne Mackesey

James F. McKenna

Arlene BarresiStephen L. Gessner, Ph.D.

Linda S. GoldsmithWilliam Hsiang

Brian O. MealyCatherine M. Romano

John Wyche

District SuperintendentDavid Wicks

Chief Operating OfficerJulie Davis Lutz, Ph.D.

Deputy SuperintendentRyan J. Ruf – Management Services

Associate SuperintendentClaudy Damus-Makelele – Educational Services

Peggie Staib, Ed.D. – Educational Services

Assistant SuperintendentSam Gergis, Ed.D. – Human Resources

DirectorsLeah Arnold – Career, Technical and Adult Education

Kate Davern – Educational Support ServicesMark Finnerty – Facilities

Colleen Lipponer – Business ServicesSusan Maddi – Administrative ServicesGrant Nelsen – Technology Integration

Gina Reilly – Special EducationDarlene Roces – Regional Information Center

www.esboces.org

Eastern Suffolk BOCES Board and Administration

Eastern Suffolk BOCES does not discriminate against any employee, student, applicant for employment, or candidate for enrollment on the basis of gender, race, color, religion or creed, age, weight, national origin, marital status,disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or any other classification protected by Federal, State, orlocal law. This policy of nondiscrimination includes: access by students to educational programs, student activities, recruitment, appointment and promotion of employees, salaries, pay, and other benefits. ESBOCES also provides equalaccess to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. ESBOCES fully complies with all applicable rules and regulations pertaining to civil rights for students and employees (e.g., Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, §504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Dignity for All Students Act, § 303 of Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Boy Scouts of America EqualAccess Act of 2001). Inquiries regarding the implementation of the above laws should be directed to either of ESBOCES Civil Rights Compliance Officers at ComplianceOfficers@esboces.org: the Assistant Superintendent for HumanResources, 631-687-3029, or the Associate Superintendent for Educational Services, 631-687-3056, 201 Sunrise Highway, Patchogue, NY 11772. Inquiries may also be addressed to the Office for Civil Rights at the US Department ofEducation, 32 Old Slip, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10005, 646-428-3800, OCR.NewYork@ed.gov.