Safe Return to In-Person Instruction & Continuity of Services Plan

Masking is universally required on buses and school-related transportation. The CDC's 2nku: requires that regardless of the mask policy at school, passengers and drivers must wear a mask on school buses.

The guidelines for all spaces recommend social distancing of at least 3 feet whenever possible. Given our class sizes, all learning spaces, including the gym, music room, and library allow for adequate social distancing.

Recently, the Illinois Department of Public Health adopted the CDC recommendations for return to in person learning for the fall. With our ability to maintain recommended social distancing due to our size, the major issue before us remains masks, and to that end, "The Governor's office said while schools are 'supposed to follow the CDC guidance,' school boards run their school districts, and the new recommendations are "not a mask mandate."
 
While masks will be required on buses (see above), masks will be optional for students and staff in school, regardless of vaccination status.

Cleaning and Sanitizing

• Every classroom will be equipped with hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes.
• Our custodian now works full time, allowing him to address the ongoing need for sanitization throughout the school day.
• Bathroom breaks will require increased coordination between teachers, administration, and custodial staff.

There is nothing in the ISBE guidance regarding meal service that we feel is unmanageable at Eswood. We will return to our regular grade level groupings for lunch.

It is our expectation that special events, including athletic contests, concerts, and parent/teacher conferences will return to normal levels of attendance.

Should students be required to quarantine for an extended period of time, we will set up Google Meet classrooms so that they can attend class synchronously with their school assigned Chromebooks.

According to ISBE, "Only those individuals with close contact with someone who tested positive or who is suspected of having COVID-19 are required to self-quarantine for 14 days." Given the size of our school community and the times that students may interact with others outside of their grade level on the bus, at lunch, or in a specials class such as music, computers, or art, we will err on the side of caution when requiring quarantine.
 
A positive case in any grade level may require Remote Leaming for the whole school for 14 days given the potential for contact spreading. In accordance with The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) we will not be able to share any identifying information regarding an individual who tests positive.

• When a student presents with any symptom the health department will be notified to assess risk and begin work on contact tracing. The department can then make recommendations based on the information received. We will provide the health department with as much information about the student's interactions at school while safeguarding as much of their privacy as possible. The student would be isolated immediately. Parents were notified of the situation and instructed to pick up their child.
• Students that test positive will be excluded from school and quarantined for 14 days from the test date and the school will be in direct communication with the health department.