Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan
6-28-21
As everyone knows, JISD students, staff, and community members have been dealing with the impact of the Covid-19 crisis for over a year. The following information is intended to help everyone understand the protocols and procedures that will be followed during the 21-22 school year. Please understand that these plans may be updated/amended by the JISD Board of Trustees in the future, as appropriate. See Frequently Asked Questions below:
ACADEMICS/INSTRUCTION/CURRICULUM:
How will instruction be delivered this fall?
Jefferson ISD plans to only offer on-campus, traditional instruction throughout the 21-22 school year. Therefore, remote instruction will not be an option.
Will JISD offer extra-curricular activities for students?
We plan to offer all the extra-curricular activities that are normally offered every year. However, UIL has yet to release an update to their “UIL Covid Guidelines”.
The district is also investigating the possibility of live streaming the home varsity football games. All varsity football games are expected to be broadcast on the radio as normal. For more information, please contact the school.
HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS:
What will be expected regarding sanitization?
Sanitation stations are available throughout district facilities and on buses. Proper, routine hand washing will be encouraged for all students and staff throughout each day. Schedules (i.e., time between classes, breaks, etc.) will be flexible so that there will be ample opportunity for all students and staff to wash their hands several times during the day. Custodial services will continue to clean/sanitize all areas, especially high-traffic areas/touch-points.
Will social distancing be required for students and staff while at school and school activities?
Social distancing remains a recommendation by the CDC and Local Health Departments. While it is universally accepted that social distancing is helpful to reduce the spread of infectious disease, it is also understood that social distancing is impractical in a school setting and cannot be guaranteed or expected. Therefore, the JISD staff will not be asked to attempt to enforce social distancing as we did last year.
Will students and staff be required to wear masks?
Governor Abbott recently released Executive Order GA-36 which prohibits governmental entities (such as public school districts) from mandating the use of face coverings. While face coverings remain optional, students, staff, and/or visitors will not be required to wear face coverings while on campus, in school vehicles, or while attending JISD events.
Will screening for Covid-19 symptoms or temperature checks take place at school? Daily temperature checks for all students, staff, or visitors will NOT be conducted each day. If an individual is symptomatic or simply feeling bad, school nurses will perform normal medical checks, including temperature checks. Individuals with fever should NOT be at school/work until they are fever free without the use of fever-reducing medication.
Staff, students, and visitors are expected to self-screen each day to ensure no one is entering school facilities, buses/vehicles, or school-related events who: 1) have received a lab-confirmed positive Covid-19 test; or 2) have been diagnosed with any other infectious illness by their doctor; or 3) are exhibiting symptoms of illness that are not normal for them, particularly fever. Parents must ensure a daily screening has taken place for each of their children before they are allowed to attend school, ride school transportation, or attend school-related functions. Students, staff, and visitors should not be at school/work when feverish or exhibiting symptoms of illness that are unusual for them.
All staff should be diligent and refrain from coming to school/work when sick. If feeling feverish, a thermometer should be used to check for fever. Teachers and staff must report to their supervisor or school nurse if they themselves have received a lab-confirmed positive test for COVID-19. Again, staff who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 or with any other infectious virus (such as the flu) should NOT be present on campus, in school vehicles, or at school related events until they receive a “return to work” date from their doctor and are symptom free at that time.
Will students or staff be required to quarantine (or not allowed to be physically at school and/or school-related events) should they be diagnosed with Covid19 or exhibit symptoms?
“Quarantine” periods that were utilized in the 20-21 school year will not be in place. However, students, staff, and/or visitors should not be at school/work when suffering from any infectious illness or while exhibiting symptoms that are unusual for them until they are free from symptoms or released to “return to school/work” by their doctor.
What must the school do if there is a Covid-19 case within the school or if someone has symptoms?
JISD staff will immediately separate individuals from the general population who show COVID-19 symptoms while at school. Students will remain isolated until they can be picked up by a parent or guardian. In the case of a staff member, he/she will be directed to leave the facilities. Of course, an individual’s personal-care physician should determine a return to school/work date and the individual should ensure they are symptom free at that time.
If an individual who has been in a school is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19, the school must notify its local health department, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, including confidentiality requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Rooms/surface areas will be routinely disinfected. In cases where an individual is known to have been at school while having an infectious/contagious illness, extra disinfecting will be expected in the areas where that individual had been present.
Will visitors be allowed at school?
Yes, visitors are allowed. All visitors should check in at the front office of the facility upon arrival. Visitors should ensure they do not come onto campuses or attend school-related functions while they are sick, as mentioned above.
If I am a staff member and I am not allowed to go to work due to COVID-19, will I have to use my personal days of leave, and will I be paid while I must remain off work?
Employees who must miss work will have to use available state or local leave in order to be paid for those days. “Covid” leave days are NO LONGER expected to be available.
Extra:
We can all agree that the past year or so has been very difficult to deal with, particularly in the school setting. However, increased percentages of vaccinations across the population has helped most of us to feel more confident in a “return to normal” way of life. That is certainly the case with school next year. We want our students and staff to enjoy the 21-22 school year and remain as safe as possible. We expect to have an outstanding year. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your child’s campus principal.
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