return health mitigation guidelines

To break the chain of potential transmission and to limit the risk of exposure to all our community members, we must follow the guidance below. When staff and students return to campus, they will return to a physical space that enables all individuals to follow recommended health precautions. To protect students, staff and visitors to school sites, SCUSD staff will evaluate all spaces and make modifications in order to maximize ventilation and spacing needs. This includes signage in every space with public health reminders. Below is a list of standards to be followed at each SCUSD site. 

Entrances & Exits (Pick-Up & Drop-Off)

• SCUSD will take measures to minimize crowding at drop-off and pick-up times
• Add visual cues or barriers to direct traffic flow
• If possible, divide student entry points rather than funneling all students through the same entry space. These approaches can limit the amount of close contact between students in high-traffic situations and time
• Provide access to hand washing or hand sanitizer and face masks at all entrances

Visitors

• Schools must carefully plan health and safety mitigation measures for activities that include visitors that are essential to the education of current or prospective students.
• Other essential visitors include but are not limited to government agency staff conducting health and safety assessments, a parent/guardian attending an essential meeting, such as an Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting, or participating in an essential service for their student related to their educational plan. Essential visitors may also include contracted services staff performing their work at a district facility.  Staff will not bring other individuals with them to the work site who are not employees, do not have valid business at the worksite, or do not have prior permission to be present.

Volunteers

• Volunteers may be permitted to support our schools.  Subject to CDPH and SCPH guidance, parent volunteers willing to provide verification of vaccination status and/or weekly testing and comply with all required health and safety measures may be allowed on campus.  Volunteers may also access onsite COVID-19  testing.  Please note all volunteers must follow all district clearance requirements.

Meetings

• In order to limit the spread of COVID-19 among individuals and cohorts, staff are encouraged to conduct staff meetings, professional development training and education, and other activities in the virtual space when practicable 
• If all other public health measures are employed, a meeting may take place in person.

Common Areas/Break Times

• Minimize the use and prevent the congregation of adults in staff rooms, break rooms, and other settings – ensure room limits and masking requirements are visibly posted and enforced
• Provide various spaces for individuals to take their breaks away from others, such as protected outdoor spaces or alternate rooms  
• Provide alternate break times so that staff do not congregate in spaces together
• Individuals must eat and drink in designated spaces and maintain physical distance as much as practicably possible from other persons.  The space must be well-ventilated – eating outdoors is best if weather permits.  
• Provide hand sanitizer and/or soap and disinfectant easily accessible at all times and near any shared objects such as equipment used by many people and doors. 

Bathrooms

• Ensure all bathrooms have soap and paper towels, refuse containers  
• Paper towels will be provided and are recommended for use over air dryers
• Post clear signage for occupancy, hygiene, and face masking
• Avoid taking large groups to the bathrooms at once (e.g., avoid having all classes use the bathroom right after lunch or recess) 

Designated “Care Room”

• Sites must designate an area for sick individuals where they can be isolated while waiting to be assessed and go home.  Students, staff and community partners may request COVID-19 testing at the school site Care Room.
• Ensure good ventilation
• Ensure the following supplies are available: hand sanitizer, disposable face masks, face shields, gloves, disinfectant, thermometer, trash can with liner
• Room must be disinfected after each use. Room must be supervised.
• If more than one individual is sick, maintain at least 6 feet of distance between persons in the room and and as much ventilation as possible. 

Mealtimes/Cafeterias

During mealtime, schools must take every measure to maximize physical distancing and enhance ventilation. Utilizing outdoor spaces for mealtime is encouraged to the extent possible and is the preferred space for eating.

Mealtime Guidance

Cold Weather/Rainy Days

Indoor eating spaces may need to be utilized during rainy days or inclement weather.  Schools are encouraged to keep eating time to the shortest time possible..  Schools must follow the indoor seating guidance below.  During inclement weather doors and windows should remain cracked if possible to ensure increased ventilation. 

Indoor Cafeteria Seating

• When possible, meals should be eaten outdoors.
• Ensure portable HEPA units are properly in use.
• Physical distance to the extent practicable.
• Use additional spaces outside of the cafeteria for mealtime, such as the gymnasium or outdoors to facilitate distancing. 
• If indoor meal times are paired with recess or outdoor time, consider having half the group eat while the other half has recess to assist with physical distancing. 
• Eating should be completed quickly and then face masks placed back on (when required)
• Hand hygiene must be practiced before and after eating.

Outdoor Eating Spaces

• When possible, meals should be eaten outdoors, distancing as much as possible. 
• Allow students to eat under shady areas, grassy spaces or other non traditional spaces to allow for maximum physical distancing.
• Ensure garbage cans are placed accordingly to accommodate new eating spaces
• Use carpet squares or mats to extend outdoor seating options.
• Request additional outdoor tables from facilities if needed.

Shared Items/Disinfecting

• Given very low risk of transmission from surfaces and shared objects, there is no need to limit food service approaches to single use items and packaged meals.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Surfaces that come in contact with food should be washed, rinsed, and sanitized before and after meals.

Supervision

• Additional funding has been allocated to increase mealtime supervision.
• Ensure supervision staff spreads out over the span of all meal spaces (indoor and outdoor) to reinforce health and safety protocols.

Classrooms

• When required, face masks will be utilized properly at all times when inside the classroom.  Additional face masks should be available, in case a covering becomes soiled or needs replacing
• Face masks are recommended to prevent transmission of Covid-19.
• Some staff and students will be required or choose to wear face masks due to exposures or other personal reasons. All individuals are allowed to face mask when face mask requirements are lifted.
• Hand sanitizer will be mounted to the wall at the doorway in every classroom
• Classrooms should open windows and doors if possible to maximize ventilation 
• Develop activities that model and reinforce good hygiene and face masking 
• As much spacing will be provided within the class and between desks as reasonably practicable, while allowing all students to attend at full capacity
• Activities that involve singing should take place outdoors
• Consider holding class outdoors. Resources about setting up outdoors classrooms can be found at www.greenschoolyards.org.  School staff may take their class outside to complete an assignment in the fresh air; classes can rotate classes through an existing school garden space to use hands-on learning resources; or spread out across their playing field. Trees or other existing structures may be used to provide shade on warm days. 

Band/Music/Drama

Activities where there is increased likelihood for aerosols, such as band practice, choir practice and performances, are permitted. 

To safely conduct these activities indoors, CDPH strongly recommends these activities meet  the following guidelines:

• Properly use modified face coverings and bell coverings when playing wind and brass instruments.
• Maintain physical distancing as much as practicably possible.
• Ensure portable air filters are utilized properly.
• If physical distancing cannot be maintained then weekly COVID-19 screening testing is recommended, including those who are fully vaccinated.
• Surveillance testing provided for higher risk activities that involve increased and forceful exhalation which can pose increased risk for spreading and getting COVID-19, particularly if conducted indoors without the use of masks. High risk groups who participate in activities such as band, orchestra, choir, drama or other related activities are strongly encouraged to participate in regular Covid testing.  Testing may be accessed through the Care Room, a testing day/time window at the school site, a Regional Testing Center, or by using Over-the Counter (OTC) tests at home.  All OTC tests results should be reported to Primary Health.

If physical distancing cannot be maintained then weekly COVID-19 screening testing with either PCR or rapid antigen testing is recommended, including those who are fully vaccinated.

PE Classes/Athletics

Ensure personal hygiene precautions in locker rooms, including physical distancing when practically possible and use of face masks when required.

• Participants will wash their hands/ or use hand sanitizer prior to and immediately following activities where equipment and/or balls are handled by multiple individuals.
• Activities that require heavy exertion should be conducted outside in a physically distanced manner 
  • When required, face masks must be worn during indoor physical conditioning and training or physical education classes (except when showering).
  • Players should take a break from exercise if any difficulty in breathing is noted and should change their mask if it becomes wet and sticks to the player’s face and obstructs breathing. Masks that restrict airflow under heavy exertion (such as N-95 masks) are not advised for exercise
• There should be no shared athletic supplies, such as towels, clothing, shoes, or sports specific supplies, between students.
• Youth sports programs and schools will provide information to parents or guardians regarding these guidelines, along with the safety measures that will be in place in these settings with which parents or guardians must comply
• Surveillance testing provided for higher risk activities that involve increased and forceful exhalation which can pose increased risk for spreading and getting COVID-19, particularly if conducted indoors without the use of masks. High risk groups who participate in athletics are strongly encouraged to participate in regular Covid testing.  Testing may be accessed through the Care Room, a testing day/time window at the school site, a Regional Testing Center, or by using Over-the Counter (OTC) tests at home.  All OTC tests results should be reported to Primary Health.

Field Trips

Field trips are allowable following all required health and safety mitigation measures.  Any field trip approved by the district requires students, staff and volunteers to follow all the public health mitigation measures, regardless of location.  Refer to Risk Management “Field Trip Forms and Regulations” for the most up to date requirements.

Extracurricular Gatherings 

Outdoor/ Indoor Extra-Curricular Event COVID-19 Mitigation Requirements

Coming together in community is essential to building cohesion and a positive school climate.  Extracurricular events and school traditions keep us connected to each other and improve our collective mental health and wellbeing.

The following guidance takes into account the broad range of extracurricular activities occurring at a broad range of school sites, from smaller elementary, multi-grade schools and various secondary schools. Extra-curricular events include but are not limited to performances, competitions, dances, open houses or other events that allow more than just household members to attend.  

Site principals must widely disseminate protocols before the event. Additionally, site principals and their designees will make sure health & safety protocols are effectively operationalized with appropriate planning, monitoring, and evaluation of implementation. Using the following layered health and safety measures allows us to mitigate COVID-19 transmission at these events.  

NOTE:  This guidance is contingent upon CDPH and SCPH guidance and current case counts. This guidance is subject to change based on current conditions.

Outdoor Extracurricular Event Attendance

Schools are encouraged to hold events outdoors when possible as outdoors provides the best ventilation possible and lowest risk for gathering large groups.  Extracurricular events hosted outdoors are allowable, following the standard mitigation measures for outdoors:

• Health screening signage upon entry
• Provide access to face masks at entry points
• Provide access to hand sanitizer
• Maximize to the extent possible physical distancing between non-household groups
• Exposure to COVID-19:  attendees must acknowledge the unique challenges associated with exposures and contact tracing at events of this nature. Ticketing process and promotions must include an acknowledgement of potential exposure notice

There is no requirement for face masking or vaccine or testing verification for outdoor events.

Indoor Extracurricular Event Attendance: Applicable when Sacramento County is in the CDC “High” Community Level Rating 

When Sacramento County is in the CDC “High” Community Level rating and has enacted a district wide indoor mask mandate, school sites may host open invite or ticketed indoor extracurricular events following the required mitigation measures below:

School sites may host open invite or ticketed indoor extracurricular events following the required mitigation measures below:

• Require one of the following options for the entire event:
  • Require face masking for all participants when indoors (no checking vaccine status or testing results)
  • OR
  • Negative COVID test for all participants within 48 hours of the event (when face masks are not required, face masking is optional based on personal risk tolerance).  
    • Taking a rapid antigen test as close to the event as possible is preferable.  
    • To remove as many barriers as possible for participation, At-Home COVID test kits will be provided to all participants (including guests) to support pre-event testing. Event planners will bring additional test kits to the event as a backup precaution.
    • Testing is also provided at each school site and three district locations.  
    • School sites may verify negative test results with a Primary Health screenshot, picture or written self-attestation (CDPH OTC Guidance).
    • Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days should not test again until the 90 days have passed, unless experiencing new symptoms. To clear this requirement, individuals may present their positive test result (with date) or contact tracing verification email.
• Health screening signage upon entry – asking attendees to screen for symptoms.  Deny entry to individuals with symptoms.
• Face masks and hand sanitizer will be provided at entry. 
• Maximize ventilation with doors/windows open while maintaining security and safety needs
• Set up hand sanitizing stations throughout the venue
• Maximize to the extent possible physical distancing between non-household groups
• Staff and/or chaperones must be present to implement and reinforce public health mitigation measures, such as face masking or verifying negative test results and maintain physical distancing as much as practicable
  • See the security section below if security issues arise due to enforcing these mitigation measures
• Host sites may determine if the event includes tickets for guests – all guests must comply with all health and safety measures 
• Food/Drink: the event will ensure eating or drinking occurs outdoors.  Food concessions must follow Nutrition Services standards and include pre-packed or wrapped items
• Exposure to COVID-19:  attendees must acknowledge the unique challenges associated with exposures and contact tracing at events of this nature. Ticketing process and promotions must include an acknowledgement of potential exposure notice

COVID-19 Testing for Events

COVID-19 Testing for Events:

• Testing for events will be provided through Regional Testing Centers or during weekly surveillance testing at the school site.  For the most current testing dates/times visit https://www.scusd.edu/covid-19-testing.
• Participants may also use an At-Home COVID Test kit with results reported to Primary Health.

Security Arrangements/Duties

• Security may be arranged through the Safe Schools office by emailing raymond-lozada@scusd.edu to make appropriate arrangements
• School staff and volunteers are responsible for enforcing public health mitigation measures.  These measures include face masking, symptom  screening, verifying negative test results, eating in specific locations, etc.
• Security staff will intervene if a conflict arises about health and safety measures or other issues
• For example:
  • An attendee refuses to comply with health protocols upon entry.  Entry should be denied and if needed, security will be available to ensure this individual leaves the premises  
  • After entry to the event, if an administrator/designee determines an individual needs to leave due to lack of complying with health and safety measures, security may be called to assist in the effort to have the individual escorted away from the event

Orientation/In-School Tours

For student groups who have never been to campus (i.e. incoming TK or Kinder, 7th grade and 9th grade) these types of activities are essential so that we can safely bring our students back to school. These essential activities also include in-school tours for families and students choosing a school.  Families may also opt out if they are not comfortable. 

• Sites should conduct as much of the orientation or visit as possible virtually (either pre-recorded or through an email) so that the site visit is targeted and intentional.
• Orientations/in-person visits should be largely outside and grouped into physically distanced groups.
• All health mitigation measures will be followed.
• If age/developmentally appropriate, students may attend on their own to limit the number of people gathering and limit potential exposure.
• If parents are included in the visit groups, group size must be adjusted to account for the number of attendees. 
• For TK or Kinder, sites may consider a rotating schedule that allows for site visits throughout a set time period, limiting to a few visitors at a time to avoid crowding.
• Follow established protocols for notifying individuals of a COVID exposure.

Recess/Yards and Playspaces

All playgrounds and play equipment may be utilized following the simple guidelines below:

• Wash hands or use hand sanitizer before and after recess
• Shared equipment may be utilized during recess, provided students wash their hands before and after use 
• Outdoor playgrounds/natural play areas only need routine maintenance. Students must wash or sanitize their hands before and after using these spaces
• Allow flexibility in recess policies and the use of teacher time to allow for supervision of classroom recess

School Bus/Transportation

All personal hygiene guidance must be followed on the school bus. 

• Educate parents and students on the steps they must take to keep others safe during loading and unloading
• If a student appears visibly sick, if parents are present they will be asked to keep the student home and follow Illness and Symptom Requirements (Appendix B)
• When required, all riders must wear a face mask while riding the bus, unless exempted
• Each rider must use hand sanitizer before entering the bus
• Ensure good ventilation with open/partially open windows
• Prevent students from walking past each other by taking the following measures
  • Seat students from the rear of the bus forward
  • Board students for the after school route based on the order in which students will be dropped off. Students who get off first should board last and sit in the front
• Buses should be thoroughly disinfected daily and after transporting any individual who is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19
• Bus drivers should be provided disinfectant and disposable gloves to support disinfection of frequently touched surfaces during the day
• Physical distance students when practicably possible

Home Visits

Staff will follow these recommendations to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 for themselves and families in the community when conducting home visits. For additional questions or concerns consult SCUSD Health Services Department:

• Staff will follow all public health mitigation measures outlined in this plan
• If possible, arrange a date and time for the visit (for example, when conducting a Parent Teacher Home Visit).
• In the interest of safety, notify your supervisor of your plan. Home visits should be conducted with another trained staff member.  
• Outside provides the best ventilation and is the safest place to gather with others. 
• Face masking is recommended during an indoor visit.
• For the safety of all involved in the visit, maintain reasonable physical distancing.