Safe Return to In Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan

Reviewed June 6, 2023

Introduction

The safety and well-being of all staff and visitors are a priority for Sanford-Fritch ISD as the district welcomes all students and campus-based personnel back to our campuses for the 2023-2024 school year.  Sanford-Fritch ISD schools will continue practices, protocols, and safety guidelines recommended by the CDC and the Texas Education Agency. The goal is to collaboratively ensure that all students, employees, and visitors in district facilities remain safe and secure to the greatest extent possible. 

Many of the safety measures that Sanford-Fritch ISD implemented during the 2022-2023 school year will continue in the 2023-2024 school year. The measures we will continue to practice include having access to hand sanitizer stations throughout our facilities, social distancing when possible and other health related recommended guidelines as needed. We will continue to evaluate CDC guidance, guidance from district officials, and guidance from TEA as well as federal departments.  

As always, Sanford-Fritch ISD staff will continue to meet the challenges of COVID-19 with creativity and perseverance, embodying the commitment of educating all students for success—no matter the circumstances.  “Sanford-Fritch ISD Cares” is our commitment that we will do everything within our power to ensure that both our students and staff have what they in need in order to feel secure in the workplace and learning environment. 

This Plan is the Sanford-Fritch Independent School District’s (District’s) guidance on the safe return to in-person instruction. Guidance concerning the coronavirus (COVID-19) will be updated at least every six months as mandated by the Texas Education Agency. 

 
Face-to-Face Learning

Sanford-Fritch ISD will not offer remote instruction for the 2023-2024 school year, so all students will be required to attend school on campus unless a medical condition precludes attendance.  

Campus Visitors 

Campuses are no longer required to restrict visitors due to COVID-19.  SFISD will continue to monitor local Health department guidelines.  

Local Health department level Green or Yellow 
Signage will be placed at all entrances asking visitors to self asses whether or not they have any active COVID symptoms before entering.

Local Health department level Orange
Visitors will be asked the screening questions of whether or not they have any active COVID symptoms before being allowed to enter the building.

Local Health departments level Red 
Visitors will be asked to only visit the campus for essential purposes.

 
Coordination with State and Local Health Officials

Sanford-Fritch ISD will remain in communication with local health and state officials concerning and changes or safety updates pertaining to COVID-19.  These changes will be updated (when appropriate) and included in the six-month update to Sanford-Fritch ISD stakeholders.

COVID-19 Points of Contact:

Jennifer Carr- Jr. High School Principal
806-397-0159
jcarr@sfisd.net

Gina McCown- Sanford-Fritch Elementary
806-397-0159
gmccown@sfisd.net
 
General Guidelines for Students 

Health and Student Safety

The Sanford-Fritch Independent School District will continue to monitor the COVID-19 landscape. Your health and safety remains our top priority.  Due to the constantly changing nature of the COVID-10 threat, the district will continually monitor recommendations from the Texas Education Agency, the Federal Centers for Disease Control, and the Department of State Health Services.  Links to the current recommendations are below:

TEA - https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/health-safety-discipline/covid/coronavirus-covid-19-support-and-guidance

CDC - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html

DSHS - https://dshs.texas.gov/covid19readmission/

Social Emotional Student Supports

The District considers the social and emotional wellbeing of its students to be one of the most important ongoing tasks during this pandemic.  Therefore, all of the policies and procedures discussed in this document will be done to the least extent possible, while still maintaining the safety of the students, in order to bring back as much normalcy as possible.

 In addition, counselors at each campus are available to support students academically, socially, and emotionally. Counselors are prepared and ready to provide resources for families who may be struggling.

Face Masks

Sanford-Fritch ISD Students will not be required to wear a face mask throughout the school day. However, students who wish, may wear a mask if they choose to do so.
  

Before Arriving at School

Parents are encouraged to perform a preliminary COVID-19 screening of their child(ren) before they depart for school or child/youth care providers. Parents should ensure that their child(ren)are symptom free before sending them to school each day. 

Transportation

 Buses will be cleaned and disinfected on a daily basis after each trip.

Cafeteria Operations 

Students will be encouraged to wash or use hand sanitizer before entering the cafeteria for breakfast and lunch. 

Classroom Considerations

Teachers will monitor the use of shared resources to minimize cross-contamination and promote the use of technology resources to supplement interactive activities.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Any students who have disabilities will receive the needed accommodations to ensure their safety while they are on campus or attending any campus-related events.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

The Sanford-Fritch ISD custodial staff will routinely clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched by multiple people such as light switches, countertops, walls, handles, etc.  Staff members will also disinfect surfaces throughout the day as appropriate.  

Isolation Facility/Health Considerations

Sanford-Fritch ISD will implement isolation strategies to separate students that have non-COVID-19 illnesses from potential COVID-19 symptoms or illness.  

Extra-Curricular Activities 
For extra-curricular activities, the District will continue to monitor recommendations and requirements from TEA and UIL.  The most resent guidance from UIL is below:

Risk Mitigation & Guidelines
Public Health Guidance
Updated 8/16/22
Schools should follow TEA Public Health Guidance for the most up-to-date information regarding COVID. 
Re-admission Criteria

Per Department of State Health Services

Coronavirus disease 2019 commonly referred to as COVID-19 is a disease requiring exclusion from school under 25 Tex. Admin. Code § 97.7.

A school administrator shall exclude from attendance any child having or suspected of having COVID-19. Exclusion shall continue until the readmission criteria for the conditions are met. The readmission criteria for COVID-19 is as follows:

If symptomatic, exclude until at least 5 days have passed since symptom onset, and fever free*, and other symptoms have improved. Children who test positive for COVID-19 but do not have any symptoms must stay home until at least 5 days after the day they were tested.

*Fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever suppressing medications. Fever is a temperature of 100° Fahrenheit (37.8° Celsius) or higher.
 
General Guidelines for Staff

Start of School

Sanford-Fritch ISD will begin school on Tuesday, August 15, 2023.  All registered students must attend in person.   

Communication Plan

Administration will communicate to their respective staff regarding high-risk areas, increases in PPE requirements, closures of certain buildings or other areas, and other updated federal, state and local guidelines as deemed necessary.

The Texas Education Agency COVID-19 webpage shall be monitored closely by the administration to ensure to keep abreast of up-date information as it relates to health, safety, instruction, finances, etc.

Absences

If an employee takes time off, the supervisor is responsible for ensuring the absence is submitted and approved through Frontline. 

COVID-19 Related Absences should be reported to your supervisor as soon as symptoms or exposure occurs. Your supervisor will provide guidance for reporting symptoms/exposure. An employee’s accrued state and local leave may be used until the proper documentation from the employee is received in the payroll department. The District will follow board policy DEC.

Health and Employee Safety

The Sanford-Fritch Independent School District continues to monitor the progression of the coronavirus. Your health and safety remain our top priority. As a result, the District continues to implement a variety of safety measures and to scale safety efforts as quickly as possible to keep employees safe.

Employee-Self-Screening 

All employees will be encouraged to self-screen before going to work by checking their temperature and determining if they have any of the following new or worsening signs or symptoms of possible COVID-19:

•    Cough
•    Shortness of Breath or difficulty breathing
•    Chills
•    Repeated shaking with chills
•    Muscle Pain
•    Headache
•    Sore throat
•    Loss of taste or smell
•    Diarrhea
•    Feverish feeling or a measure temperature equal to or greater than 100.4°F
•    Known close contact with a person who is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19.

If running a fever of 100.0° or higher, or feeling ill, please stay at home.  Notify your Campus Administrator if you exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 or are diagnosed with COVID-19. Make sure you contact your health provider, if needed.

Staff Who Become Ill During the Workday

Due to the contagious nature of the virus, all staff should stay informed, practice healthy habits, and avoid sharing equipment when possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

If staff develop symptoms of COVID-19 during the workday or are lab-confirmed to have COVID-19, the following steps will be taken to reduce transmission:

Separate symptomatic staff from others and send them home.

The Campus Administration/Supervisor will assist with contact tracing to determine other staff or students that may have been exposed to the virus and will inform staff of possible exposure to the virus while maintaining confidentiality [See Board Policy DH and Educator Code of Ethics]

An evaluation will be conducted, based on current Health Department guidelines, to determine if a campus or portion of a building must be shutdown (Superintendent will make the final determination).

 
Lab Confirmed Case

Required Actions if Individuals with Lab-Confirmed Cases Have Been in a School or in an Area Where UIL Activities Are being Conducted

1.    If an individual who has been in a school is test-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). 
2.    Upon receipt of information that any teacher, staff member, student, or visitor at a school is test-confirmed to have COVID-19, the school must submit a report to the Texas Department of State Health Services via an online form. The report must be submitted each Monday for the prior seven days (Monday-Sunday).

Return to Work Requirements

Staff with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis may not return to work until:

•    At least 24 hours have passed since recovery, which is defined as:
        No longer having a fever (<100.0° or higher) without the use of fever-reducing medicine like Advil, Tylenol, or Aspirin), and
        Significant improvement of your other symptoms (cough, sore throat, headache, etc.), and
•    At least 5 days have passed since symptoms first appeared, 
•    Staff members who test positive for COVID-19 but exhibit no symptoms must remain home for 5 days from the date of the positive test, or
•    Staff member has a statement from a medical professional that clears them to return to work based on an alternative diagnosis