North Greene Unit District #3
Reopening Plan
2021-2022 School Year
Last updated 8-11-21
Board Approved 8-11-21
Foreword
To the students, staff, parents, and community members of North Greene Unit District #3:
As we enjoy the summer, we must also consider what school will look like in a few weeks, and how we can continue in-person learning. We have to create a meaningful learning environment and experiences for our students. We also have to maintain a safe learning environment, as well as utilize a model that our professional staff can execute.
We will strive to maintain an in-person learning model. An in-person learning model will support your student’s social-emotional health as well as provide the most academic support. However, we must realize the virus threat may still be out there in some form. We must take steps to keep our schools from becoming “hot spots” in our community. We must also anticipate that there may be outbreaks, which will require that we move from in-person to remote learning at some point.
This document represents what we are planning for with the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. It is a work-in-progress and is based upon the latest guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control, the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Governor, and our local health department.
I know masking is a major concern within our community. At this time, we will begin the year with masks mandated for all students, staff, and visitors. Masks will be required on school buses as social distancing is not possible in these confined spaces. We will continue to monitor the health and well-being of our students and staff and adjust accordingly if needed
Sincerely,
Mark Scott
Superintendent of Schools
Public Health
Overview
North Greene Unit District #3 will continue to collaborate with the Greene County Public Health Department to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment is provided for our students and staff. Any person entering North Greene Unit District #3 property will be required to follow all public health regulations. Below is an explanation of the health regulations based upon current information:
Key Updates
- Mask use is mandated indoors for all people including students, teachers, and staff. Children under 2 years of age should not wear a mask.
- People do not need to wear masks when outdoors. However, particularly in areas of substantial high transmission, CDC recommends that all persons wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings or during activities that involve sustained close contact with other people.
- Buses – Regardless of the mask policy at school, passengers and drivers must wear a mask on school buses.
- The CDC/IDPH/ISBE recommend universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. They also recognize local control during Phase 5 as stated: “Together with local public health officials, school administrators should consider multiple factors when they make decisions about implementing layered prevention strategies against Covid-19. Since schools typically serve their surrounding communities, decisions should be based on the school population, families, and students served, as well as their communities.” Further, as of August 4, 2021, Governor Pritzker has indicated he will order all schools to institute an indoor mask mandate for all school staff, students, and individuals on school property. Based on the current conditions and the Governor’s order, North Greene Unit District #3 will begin the year with a mask mandate. We will continue to monitor the health and well-being of our students and staff and adjust accordingly if needed.
Number of Student and Staff Requirements
- 3 feet between students when practical combined with indoor mask wearing, regardless of vaccination status, to reduce transmission risk.
- Quarantines for students in close contact with a positive case if symptomatic will be determined by local health department.
Building Traffic Guidelines and Symptom Screening
- Symptom screening process will take place upon entering the building
- Symptoms include: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea
- Screenings will be taken each day by the homeroom or 1st hour teacher
- Each building will create a safe traffic flow with social distancing in mind
- Mask use is mandated indoors for all persons including students, teachers, visitors, and staff. Children under 2 years of age should not wear a mask.
- Furniture, tables, and desks will be arranged to support social distancing as much as practicable
- Schools will control the flow of traffic into and out of the building to ensure maximum capacity plans are managed at each entry and exit point
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Hygiene Measures
- Mask use is mandated indoors for all people including students, teachers, and staff. Children under 2 years of age should not wear a mask.
- Students and staff will be given frequent breaks outside with social distancing so that “breaks” from wearing a mask are available
- Classes will be held outside as often as possible with social distancing and time for a “mask free” learning environment
- Gloves are required for Food and Nutrition Service workers at all times and other staff when cleaning or sanitizing an item or surface. Staff will properly change gloves after cleaning and wash/sanitize hands
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including face coverings (back-ups to personal face coverings), hand sanitizer will be provided to schools throughout the school year
- Parents are encouraged to provide their student with a mask if possible (Facemasks should be cleaned each day or replaced at the end of the day)
- Additional PPE and accommodations will be provided if necessary in some instances
- Additional signage on how to stop the spread of Covid-19, properly wash hands, promote everyday protective measures including face coverings will be on display in buildings
- Consistent scheduled times and procedures will be established throughout the day for hand hygiene, promoting hand washing
- Any student who has had close contact with another student or any other person who is diagnosed with Covid-19 should follow all state and local guidance from the health department and should seek a COVID-19 test at a state or local government testing center, healthcare center, or other testing location. All other students should be on alert for symptoms of fever, cough, or shortness of breath, and taking temperatures if symptoms develop
- All staff and students will be required to stay home when experiencing Covid-19 symptoms. If they do have symptoms, they should wait to enter the premises until they have had no fever for at least 24 hours, other symptoms have improved, and at least 10 days have passed since their symptoms first appeared, and feeling well for at least 24 hours OR has a negative COVID-19 test. Follow all local health department guidance. The school nurse will follow the IDPH chart when advising the safe return for students.
Suspected/Confirmed Covid-19 – School Decision Tree
- Symptomatic staff and students in the building will need to go to an established isolated area until they can safely leave the building. The area will then be disinfected per IDPH and CDC guidelines.
- Coordination with the local health department regarding suspected and confirmed cases
- Health department will assist North Greene Unit District #3 leadership team to determine a course of action for their individual schools on a case-by-case basis
- Health department has indicated this may include the dismissal of students and most staff for a short period
- Note: The quarantine period may be a single student, a staff member, a class, or even a school, or the entire district
Transmission Mitigation and Cleaning Procedures
- We will consider increasing the circulation of outdoor air as much as possible by opening windows and/or doors as long as it does not pose a safety or health risk to other students
- To the extent possible, students and staff should limit the sharing of all supplies, utensils, devices, toys, books, and learning aids
- Custodial services cleaning practices will be focused for cleaning for health, which includes an emphasis on disinfecting surfaces where bacteria or viruses are most likely to be transmitted with an approved EPA disinfectant
- Custodians will ensure timely and appropriate cleaning of each classroom is conducted each day
- Buses will also be disinfected and cleaned on a daily basis
- The District will work with the County Health Department to provide information regarding vaccination clinics throughout the school year for anyone eligible to receive the vaccine.
- The District will respect people’s varying levels of vaccine confidence, those who want to get vaccinated against COVID-19 can visit vaccines.gov to find out where they can get vaccinated in our community.
Vaccination Promotion
Academics
Overview
North Greene Unit District #3 will strive to provide in-person learning as much as possible during the 2021-2022 school year. We believe this model best facilitates students’ mastery of Illinois Learning Standards and North Greene Unit District #3 curriculum. North Greene Unit District #3 is also prepared to offer a remote learning plan. The district requires that all students attend in person unless there is a medical need to utilize remote learning. Parents do have the option of remote learning for their child only if there is a doctor’s note for the option. This option is not preferred by the school as this is not the best educational option. The school would prefer that all students attend in person unless there is a medical need to utilize remote learning. The remote learning decision must be made on a quarterly basis for parents. There is a possibility that one or both of our schools will be forced to the remote learning option only at certain times this school year.
In-person Learning
In-person learning will be the norm. Students benefit from in-person learning and safely returning to in-person instruction in the fall 2021 is a priority. Our regular school day will return.
Remote Learning
Remote learning will be used only when necessary. Parents also have the option of remote learning for their child only for a medical reason. This option is not preferred by the school as this is not the best educational option. The school would prefer that all students attend in person unless there is a medical need to utilize remote learning. Any student who is on remote must have a doctor’s excuse. The district will utilize a third party vendor to provide excused students with remote learning opportunities. Students signing up for remote learning with a doctor’s excuse must do so for a semester.
Special Education
North Greene Unit District #3 is committed to providing free and appropriate educational opportunities for students with disabilities, to the greatest extent possible in alignment with public health guidelines. Collaboration with families has always been an integral part of the special education process and is essential during this time. To address the unique needs of students with disabilities, special education providers will continue to work with families to collaboratively identify the most essential services for each student that can be provided both directly and indirectly in remote and in-person learning environments.
Technology
The district will strive to ensure that all students have access to a working device (Chromebook, iPad, laptop, desktop computer) either at home or supplied by the school. The school will strive to move toward a model of standardization to provide more support for students during remote learning.
Student Services
Athletics and Activities
North Greene Unit District #3 will continue to support and promote student participation in athletic and activity programs to the extent permitted in the fall. North Greene Unit District #3 is a member of the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) and the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). Adherence to both associations’ parameters for sports, activities, and programs will be followed. The district will also follow the guidance from CDC and IDPH with regard to extracurricular activities and athletics
Food and Nutrition Services
North Greene Unit District #3 will continue to provide meal service to students to the extent possible given on-site and remote learning environments. Remote and on-site learning will dictate the serving model that will be used. Health and safety standard protocols will be used by staff. Continued compliance with Federal requirements for meals served. Cleaning and disinfecting of schools will be aligned with CDC cleaning/disinfecting School Guidance. Any student who enrolls in remote learning while in-person learning is in effect must pick up meals at their respective attendance centers.
Transportation
The transportation department supports students by providing safe and timely transportation services for eligible riders. The district will continue to transport all students. We will rely on parents to ensure their students do not get on a bus with symptoms or a temperature.
- Wear a mask
- Seating charts
- Sanitization will be completed daily or between use on all school vehicles
District School Day (8:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. @ elementary) (8:10 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. @ Jr. Sr. HS)
The district dismissal times will be normal this school year due to the return to 100% in-person student attendance. At times throughout the school year, students may have to stay at home and remote learning will then be an option. The school day will be a normal start time at 8:10 a.m. Students may arrive as early as 7:50 a.m.
North Greene Elementary Day-to-Day Information
Students wishing to eat breakfast may enter the building at 7:50 am. Students choosing not to eat will remain outside until 8:00 am. Weather permitting; our teachers will go outside with their students for reading and other class activities as often as possible. Our Physical Education teacher will take classes outside as often as possible.
North Greene Jr. Sr. High School Day-to-Day Information
Students will be encouraged to arrive no earlier than 7:50 if they are walking, driving, or being brought by a parent or guardian. Upon arrival students who eat breakfast will go to the cafeteria, and students who don’t can stay outside, weather permitting, or go to the high school or junior high gyms until class starts.
Students will be limited to visiting their lockers only 3 times per day – once upon arrival, once after lunch, and once before heading home.