School District Establishes Health and Safety Protocols

In a video posted to the school district’s website on September 29, Superintendent Michael Morris and Nurse Manager Jill Conselino described the health and safety protocols for students attending school in-person. “Phase one” students (i.e., preschool, kindergarten, first grade, beginner English language learners and students with special needs), were due to return to school on October 1st, but due to the rise in local COVID cases, the start date has been pushed back at least two weeks.

Facilities
In the video, Morris described facility improvements that include HEPA purifiers with ultraviolet light in all classroom spaces that will be used for instruction. The air purifiers contribute to the number of Air Changes Per Hour (ACH) in a space — an important variable in reducing virus transmission — and Morris said that all rooms in which instruction will occur have been tested at over 4 ACH. Hallways will be one-way to reduce exposure, and the “quads” at Wildwood and Fort River have been converted into “halfsies,” with partial walls removed and venting-out adjusted to avoid cross-contamination of air between instruction spaces. Cleaning capacity has been increased with the District now using electrostatic sprayers to disinfect rooms. Building access will be limited to students and staff with no visitors permitted.

Transportation
Morris said school buses will have a maximum of 23 students (reduced from 72), while vans will carry no more than four students. There will be a limit of one child per seat and face masks will be required. Windows will remain open except in very inclement weather. In response to a question from the Indy, Morris said they had been expecting 147 students riding buses in Phase One.

Meals
All school meals will be free until January 1st for all children under 18 years. For those learning remotely, meals can be picked up at one of the twelve delivery sites around town. Hot lunches will be available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and sandwiches and other cold lunches on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Since in-person school will start an hour later than usual, breakfasts will be packaged and handed out with lunch on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Students will be invited to take home multiple bagged breakfasts to enjoy at home every day. 

Further information on school meals can be found at Amherstfood.com.

Masks and Hand Hygiene
Conselino said face masks will be required of all students and staff when in school buildings or when on transportation. Families are asked to provide cloth or disposable surgical masks if they can, although the district will have masks available for students who forget. Unacceptable facial coverings include neck gaiters, bandanas, masks with an external valve, and knitted masks.

Students will be allowed mask breaks during lunch, when they are outside and can maintain a minimum of six feet distance. In addition, there will be a couple of other mask breaks during the school day when children can safely remove their masks.

For students with a medical or other condition that would prevent them from being able to tolerate a mask during the school day, their parent/caregiver and their medical provider are required to complete a Facemask Accommodation form and submit it to the school. 

Hand sanitizer will be offered at all building entrances, and in classrooms where there are no handwashing facilities. Students will be expected to wash their hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer for 20 seconds, multiple times throughout the day, including before and after lunch. 

Symptom Screening
School staff will not be screening for symptoms as students enter the building. Health screening is expected to happen at home and families will be asked to attest to the wellness of their child each morning via a new “Snap Health Portal.” If a child has any symptoms of COVID, including those often seen with the common cold or allergies, the caregiver is expected to keep the student at home and to contact a healthcare provider.

Playgrounds and Books
Playgrounds will be open this fall and accessed in classroom groups. Children will be required to wash their hands before using the play structures and upon re-entry to the building.  

Books will be used in the classroom with one book at a time per student. When they are finished using it, they will be asked to put it in a book bin in their classroom where it will remain for 24 hours before being re-shelved.

Medications and Immunizations
The state is not allowing waivers for immunization requirements this year. All students will be required to get the flu vaccine before December 31st, and for students entering grades 7 and 11, the meningococcal vaccine is required. 

For students with prescription medications, the school nurse will be contacting each family to set up an appointment to bring in the student’s medications. 

Travel
Any student or staff member who travels to a higher-risk state (as defined on the state’s COVID-19 Travel Order) is subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine on return, or proof of a negative PCR COVID test within 72 hours of their return to Massachusetts. As of September 26, 40 states were considered higher-risk, including Rhode Island.

Questions about the health and safety protocols can be sent to Jill Conselino at conselinoj@arps.org or by calling 413-362-1806.