2021-2022 Healthy Return to School Plan

return to school plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LQPV Healthy Return to School Plan 2021-2022

School Board Approved

Revised 8-23-2021

Status of COVID-19 Related Topics:

Lac qui Parle Valley School District (LQPV) is committed to the safety of all students and staff. The LQPV 2021-22 Healthy School Opening Plan was created using the requirements and recommendations set forth by the Federal government, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Countryside Public Health. Currently the guidance has consisted primarily of recommendations.  At this time, MDE has left most final decisions related to the operation of local schools to the local school boards. In that regard, the LQPV School Board met on August 23, 2021 and approved this Healthy Return to School Plan.  The plan is shown below:

LQPV will return to typical (fulltime, In Person) school operations and programming in the fall of 2021.  This includes:

  • All students will be in school five days/week.
  • Normal start and end times will be in place.
  • Sites will return to their typical days and hours of operation.
  • Students will have lunch in the lunchroom(s).
  • Students will transition from class to class, following a normal schedule.
  • Special area classes (music, art, PE, etc) will be held in their classrooms
  • The 2021-22 calendar posted on the district’s website will be followed.

 

Communication with Students, Families, and Staff

LQPV Public Schools will utilize JMC Messenger system, email, phone calls, social media and the LQPV Public School website to keep families informed of COVID related matters.

Covid Program Coordinator:

LQPV COVID-19 Program Coordinator is Heather Piotter, our school nurse.  Heather will serve as point of contact for each school building. Heather will communicate concerns, challenges, and lessons learned related to COVID-19 to our staff, students, families, school and district leadership, and local health officials.

 

 

The following information will provide greater clarity to our expectations:  

 

Face Coverings:

 

  • All students, staff and visitors will be given the choice to wear a face covering, but are not required to wear a face covering, regardless of vaccination status. Anyone may voluntarily wear a face covering if they so choose. The CDE and MDH strongly recommend masking regardless of vaccination status.

 

  • Everyone is required by the CDC to wear face coverings while on public transportation, including school buses, and school vans. (both private and public).

 

  • It is strongly recommended that all unvaccinated people present in school buildings and district offices wear a face covering.

  

  • The face covering recommendation does not apply to children under 2 years of age or people of any age who are unable to tolerate wearing a face covering because of a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability. 

 

Vaccinations:

 

  • LQPV will not require COVID 19 vaccinations for students or staff but vaccinations are strongly recommended.  Vaccinated students and staff are not required to quarantine unless they have a new positive COVID test.

 

  • People who test positive for COVID-19 should stay at home until all three of these things are true:

 

  • They feel better. Their cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms are better; and,

  • It has been 10 days since they first felt sick or tested positive; and,

  • They have had no fever for at least 24 hours, without using medicine that lowers the fever.

 

Students will continue to engage in learning with their teacher(s) via Google or other platforms.

 

Self-Screening:

 

  • Self-Screening is strongly recommended  for all students and staff. The District is required to report any COVID-19 cases to the MDH.

 

Contact Tracing:

 

  • LQPV will continue to conduct contact tracing should there be a positive case in school. 

 

  • Students and staff who are identified as close contacts will be notified with  a message informing them of a lab confirmed positive case. They will be directed to monitor for symptoms.

 

  • Close contacts are strongly recommended to quarantine at home, but are not required to do so.

 

  • It is strongly recommended close contacts be tested for COVID-19 three to five days after exposure to the confirmed case. 

 

  • A 14-day quarantine is the safest recommendation for people who have been exposed to COVID-19. However, a shortened quarantine period of seven or ten days can be considered.

 

  • Students who were wearing a mask while in contact with a positive case will not be considered a close contact.

 

  • Students or staff who are fully vaccinated will not be considered a close contact but are encouraged to watch for symptoms.

 

  • Close contacts who are not fully vaccinated who remain in school are strongly encouraged to wear a mask for 14 days.

 

MDE COVID-19 Decision-Tree:

Please see the attached COVID-19 Decision-Tree (click link)  for people in schools, youth programs and childcare programs.

 

Mitigation Strategies--Cleaning/Maintaining Healthy Facilities, including Improved  Ventilation:

 

  •  The following mitigation strategies will be in place to begin the 2021-2022 school year.

    • Physical distancing to the extent possible (3-6 feet strongly encouraged); 

    • Increased HVAC ventilation capacity; 

    • Routine hand washing and hand washing etiquette will be strongly encouraged; 

    • School District routine cleaning and disinfecting will continue. 

 

Child Nutrition – Meals:

 

  • Meals will be available at school. Students may also bring their lunches as in the past.  The USDA is continuing to provide free meals for school breakfast and lunch throughout the 2021-2022 school year for all students.

 

 

Field Trips:

 

  • Students may be scheduled to go on field trips throughout the 2021-2022 school year. 

 

Transportation:

  

  • Regular transportation routes will be used. Seating charts may be implemented.

  • Current federal regulations require face coverings to be worn while riding on buses. 

  

 

Accommodations for Special Populations:

 

  • Appropriate accommodations for children with disabilities with respect to health and safety policies and procedures will be provided. To learn more about accommodations, parents/guardians should contact his/her child’s case manager. 

 

Coordination with State / Local Health Officials:

 

  • LQPV will continue to collaborate with state and local public health officials.

  • We will continue to actively monitor our local COVID data to determine strategies necessary to ensure the safety of our students and staff. 

 

Visitors/Volunteers:

 

  • Visitors and volunteers who are ill should not enter the LQPV buildings.

  • Visitors and volunteers will follow regular protocols when checking in at each school building during the day. 

 

Final Note:

  • The LQPV School District is committed to providing a safe environment for students, staff and community members. We believe it is important that we all remember to respect the decisions and actions of others in our community while we seek the common goal of a safe environment.


 

School Board Approved on 8-23-2021

 

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