Estill County Schools
Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and
Continuity of Services Plan
Covid-19 Protocols and Plan of Action
2021-2022
The goal of the Estill County School System is to move to a more “traditional” school year. In order to achieve this goal, the 2021-2022 plan continues to utilize effective mitigation strategies for the prevention of infection and associated spread.
While the safety of our students and staff will be our top priority, it is important to note that some level of risk of infection will be present when attending schools. Should COVID-19 create a significant impact on the health and safety of our students and staff, ECSS will return to the previous more stringent “Covid 19 Guidelines and Protocols” used in the previous school year as well following our 5 tiered level plan. This will be our “Emergency Action Plan” in response to an increase in infection rates and overall concern. We will be heeding any and all guidelines when released from KDE and an updated protocol will be finalized before the start of school. The ECSS will also continue to look to guidance from the CDC, KDPH, AAP and our local health department. Below is the general outline of our plan:
A safe return to in-person school environments will require a culture of health and safety every step of the way, Specifically:
Monitoring Symptoms
Face Coverings
Masks continue to be a requirement for the Estill County School System when the county is in the red or orange level on the Covid-19 Current Incidence Rate in Kentucky map. If our county is yellow or green on this map then masks are strongly recommended for those who are unvaccinated, but not required.
At this time, based on a CDC Mandate for public transportation, masks are mandatory for all staff and students riding on school buses. The exemptions listed below apply for individuals with any type of medical condition that prevents the wearing of a face covering.
Types of allowable face coverings include:
The covering should cover the nose and mouth completely, and should not be overly tight or restrictive.
Face coverings should not be placed on anyone under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, anyone who is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance, or anyone who cannot tolerate a face covering due to a developmental, medical or behavioral health condition. A medical waiver for such conditions shall be required.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html
https://www.aappublications.org/news/2021/07/18/schools-071821
Hygiene practices
Hygiene practices resources
https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/pdf/wash-your-hands-poster-english-508.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/pdf/18-294906-germs-are-everywhere-p.pdf
Cleaning and materials handling
**Estill County Schools have enhanced air quality in all of our school buildings. All classrooms now have Bi-Polar ionization units which create positive and negative ions to actively clean the air as it passes through the building’s filtration systems, thus killing bacteria and viruses and can effectively reduce SARS-CoV-2.**
Social distancing and minimizing exposure
Social distancing means keeping space between yourself and other people outside of your home. Social distancing is a critical tool in decreasing the spread of COVID-19.
In Planning, schools should create as much space between people as possible during the day, recognizing that there may be times it is not possible to have 3-6 feet of social distance.
Measures to promote adequate social distance:
Preparing to respond to COVID-19 scenarios
Even as we remain vigilant, the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in school will not be zero. As we prepare to reopen, we must also begin to prepare for potential COVID-19 scenarios, whether in school, on the bus, or in our community. Depending on the circumstances, a positive COVID-19 test, a potentially symptomatic student or exposure to someone within the community who has COVID-19 can impact all areas.
Be prepared to provide remote learning opportunities
When students must stay home for quarantine or isolation, teaching and learning should not stop. It is the school’s duty to provide remote learning for students who cannot be in school for any extended period of time.
Testing, tracing and isolation
It is important to note that testing, combined with contact tracing and isolation, helps control the spread of COVID-19. When a person has a positive COVID-19 test, the local Health Department will reach out to provide support and guidance to that individual and their families and contacts. They will notify the school whenever they deem it is necessary and we will assist them in any way possible with information and assisting with the necessary process.
Mitigating Opportunities for Vaccination
Adjustments to the mode of learning may be implemented on a classroom, grade-level, school, or system level if the COVID-19 spread level warrant. The Estill County School System will work diligently to provide the safest environment with the most up to date guidance and information to ensure the safety of all; while providing quality education.
Covid-19 Five-Tiered Response Plan:
If Covid-19 levels/rates begin to climb and create scenarios where different measures need to be considered; the following five-tiered approach will be considered as a part of the “Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and the Continuity of Services” guidance document.
REMEMBER: School Districts no longer have access to unlimited NTI Days, so any days missed once the District enters Level 3 Status will have to be made up just like any other missed day. This will result in the School Calendar having to be amended and could result in the loss/reduction of scheduled Holiday Breaks.
ATHLETICS: Athletics are not exempt from the COVID-19 Five-Tiered Response Plan. If the District reaches a Level 4 Status and we have to call off school due to extremely high incident rates of this virus, all sports and extracurricular activities will be suspended as well. The only way for us to continue to ensure that all extracurricular activities can continue, is for our participants, coaches and staff to be vaccinated.
NOTE: These Response Levels are not dependent upon the “kycovid-19 incident rate map”. The color designation on this map is just one of the data points we use to make district decisions.
This plan is subject to change based on Guidance received from KDHP, KDE and the Estill County Health Department.