Pursuant to the Department of Health’s Interim Guidance for In-Person Instruction at Pre-K to Grade 12 Schools during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, Mesivta Ateres Yaakov of Greater Long Island has developed an individual plan for reopening and operating during the Covid-19 public health emergency.
This plan is a submission to the New York State Department of Health. Mesivta Ateres Yaakov of Greater Long Island is a boys private high school, serving grades 9-12. Located in Lawrence, NY, the facility encompasses approximately 45,000 square feet which serves a student body of 215 students.
Our plan meets the standards set forth in the guidance and reflects engagement with school stakeholders and community members, including but not limited to administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents/legal guardians of students, local health departments, local health care providers, and affiliated organizations The Responsible Party for the plan is the Head of School, Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, Ph.D.
This plan will incorporate the following components:
1. Reopening of school facilities for in-person instruction
2. Monitoring of health conditions
3. Containment of potential transmission of Covid-19
4. Closure of school facilities and in-person instruction, if necessary
REOPENING OF SCHOOL FACILITIES
• In preparation for reopening, we are upgrading the filtration of the HVAC systems, installing additional CDC-approved hand sanitization stations that are strategically located throughout the facility, posting appropriate and informative signage throughout the facility and repurpose space to facilitate adequate distancing.
• Capacity: Students will be phased into the program beginning with half-day instruction commencing on September 1st, expanding into full days commencing September 9th.
• Classroom Plan: We will require either social distancing (6 feet) to be maintained or wearing an appropriate face covering. In addition, the front desk in each row shall be set up with a protective screening. When social distancing cannot be maintained, students will be required to wear their masks and will be given periodic opportunity for short breaks without them. Every classroom will have at least one window open to further facilitate adequate ventilation.
• Since remaining in the same cohort is not practical, social distancing will be maintained as students transition. The hallways will be demarcated for bi-directional traffic flow to facilitate this.
• High traffic doors will be propped open.
• In other common areas, when social distancing cannot be maintained, all students and staff will wear their masks.
• All students and staff will be instructed and advised regarding proper hygiene, including hand washing procedures, regular hand sanitization and respiratory hygiene.
• Logs will be maintained that include the date, time and scope of cleaning and disinfection as well as identify cleaning and disinfection frequency.
• Meals: Dining facilities will be divided between our regular lunchroom and the adjacent atrium with two grades assigned to each room. At breakfast, food will be sold through an outside vendors and social distancing will be maintained while the students are waiting to make their purchases. Lunches are either brought from home or can be purchased at nearby establishments. Food consumed within the facility will be done in the same manner as breakfast.
• Transportation: While the school will provide direction to the students regarding safe practices will being transported, all transportation is either provided by the school district or arranged privately by the parents.
• Entry into the Facility: All students will be required to wear their masks as they enter the building. Guests, parents or vendors will not be permitted beyond the entrance of the building without proper screening.
• Extracurricular: At the present time, there will be no extracurricular outings. All other extracurricular activities will be minimized and if occurring, will be done so with proper social distancing or face masks.
• PPE and Face Coverings: PPE will be provided for all staff and students will be informed to bring their own appropriate PPE. If a student does not have a PPE, a disposable mask will be provided.
• Remote Learning: Upgraded Internet connectivity is being installed. Livestreaming of classes will be provided to accommodate: o A student or his parents have health and/or safety concerns with in-person attendance o A student must quarantine at home or is vulnerable for any other reason.
• Recess schedule will be staggered in order to facilitate social distancing.
• Fire and Lockdown drills will be conducted as mandated.
• Mental Health, Behavioral and Emotional Support Services: Teachers will be trained to observe for signs of mental, behavioral, and emotional issues with students. Such students will be referred for evaluation and proper next steps will be taken. The overall situation will be monitored by the school Social Worker and the Responsible Party, who is a licensed Clinical Psychologist.
• Communication: There will be timely emails/newsletters sent out to parents and staff with updates and applicable instructions. This plan will be posted on the school website and emailed to parents.
• Continuity of Learning: Our school will ensure learning will continue throughout the coming school year. Primarily, we will prepare for in-person instruction, fully online instruction (such as teleconferencing), and hybrids of the two, as appropriate. Throughout, there will be clear instruction options accessible to students. Students and their families/caregivers can contact the school and teachers with questions about their instruction and/or technology via the main office number.
• Attendance Taking: The school will collect and report daily teacher/student engagement or attendance, regardless of instructional setting via email and/or direct contact between the teacher and principal.
MONITORING OF HEALTH CONDITIONS
• Hygiene Cleaning and Disinfection: School wide cleaning and disinfection, following DOH and CDC guidelines, will take place on a daily basis, using cleaning products approved by the CDC for use against Covid-19.
• Screening: Health screenings, including daily temperature checks, of students, faculty, staff and, where applicable, contractors, vendors, and visitors will take place daily. If an individual presents a temperature of greater than 100.0°F, the individual will be denied entry into the facility, and if appropriate, sent directly to a dedicated area prior to being picked up or otherwise sent home. We will use a daily screening questionnaire for faculty and staff reporting to school and periodically use a questionnaire for students. Remote health screening (e.g., by electronic survey, digital application, or telephone, which may involve the parent/legal guardian) before an individual reports to school, will be implemented if and when appropriate.
• Testing Protocols: Staff and students will be referred to their primary care physicians for diagnostic testing for COVID-19, in consultation with local health department officials, when needed. Symptomatic individuals, close contacts of individuals suspected of or confirmed as having COVID-19, and individuals with recent international travel or travel within a state with widespread transmission of COVID-19 as designated through the New York State Travel Advisory will be encouraged to be tested by their primary care physician before such individuals return to school.
• Testing Responsibility: The local health department will be the community organization primarily responsible for referring, sourcing, and administering testing.
• Early Warning Signs: We will follow the metrics signs established by state and local health departments that will serve as early warning signs that positive COVID-19 cases may be increasing beyond an acceptable level.
• Communication: Mrs. Eta Bienenstock will be the designated coordinator and the main point of contact upon the identification of positive COVID-19 cases and will be responsible for subsequent communication. The Coordinator will be responsible for answering questions from students, faculty, staff, and parents or legal guardians of students regarding the COVID-19 public health emergency and the plan implemented by the school.
CONTAINMENT: RESPONSE AND PREVENTION
• School Health Offices: If an individual develops symptoms of COVID-19 during the school day, he/she will be isolated from everyone. In the case of a student, arrangements will be made for the child to be taken home as quickly as possible.
• Isolation: Individuals who screen positive or those who become symptomatic while at school will be isolated and, in the case of a student, arrangements for the child to be taken home quickly will be made.
• Collection: Parents or guardians will be contacted and told to pick up their child. They will also be instructed that the child see a health care provider.
• Infected Individuals: Individuals that have tested positive must recover and when they can no longer transmit COVID-19 will be allowed to return to in person learning. This will be conducted in coordination with the local health department.
• Exposed Individuals: Individuals who were exposed to the virus must complete quarantine before returning to in-person learning. This will be conducted in coordination with the local health department.
• Hygiene, Cleaning, and Disinfection: We will adhere to hygiene, cleaning, and disinfection guidance set forth by DOH and CDC.
• Contact Tracing: We will support our local health department in contact tracing efforts.
• Communication: We will share protocols and safety measures with all relevant parties via emails, mailers, posters, signage, text messages, phone calls and our school website, and other appropriate methods.
CLOSURE AND CONTINGENCY PLANS
• Closure Triggers: In consultation with state and our local health department, we will identify conditions that may warrant reducing in-person education or closing of the school, and we will plan for an orderly closure with them.
• Operational Activity: Operations will be decreased, and if necessary ceased, in phases and milestones as the specific situations arise. Determinations as to appropriate closures or partial closures will be made in consultation with the local health department.
• Communication: All changes and updates will be communicated to staff, parents and all other relevant individuals via emails, mailers, posters, signage, text messages, phone calls and our school website, as appropriate.
• Continuity of Learning: Our school will ensure learning will continue throughout the coming school year. Primarily, we will prepare for in-person instruction, and for remote/online instruction (such as teleconferencing), as needed. Hybrids of the two will also be made available when appropriate. Throughout, there will be clear instruction options accessible to students. Students and their families/caregivers can contact the school and teachers with questions about their instruction and/or technology via the main office number.
