More Details Released On Point Pleasant Boro's School Reopen Plan

POINT PLEASANT BORO – More details were released on how Point Pleasant Boro's school district plans to reopen safely.

Point Pleasant Boro is planning on reopening its school buildings, but the district will follow a "hybrid" model.

Here is what the district is providing to parents, guardians and students:

Social Distancing in Instructional and Non-Instructional Rooms
● Students and staff must remain 6 feet apart
● Students and staff will be required to wear a face covering in the classrooms.
● District is operating on an A/B schedule so buildings are at 50 percent capacity daily

Procedures for Hand Sanitizing/Washing

● Buildings to provide individual plans for washing after recess/classrooms/etc.
● Hand sanitizer will be made available at the entrance to each building. There will also be hand sanitizers found throughout the hallways.
● EPA approved disposable wipes will be available to all staff to clean commonly used surfaces such as keyboards, desks, and remote controls before use.
● The district will ensure adequate supplies to support cleaning and disinfection practices.

Student Transportation
● The district will not be providing courtesy busing.
● The district will provide transportation to students K-8 as defined by the State of NJ as remote and who live more than 2.0 miles as calculated based on the shortest route along public walkways or highways from home to school.
● Students will be transported whose IEP requires transportation.
● Students (K-8) who would need to cross a bridge to get to school will be transported under the board transportation Policy 8600.
● No transportation will be provided for High School Students.
● The district will require all students and bus drivers to wear face masks while on the bus.
● For any child that is eligible for transportation services: Parents/Guardians can waive their child’s rights to transportation services for the 20-21 school year if they are not comfortable having their child being transported on the bus, per Policy 8613.
○ Transportation services can be reinstated for their child during the 20-21 school year after written notification to the district is made.
● All employees will have their temperature taken when they arrive at the office.
● Must wear gloves, shield and face mask when in the building and while in the bus.
● Drivers prior to doing your Pre-trip you bus
● Spray Bus with Virex, do not wipe.
● Allow Virex to sit for at least 10 minutes.
● After you are done with pre-trip wipe down all the seats.
● Disinfect the whole bus in between each drop off at each school, and at the end run, at the end of the day.
● Return dirty rags, and bottles of Virex in-between your Am and PM run, get clean rags for your PM run.

Loading and Unloading Students from the bus

● Load students back to front of the bus
● Siblings are to sit together in the same seat. If there are more than 3 siblings they are to sit in the same row.
● Students will sit every other row next to the window.
● The two-seaters rows will start at the first seat.
● The three-seater row will start the second seat behind the driver.
● When in transit, remind the students that they are to wear a mask at all times and stay in their seats. (Unless they have a medical note, stating they do not have to wear a mask that has been approved by the district school physician.)
● Exiting the bus - front rows will exit first and will continue one row at a time.
● Students must adhere to the 6ft social distancing while exiting and entering the bus.
● Once all students have exited the bus, please follow the protocol for disinfecting the bus.
● Rules/procedures may be revised based on NJ Department of Health and CDC guidance.

Critical Area of Operation #4 - Student Flow, Entry, Exit, and Common Areas

Location of Student and Staff Screening
● Each day, prior to arrival at school, students and staff will be required to complete an online health screening survey based on the NJ Department of Health guidelines.

Social Distancing in Entrances, Exits, and Common Areas

High School
● Hallways
○ Teachers, paraprofessionals and administration (as available) will monitor traffic in the hallways during arrival, dismissal, and during the change of classes. Students will stay to the right and proceed directly to their destination. Students will not be permitted to congregate in the hallways.
● Bathrooms
○ Strategically located bathrooms will be open during the school day. Staff will be assigned a duty period to monitor traffic into the restrooms to comply with social distancing. Custodial staff will sanitize the bathrooms hourly.
Middle School
● Hallways
○ Teachers, paraprofessionals and administration (as available) will monitor traffic in the hallways during arrival, dismissal, and during the change of classes. Students will stay to the right and proceed directly to their destination. Students will not be permitted to congregate in the hallways.
● Bathrooms
○ Strategically located bathrooms will be open during the school day. Staff will be assigned a duty period to monitor traffic into the restrooms to comply with social distancing. Custodial staff will sanitize the bathrooms hourly.

Elementary Schools

● Hallways
○ Support staff and paraprofessionals will monitor hallway traffic during arrival and dismissal times.
○ During the school day, students will only move in the hallways when traveling to PE class, computer lab, and recess. Students will be supervised by their homeroom teachers when moving in the hallway. Master schedules have been adjusted so that no more than 4 classes (maximum of 44 students in total) are moving in the hallways at any time during the school day.
● Bathrooms
○ Staff (paraprofessionals, special area teachers, support staff) will be assigned time slots to supervise student bathrooms to ensure social distancing.
○ Custodial staff will clean student bathrooms hourly.

District Wide
● Parking lot signs designating proper social distancing when parking
● Exterior door and window signs listing COVID-19 procedures for entry
● Sidewalk markers identifying 6 feet social distancing spaces
● Signs properly identifying designated entrance and exits & direction of travel
● All above signage suggested for all outdoor sports areas

Interior Signage
● COVID-19 procedure signs
● 6 foot social distancing markers
● Direction of travel signs when necessary
● The district will install no-touch faucets, paper towel dispensers in bathrooms throughout the district.
● The district will have all bathroom doors propped open to limit contact

Student Flow, Entry, Exit, and Common Areas

● Social distancing will be maintained during class changes by walking on the right side of the hallway only in the same direction. Social distancing markings and directional guides will be marked on walls and floors.
● Entry into the building will require all individuals to receive a temperature check.
● Social distance will be maintained during the initial student entry in the morning at specified entry points. Markings will be placed on the sidewalk to remind students to keep six feet apart.
● Students will be dismissed from the building in small groups as designated by the administration.
● The use of common areas will be limited to times when social distancing can be maintained and students are supervised such as testing, related services, lunch etc.
● All individuals are required to wear face coverings at all times while in the building.

Critical Area of Operation #5 - Screening, PPE, and Response to Students and Staff Presenting Symptoms

General Health and Safety Guidelines
● All persons in the building are required to wear a face covering as per executive order.
● All persons entering the building will have a temperature check and complete a daily health screening.
● Visitors will be allowed by appointment only and will be required to wear a face covering. Preferred parental meetings should be conducted virtually.
● Signage to remind people to maintain social distancing.
● Respectful isolation of anyone who is symptomatic or has a temperature of 100℉ or higher. Standing orders from the School Physician state that students with temperatures of 100℉ or higher will be sent home.

Protocols for Face Coverings
● All students and staff members will be required to wear a face covering at all times as per state mandate.
● A parent of a student with a medical condition who is requesting their child not to wear a face covering must provide a note from the student’s physician with a specific reason. The district’s School Physician will review such a request and a decision will be made.
● If a student or staff member forgets their mask, one will be provided to them for the day.
● Visitors entering the school must wear a face mask. Failure to wear a face covering will result in the individual not being allowed entry into the building.

Screening, PPE, and Response to Student and Staff Presenting Symptoms
● Students/Staff entering the building will be required to answer a daily health screening survey. An online form will be made available on the Genesis Student Information System and Employee Portal that will be filled out prior to arrival on campus.
● All individuals entering the building will be required to have a temperature check. Temperature checks will be done by using contactless thermometers.
● Students and Staff with a temperature of 100℉ degrees or above will be respectfully isolated. Guests will not be allowed entrance into the building.
● Students will be escorted to an isolation space until parent contact is made and the student is taken home. Parents will be required to list an Emergency Contact on the required district form.
● The district has purchased PPE equipment such as gloves and face coverings for distribution to staff. Parents will be required to purchase face coverings for their child(s). The district will have a supply available for emergency purposes.
● Anyone who has tested positive for COVID may not return to school until they are cleared by a physician and have been isolated for the appropriate amount of time as per the guidelines of the CDC. Current guidelines state that isolation and precautions can generally be discontinued 14 days after symptom onset and resolution of fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and with improvement of other symptoms.
● Anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 will be required to quarantine for the appropriate amount of time as per the guidelines of the NJ Department of Health and the CDC. This includes people who previously had COVID-19 and people who have taken a serologic (antibody) test and have antibodies to the virus.
○ What counts as close contact?
■ You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for at least 10 minutes
■ You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
■ You had direct physical contact with the person (hugged or kissed them)
■ You shared eating or drinking utensils
■ They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you
○ Current guidelines for quarantine require staying home for 14 days after the last contact with a person who has COVID-19

Screening Procedures for Students and Staff

Point Pleasant Schools has adopted a screening practice for students and staff prior to their arrival to school each day. The practice does include accommodations for students with disabilities.
● Staff will visually check students for symptoms upon arrival.
● Temperatures will be taken.
● Students/Staff will be required to answer a daily health screening survey online. The form will be made available on the Genesis Student Information System and Employee Portal that will be filled out prior to arrival.
● The students/parents will be required to answer the following questions:
○ Fever (greater than or equal to 100℉)
○ Cough or shortness of breath
○ Sore throat
○ Chills
○ Muscle aches or rigors
○ Headache
○ New loss of taste or smell
○ Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
○ Your child has had close contact (within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 10 minutes) with a person with confirmed COVID-19?
○ Someone in your household is diagnosed with COVID-19?
○ Has your child traveled to an area of high community transmission?

Protocols for Symptomatic Students and Staff

If a student or staff member becomes symptomatic during the school day, they will be:
● Safely and respectfully isolated from others.
● If the district becomes aware that an individual has spent time in the building and tests positive for COVID 19, the district will immediately notify the Ocean County Health Department, the Executive County Superintendent of Schools and the school district physician and the family of the confirmed case while maintaining confidentiality.
○ Follow current NJ Department of Health guidance
○ Contact Tracing procedures will be the responsibility of the Ocean County Department of Health.

Critical Area of Operation #6 - Contact Tracing

Contact Tracing Protocols (per CDC guidelines)
● Investigation: Upon confirmation of a COVID diagnosis, the district will work with a patient to help them recall everyone with whom they have had close contact during the time when they may have been infectious. For COVID-19, a close contact is defined as any individual who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 10 minutes starting from 48 hours before the person began feeling sick until the time the patient is isolated.
● Notification: The district will first notify the Ocean County Health Department, the Executive County Superintendent of Schools and the school district physician about the confirmation of a COVID case.
● Support: Parents will be provided with education, information, and support to help them understand their risk, what they should do to separate themselves from others who are not exposed, and how to monitor themselves for illness. In addition, they are informed of the possibility that they could spread the infection to others even if they themselves do not feel ill.
● Quarantine: Contacts will be required to stay home and maintain social distance from others (at least 6 feet) until 14 days after their last exposure to the infected patient, in case they also become ill.
● The district will maintain logs in each building of contacts, dates of exposure, quarantine dates.

Contact Tracing
● Contact tracing will be conducted, when necessary, under the guidance of the Ocean County Health Department.
● District will collaborate with the local health department and engage their school nurses to develop contact tracing practices and procedures, as well as educate the broader school community on the importance of contact tracing.

Critical Area of Operation #7 - Facilities Cleaning Practices

General Cleaning Procedures

Routinely clean surfaces using Virex II-256 or equivalent EPA approved disinfectant of frequently high touched surfaces. High touch surfaces include: Tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, water fountains, sinks, table and desk tops. While school is in session all common high touch areas will be clean multiple times during the course of the day. Unoccupied classrooms whenever practical during the school day and will be cleaned again in the evening. Hand Sanitizers machines will be placed in various high traffic areas locations and in every hallway throughout the building for all schools. Additionally, portable outdoor sinks will be also placed outside lunch recess locations at elementary schools. Daily routine walkthroughs to inspect that all antibacterial soap dispensers have product in them and are not empty or malfunctioning.

Cleaning and disinfecting your building or facility if someone is positive with Covid-19

• Close off areas used by the person who is sick.
• Open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in the area. Wait 24 hours before you clean or disinfect. If 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible.
• Deep clean and disinfect all areas as shown in exhibits below used by the person who is sick, such as offices, bathrooms, common areas, shared electronic equipment like tablets, touch screens, keyboards, and desktop or table surfaces. • If more than 7 days since the person who is sick visited or used the facility, additional cleaning and disinfection is not necessary.
• Continue routine cleaning and disinfection.

Additional training of personnel responsible for cleaning and sanitizing may be necessary which may include proper use of cleaning and disinfection agents, the cleaning schedule for various surfaces and safety precautions that need to be taken (e.g. ensuring adequate ventilation while cleaning and sanitizing.

Full specific detailed cleaning procedures:
Classroom, Classroom Bathrooms, LGR, Teacher’s Lounge
● Begin with fully supplied cleaning cart
● Look at the room top to bottom
● Check lights/ceiling tile/blinds
● Make a mental note to yourself to repair/replace light bulbs, ceiling tile the next day
● Any replacement/repairs you can’t perform, put in writing to supervisor
● Start cleaning from ceiling to floor
● Empty trash cans,recycle as required / clean interior-exterior of cans, reline as needed
● Perform high dusting with correct feather dusters, work down from ceiling
● Clean whiteboard per teacher’s instructions, wipe down trays with correct product
● Clean, disinfect sinks/toilets with correct products (daily)
● Clean, disinfect desks, tables, chairs, door handles with correct products (daily)
● Clean, dust, wipe down all vertical and horizontal surfaces with correct products, clean pencil sharpeners
● Clean glass
● Clean, vacuum all carpets
● Vacuum, dust mop floors (do not sweep into hallways)
● Damp mop floors with correct product
● Check, clean, refill all soap, paper, disinfectant dispensers
● Spray down everything in the room using the Virex II-256 Disinfectant.
● Turn off lights, close door - go to next classroom
● End of shift, restock your cleaning cart for start of next day
Area: Kitchen, Kitchen Office
● Pick up mats as needed to clean floor
● Check, clean all soap and paper dispensers
● Dust with feather duster and or microfiber pads, wipe down all walls, hood vents, mobile carts
● Wipe down front of serving counter, door handles, all window glass
● Empty trash cans, recycle as required, clean interior-exterior of cans, reline as needed
● Clean, disinfect sinks with correct products
● Clean, dust, wipe down drink cases (glass) bottom rails and exterior of case
● Dry mop, wet mop floors with correct product
● Put mats back down
Area: Bathroom
● Check, clean all soap, paper bathroom dispensers
● Clean bathrooms as required with all correct products - towards the end of your
shift
● Check all fixtures for water flow, loose parts. Report as needed to supervisor
Area: Hallways, Gym, Auditorium
● Check, clean all dispensers
● Check, replace ceiling tile, lights
● Dust mop, run machine over hallways with correct products (Gym, Auditorium -
⅔ times a week)
● Check, clean all glass, door handles, radiator covers, ceiling, ceiling vents, walls, mats, corners of floor and water fountains

Good of the Entire School
● Check, lock all doors/windows to secure the school day/night
● All lights MUST be turned off in any section of the school not in use
● All door handles must be wiped down, disinfected daily
● Use all products properly as specified by manufacturer’s directions
● We need to save all microfiber products for re-use

Critical Area of Operation #8 – Meals
FOOD SERVICE DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITY
● Staff will follow compliant Department of Health hand washing and sanitizing procedures
● Surfaces and equipment will be sanitized after each meal period
● Food options will be limited (including snacks and beverages)
○ Streamline milk choices to 2
○ More food choices of individually wrapped items
● All items will be served in separate containers, possibly wrap whole fruits.
● All condiments/dressings will be portion controlled
● All plastic ware will either be in containers or individually wrapped
● Create one-way traffic flows for entry and exit of seating area
● Communication of Cashless system (PremeroEdge)
● Effective menu communication
● Consistent menu selections per grade level
● Cycle menus (2 weeks)
● Face shields with face coverings are required for staff
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY
● Students will need to wear face coverings when coming through serving lines
● Use of Bio- Metric scanner
● All students must have up to date accounts
The Child Nutrition Program meal service requires public and non-public schools who are participating in the four-hour school days and remote instruction during the 2020 – 2021 school year to offer meals to all students enrolled in the district. Included below are details for the meals that will be offered as well as the distribution/pick-up schedule for our district.

High School and Middle School

Breakfast
● Will be offered every day for in school consumption.
● Remote students will have the option to pick up a grab and go breakfast.

Lunch

● A grab and go lunch will be available for remote consumption every school day.

Meal Distribution Schedule for Remote Only Students:
● For students who are remote, meal pick up will be once a week (Monday or the next school day) for a 30-minute duration
● Point Pleasant High School from 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
● Memorial Middle School from 11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Meal Distribution Schedule for Hybrid Model Instruction Students:
● Students that attend Monday will receive - 1 Breakfast and 2 lunches
● Students that attend Tuesday will receive - 1 Breakfast and 2 lunches
● Students that attend Wednesday will receive - 2 Breakfast and 3 lunches
● Students that attend Thursday will receive - 2 Breakfast and 3 lunches

Elementary Schools
Breakfast
● Will be offered every day for in school consumption.
● Remote students will have the option to pick up a grab and go breakfast.

Lunch
● A grab and go lunch will be available for remote consumption every school day.
● The school will provide a ticket for each student participating in the meal program and redeem the ticket for their grab and go meal

Meal Distribution Schedule for Remote Only Students
● For students who are remote, meal pick up will be once a week (Monday or the next school day) for a 45-minute duration
● Ocean Road at the Catherine Street entrance from 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
● Nellie Bennett at the rear cafeteria Door #26 From 1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Meal Distribution Schedule for Hybrid Model Instruction Students:
● Students that attend Monday will receive - 1 Breakfast and 2 lunches
● Students that attend Tuesday will receive - 1 Breakfast and 2 lunches
● Students that attend Wednesday will receive - 2 Breakfast and 3 lunches
● Students that attend Thursday will receive - 2 Breakfast and 3 lunches

Continued Meal Service Plan

Should the schools move back to 100% remote learning and the state provides reimbursement for free and reduced meals, the Food Services Department will make daily meals for each student who qualifies for free and reduced breakfast and/or lunch per the Master Eligibility List (MEL). During the closure, meals will be dropped off to the address of each student who qualifies for a free or reduced lunch on Mondays with 3 days of meals and Thursdays with 2 days of meals. In the event the meals could not be delivered by the Transportation Department the district would utilize the grab and go process at Ocean Road Elementary School, Nellie F. Bennett Elementary School and Point Pleasant High School, at designated locations outside of the respective schools, between the hours of 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Memorial Middle School students would go to the high school for their meals. The district will continue to communicate with eligible parents as to which method the district will use if a change is warranted for any reason. The meals are being delivered by the district’s Bus Drivers and Paraprofessionals. All parents will be notified if we are put totally on remote education again. to let them know the approximate time of delivery each day and to make sure they will be accepting the meal. The families were told that the delivery will be placed in front of the family’s door. As a precaution, the family was asked to not take the delivery into their home until the staff member dropping off the delivery departed. This was done to ensure minimal
contact as possible between the staff member and the family.

Critical Area of Operation #9 – Recess/Physical Education Elementary Schools, Preschool and Kindergarten:
● Half Day sessions; no recess or PE period
● 3 virtual PE lessons are available to all elementary students each week
Grades 1-5:
● Half Day sessions, alternating days
● Students remain with class cohort during recess
● Each class cohort utilizes separate area of playground or field
● PE is scheduled in cycles by grade level
● Students attend PE in gym or outdoors with class cohort only
● 3 virtual PE lessons are available to all students each week
Grades 6-12:
● The high school and middle school locker rooms will be restricted for all students. Locker rooms will be closed during the school day and for all after school activities.
● Students will come to school dressed in appropriate clothes and sneakers to participate in physical activity.
● The Physical Education Department will designate outdoor spaces to meet for attendance and to participate in the daily activity.
● The Physical Education Department will create lessons that eliminate the shared equipment.
● The Physical Education Department will create virtual lessons or activities for those students participating in remote learning.

Critical Area of Operation #10 - Field Trips, Extra-Curricular Activities, and Use of Facilities Outside of School Hours

Field Trips:
● All District Field Trips are cancelled until further notice.
● Whenever possible virtual field trips can be utilized.

Extra - Curricular Activities:
● Extra-Curricular appointments will be approved on an as needed basis.
● It is recommended all extra-curricular activities such clubs and committees will be conducted virtually or with proper social distancing.
○ A request to hold an activity in person would need approval by the Building Principal after consultation with the Superintendent of Schools.

Use of Indoor School Facilities by Outside Organizations
● There will be no use of indoor school facilities by outside organizations until further notice.
● Organizations such as PTOs , Boosters Clubs etc. would need to request use of the building for meeting purposes only in the usual manner following all health and safety protocols , as well all building policies and regulations.
● Use of outdoor facilities will be considered on a case by case basis but also must adhere to all health and safety protocols and to all building policies and regulations.

Academic, Social, and Behavioral Supports
Technology and Connectivity
In order to ensure that every student has access to a device and internet connectivity, the district conducted several parent surveys regarding access to devices and internet connectivity. The school district will utilize the same practices and procedures to distribute these devices to the families of the Point Pleasant School community. Through the use of funding from the CARES Act, Digital Divide grant, Title I funds and the district budget additional Chromebooks were purchased to be prepared for any additional requests from families who would be in need of a device. The district also purchased wi-fi hot-spots and worked with internet providers to provide additional avenues for internet connectivity for families. The district will continue to assess needs with instruction and deployment of technology, which could include student and parent training.

Over the summer, the district created three (Elementary, Middle and High School) committees to help prepare for the upcoming school year. The goal of these committees was to develop instructional plans that are flexible, promoting innovation, and utilizing the strengths of school leaders, teachers and students that will be best suited to meet the ever changing learning needs of our students. These committees developed a shared understanding among staff, students, and families across grade-levels and schools regarding learning expectations for hybrid instruction and remote learning. Professional and learning expectations will be set to ensure all students have access to high-quality instruction. Staff also participated in virtual training this summer that focused on student engagement and rigors for remote learning as well as in-person instruction. This training provided our staff with opportunities and tools to enhance their remote learning environments this upcoming year. Training is planned for the first two months of school to support teachers with a hybrid model, a remote learning model, and use of live-streaming in the classroom.

Read the rest of the plan here.