LEA Name: Florence Township School District
Date (mm/dd/yyyy): 06/21/2021
Date Revised (mm/dd/yyyy):
For each mitigation strategy listed below (A–H), please describe how the LEA will maintain the health and safety of students, educators, and other staff and the extent to which it has adopted policies, and a description of any such policies, on each of the following safety recommendations established by the CDC.
District officials should abide by the advice of local health officials to determine the safest course of action based on local circumstances, which will change as the public health landscape evolves. The health and safety of students and staff is the number one priority and has guided all decisions of the Plan.
*Executive Orders, CDC Guidelines, Department of Education guidance and/or guidance from the Burlington County Department of Health, and New Jersey Department of Health may supersede all BOE policy language and items outlined in the District Safe Reopening Plan.
As currently required by NJ Executive Order - Current conditions: Students must wear a mask upon entering the school bus and maintain the face covering during the duration of the bus run and throughout the school day. Students must maintain face covering throughout the school day unless otherwise directed by the classroom teacher. Physical barriers are provided to mitigate the impact during snack time in the classroom setting.
For the 2021-2022 school year, if masks are not required by EO, CDC, NJDOE, or NJDOH, masks would then be optional for students and staff in buildings and school buses. The District will follow the guidelines and adjust when/if necessary changes are required. Masks will be available as needed. Physical barriers are available to mitigate the impact during snack/lunch time.
Unvaccinated individuals will be encouraged to wear masks as required by CDC and the NJDOH.
Signage will be posted throughout the school buildings for appropriate use of masks.
If social distancing requirements remain, students will adhere to the 3 feet of social distance in the classroom setting to the maximum extent practicable, unless otherwise directed by the current conditions of Covid-19 level conditions. All students must maintain 3- 6 feet of social distance in the lunchroom/cafeteria setting to the maximum extent practicable, unless otherwise directed by the current conditions of Covid-19 level conditions. Physical barriers may be provided as an extra layer of safety at lunch or in the classroom when appropriate social distancing cannot be maintained or if requested. Students in grades K-6 will be placed in cohorts during lunch and related cycles, such as physical education class.
Signage will be posted throughout the school buildings and fields to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
The District will prepare and maintain hand sanitizing stations with alcohol-based hand sanitizers (at least 60% alcohol). Such stations should be:
In each classroom. For classrooms that have existing handwashing stations, stations should be prepared with soap, water, and alcohol-based hand sanitizers (at least 60% alcohol).
Near lunchrooms and bathrooms.
At entrances and exits of buildings.
In coordination with classroom teachers, the building principal, or designee, shall develop a school-wide plan where students are required to wash hands for at least twenty seconds at regular intervals during the school day and always before and after eating, after using the bathroom. Hand sanitizers should be applied after use of the playground equipment, after PE classes, and after blowing their nose, coughing, and/or sneezing.
Signage will be provided for appropriate handwashing and hand sanitizing guidelines.
All indoor facilities will have adequate ventilation, including operational heating and ventilation systems where appropriate. Recirculated air must have a fresh air component, such as windows will be opened, if practical, if air conditioning is not provided. Air filter(s) for A/C units must be maintained and changed according to manufacturer recommendations (Policy 3510). The unit cleaning schedule will be established through the Educational Facilities Supervisor.
Each classroom is cleaned nightly with a disinfectant fogger. Throughout the school day, staff will provide additional cleaning bathrooms and high touch areas, whenever possible. Specific cleaning schedules will be established with the building principal and Educational Facilities Supervisor. Every school bus, either district-owned or contracted, should be cleaned and disinfected daily. High touch services will be wiped between morning and afternoon bus runs.
Contact tracing is a strategy used to determine the source of an infection and how it is spreading. Finding people who are close contacts to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, and therefore at higher risk of becoming infected themselves, can help prevent further spread of the virus. Upon notification that a staff member or student has tested positive for COVID-19, the local health department will contact the district (Superintendent) or designee (school nurse) to identify close contacts to whom the infected individual may have spread the virus. The school district will assist the local health department in conducting contact tracing activities, including ongoing communication with the identified individual/student/staff member and/or their contacts, as determined by the local health department. Contact tracing occurs as required by the Burlington County Health Department risk category. If the district is notified by a primary source first, the individual will notify the school nurse, building administrator, and the Superintendent of Schools. Contact tracing will begin in the district and notification will be made to the Burlington County Health Department. Close contacts are determined by proximity, time, and PPE. Seating charts must be maintained by classroom teachers and transportation.
Isolation rooms have been identified in each school and are used for presumptive positive cases. Students and staff with symptoms related to COVID-19 must be safely and respectfully isolated from others. Students should remain in isolation with continued supervision and care until picked up by an authorized adult. Continuous monitoring of symptoms will be completed and documented. If used for a presumptive case, the isolation room must be fogged and cleaned upon the exit of the presumptive case.
Follow-up communication with the local health department and families will be necessary to ensure adequate isolation /quarantine timelines are adhered to and that all documentation is obtained to allow a recovered staff member or student to return to the building.
The school district will ensure adequate information and training is provided to the staff, as necessary, to enable staff to carry out responsibilities assigned to them. Additional training will be released to staff through Safe Schools as required by September 1, 2021.
The district will adhere to all applicable federal and state requirements regarding privacy of educational records (e.g. FERPA).
Through ongoing communication and collaboration with local sites, all staff were provided the opportunity to receive vaccinations during the Spring 2021. Ongoing communication with local pharmacies and the local Township Office regarding availability of vaccines in the area will continue. Information for student vaccination appointments will be made available through district and building newsletters.
Accommodations are provided for classified students who require additional safety measures such as the inability to wear a face covering. These accommodations are outlined in each child’s IEP as applicable. Alternative PPE as well as additional PPE, such as a face shield, is provided for the child and staff working directly with the student.
A. Describe how the LEA will ensure continuity of services, including but not limited to services to address students’ academic needs and students’ and staff’s social, emotional, mental health, and other needs, which may include student health and food services. (1000 character limit)
On May 17, 2021, Governor Murphy announced that upon the conclusion of the 2020-2021 school year potations of Executive Order 175 allowing remote learning will be rescinded. Accordingly, all schools are required to provide full-day, in-person instruction as we were prior to the Covid-19 Health Emergency. All students enrolled in the Florence Township School District are to return to the classroom setting in the Fall 2021. Students are eligible to attend in person 5 days a week for full instructional days. To address learning loss and academic difficulties, tutoring will be provided for all students in grades K-12 who may be in need of additional support and interventions as identified by the data teams and building administrators. An intervention and enrichment schedule is incorporated into the K-3 building schedule. Additional mental health professional development and resources will be provided to staff. Mental Health activities will be infused into the opening of the school year. As well, the PE/Health Department K-12 will continue to infuse mindfulness activities and self-awareness skills. A tiered approach to services will be provided to all students K-12.
A. Describe how the LEA sought public comment on its plan, and how it took those public comments into account in the development of its plan. Note, the ARP requires that LEAs seek public comment for each 60-day revision to the plan. (1000 character limit)
A survey was conducted in May 2021 to reflect on the 2020-2021 school year. (Results located here) The district plan will be posted on the website and a link will be provided for any individual to provide comments.
B. Describe how the LEA ensured that the plan is in an understandable and uniform format; is to the extent practicable written in a language that parents can understand or, if not practicable to provide written translations to a parent with limited English proficiency, will be orally translated for such a parent; and upon request by a parent who is an individual with a disability as defined by the ADA, will be provided in an alternative format accessible to that parent. (1000 character limit)
It is identified that the following languages are primary for our families: Spanish, Bengali, and Turkish. Translated documents will be provided on the district website.
In accordance with LEA ARP ESSER Fund requirements the district is seeking public comment or feedback. Public comments can be sent directly to the following email address: ReopeningPlan2021@Florence.K12.NJ.US
