Health and Safety Guidelines for In-Person Learning
Updated August 2021
Updated August 2021
Introduction
On 8/4/2021, Governor JB Pritzker announced an Executive Order that supports safe in-person learning and requires that masks be worn indoors by all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. In the week prior to this announcement, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strengthened its guidance for universal indoor masking in schools. The State of Illinois has adopted this guidance, which can be found here: Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools and ECE Programs. COVID-19 prevention strategies remain critical to protect people, including students, teachers, and staff, who are not fully vaccinated, especially in areas of moderate-to-high community transmission levels.
The Medinah School District’s top priority is to ensure that all children have access to in‐person instruction this year in a manner that prioritizes the health and safety of the students, teachers, school staff, their families, and the community. The guidelines outlined in this document are subject to change based on community transmission levels and recommendations from the local health department.
For safe in-person instruction, the following State of Illinois rules apply:
The self-certification questions below must be answered independently each morning for any staff or student before arriving at school. Please answer yes or no.
If the answer to any of the above questions is “yes”, do not come to school.
Staff/ Students With Symptoms at School
Staff or students who exhibit any of the above COVID-like symptoms at school, will be promptly sent home. In order to safely return, the school will require a doctor’s note with an alternative diagnosis, and/or a negative COVID-19 PCR test. Rapid/ antigen testing will not be accepted. The school health office reserves the right to request testing for individuals exhibiting COVID-like symptoms at school.
Isolation and Quarantine Due to COVID-19
The health office will be tracking and reporting all cases of COVID-19 among staff, students, and families. Any confirmed cases of COVID-19 must isolate for 10 days in accordance with protocols set by the health department. A Release From Isolation Letter from the DuPage County Health Department will be required before the impacted staff member/ student can return to school.
Any staff or student completing quarantine must turn in a Quarantine Acknowledgment Letter prior to returning to school. For situations involving quarantine due to a non-school related contact (example: parent tests positive for COVID-19 and their children must quarantine) the health office will work with families to create a plan. In all situations we will work under the advisement of the DuPage County Health Department.
Physical Distancing
Face Masks
We know that consistent and correct mask use is the simplest, most effective way to keep students safely in school, where they can learn and grow to their fullest potential. All individuals must wear a properly fitting face mask within school buildings even when physical distancing is maintained unless it’s removal has been approved for a designated mask break. In general, individuals do not need to wear a mask outdoors. However, during high traffic times or crowded activities, face masks will be highly encouraged outdoors. This includes student drop off/ pick up.
Face masks must be worn properly and meet CDC/ school standards.
Hand Hygiene and General Healthy Habits
There will be a greater focus on personal cleanliness and hygiene. Students will be washing their hands and/ or hand sanitizing often. Schools will explicitly teach and reinforce proper hand hygiene, avoiding contact with one’s eyes/ nose/ mouth, and covering coughs/ sneezes. You can reduce your risk of contracting and/or spreading COVID-19 by taking simple steps:
Transportation
Cleaning and Disinfection
All cleaning/ disinfecting practices at Medinah #11 will follow the protocols outlined by The Illinois State Board of Education, The Illinois Department of Public Health, and The DuPage County Health Department. Classrooms, bathrooms, desks, and tables will be cleaned daily, nightly, and as needed.
Building Access and Special Events
Please note: parents and/or visitors will not be allowed in school buildings at this time. Contactless pick-up/drop off will be available. Office vestibules will be open for one parent/visitor at a time if absolutely necessary. Parent nights, curriculum nights, back-to-school activities and other events may be facilitated virtually instead of in-person. Field trips, assemblies and other large group events will not be occurring during this time. Medinah #11 will close its campuses to outside groups this year, except for our before and after school care programs offered by the Park District.
On 8/4/2021, Governor JB Pritzker announced an Executive Order that supports safe in-person learning and requires that masks be worn indoors by all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. In the week prior to this announcement, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strengthened its guidance for universal indoor masking in schools. The State of Illinois has adopted this guidance, which can be found here: Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools and ECE Programs. COVID-19 prevention strategies remain critical to protect people, including students, teachers, and staff, who are not fully vaccinated, especially in areas of moderate-to-high community transmission levels.
The Medinah School District’s top priority is to ensure that all children have access to in‐person instruction this year in a manner that prioritizes the health and safety of the students, teachers, school staff, their families, and the community. The guidelines outlined in this document are subject to change based on community transmission levels and recommendations from the local health department.
For safe in-person instruction, the following State of Illinois rules apply:
- The consistent and correct use of face masks is required for all individuals within school buildings, regardless of vaccination status.
- Physical distancing must be observed, as much as possible.
- Staff/ parents/ guardians must certify that they/ their children are free of COVID-like symptoms before entering school buildings.
The self-certification questions below must be answered independently each morning for any staff or student before arriving at school. Please answer yes or no.
- In the past 48 hours have you experienced any of the following?
- Fever (temperature greater than 100.4 degrees F/38 degrees C)
- New onset of cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue from an unknown cause
- Muscle/ body aches from an unknown cause
- New onset of moderate to severe headache
- Sore throat
- New onset of loss of taste or smell
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Outside of the school environment, in the past 14 days, have you been in close contact (6 feet or closer for 15 minutes or more) with a known case of COVID-19 OR anyone with the above symptoms of COVID-19?
- Are you isolating or quarantining because you may have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 OR are worried that you may be sick with COVID-19?
- Are you currently waiting on the results of a COVID-19 test?
If the answer to any of the above questions is “yes”, do not come to school.
Staff/ Students With Symptoms at School
Staff or students who exhibit any of the above COVID-like symptoms at school, will be promptly sent home. In order to safely return, the school will require a doctor’s note with an alternative diagnosis, and/or a negative COVID-19 PCR test. Rapid/ antigen testing will not be accepted. The school health office reserves the right to request testing for individuals exhibiting COVID-like symptoms at school.
- All siblings/ household members of the symptomatic individual will also be sent home. These individuals may safely return when the symptomatic individual obtains clearance, so long as they remain symptom-free themselves.
- Please note: Parents/ guardians must have a plan in place should their child need to be picked up from school. Students are expected to be picked up within 30 minutes of parent contact.
Isolation and Quarantine Due to COVID-19
The health office will be tracking and reporting all cases of COVID-19 among staff, students, and families. Any confirmed cases of COVID-19 must isolate for 10 days in accordance with protocols set by the health department. A Release From Isolation Letter from the DuPage County Health Department will be required before the impacted staff member/ student can return to school.
- Should a staff member or student test positive for COVID-19, the health office will work with them on a case by case basis to determine next steps. Any identified close contacts will be asked to quarantine at home for 10 calendar days per health department recommendations.
- Generally, a close contact is defined as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected individual for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour period. Per the CDC, in the K-12 indoor classroom setting, the close contact definition excludes students who were within 3 to 6 feet of an infected student if both the infected student and the exposed student(s) correctly and consistently wore a well-fitting face mask the entire time.
Any staff or student completing quarantine must turn in a Quarantine Acknowledgment Letter prior to returning to school. For situations involving quarantine due to a non-school related contact (example: parent tests positive for COVID-19 and their children must quarantine) the health office will work with families to create a plan. In all situations we will work under the advisement of the DuPage County Health Department.
- Students required to quarantine can work with their classroom teacher(s) for retrieval of assignments/ supplies.
- Students who are feeling well are encouraged to participate in classwork. These days will not be counted as absences if work is completed per the teacher’s discretion.
Physical Distancing
- Individuals are expected to follow physical distancing rules when on school grounds. For Medinah #11, physical distance means staying at least 3 feet away from another person, but ideally 6 feet away from another person.
- Class sizes will be smaller, cohorting will be emphasized, and outdoor space will be utilized as much as possible.
- Hallway and classroom floor markings/ signage will be in place to remind everyone of physical distancing requirements.
- Seating will be spaced out as much as possible, and movement outside of the classroom will be limited throughout the day.
- Physical distancing will be observed during lunch and snacks. Children may be eating in their classrooms or in an appropriate space for lunch.
- The District will do our best to follow physical distancing guidelines within our buildings and outside. However, we cannot guarantee that all students will be able to follow physical distancing procedures at all times.
Face Masks
We know that consistent and correct mask use is the simplest, most effective way to keep students safely in school, where they can learn and grow to their fullest potential. All individuals must wear a properly fitting face mask within school buildings even when physical distancing is maintained unless it’s removal has been approved for a designated mask break. In general, individuals do not need to wear a mask outdoors. However, during high traffic times or crowded activities, face masks will be highly encouraged outdoors. This includes student drop off/ pick up.
- Students can remove masks outdoors for recess/ designated breaks.
- There will be face mask breaks as often as possible throughout each day.
- These guidelines are subject to change based on community transmission rates.
Face masks must be worn properly and meet CDC/ school standards.
- Face masks must completely cover the nose and mouth without gaps.
- Face masks must be clean, and secured by ear loops.
- Face masks with valves or vents cannot be worn.
- Cloth face masks should have two or more layers of material, and must be made of appropriate fabric which prohibits the passage of respiratory particles.
- Medical-grade masks (N95 respirators) are intended for trained healthcare personnel and are discouraged.
Hand Hygiene and General Healthy Habits
There will be a greater focus on personal cleanliness and hygiene. Students will be washing their hands and/ or hand sanitizing often. Schools will explicitly teach and reinforce proper hand hygiene, avoiding contact with one’s eyes/ nose/ mouth, and covering coughs/ sneezes. You can reduce your risk of contracting and/or spreading COVID-19 by taking simple steps:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Wear a face mask and practice physical distancing.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Cover coughs or sneezes.
- Stay home when you are sick, and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Transportation
- Families are encouraged to transport their child to and from school whenever possible.
- Face masks are mandatory for all individuals on the bus and at bus stops.
- Bus sanitation will occur before and after each route completion.
- Self-certification must be complete before arriving at the bus stop and boarding the bus.
Cleaning and Disinfection
All cleaning/ disinfecting practices at Medinah #11 will follow the protocols outlined by The Illinois State Board of Education, The Illinois Department of Public Health, and The DuPage County Health Department. Classrooms, bathrooms, desks, and tables will be cleaned daily, nightly, and as needed.
- Frequent sanitization of high touch surfaces will be done throughout the day.
- Classroom surfaces will be kept empty or uncluttered to facilitate daily disinfecting.
- Custodial staff will use an Epic 360 Emist Machine to disinfect nightly, and as needed.
- Desks will be sanitized before and after snack/ lunch if eaten in classrooms.
- Hand sanitizing stations are present throughout each school.
- Playgrounds will be open & sanitized/cleaned between uses.
Building Access and Special Events
Please note: parents and/or visitors will not be allowed in school buildings at this time. Contactless pick-up/drop off will be available. Office vestibules will be open for one parent/visitor at a time if absolutely necessary. Parent nights, curriculum nights, back-to-school activities and other events may be facilitated virtually instead of in-person. Field trips, assemblies and other large group events will not be occurring during this time. Medinah #11 will close its campuses to outside groups this year, except for our before and after school care programs offered by the Park District.
Mask Guidelines From the CDC
(For how to wear a mask, how to wash a reusable mask, and other considerations please click here)
