Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Help Protect Yourself and Others
Reference School Board Policy EBBA Disease Prevention; Face Coverings for additional information regarding masks.
- Per Board mandate, all students and visitors must wear face masks while inside school board buildings until October 30, 2021.
- Students are also required to wear masks while in district vehicles including buses
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Employees must wear face masks while inside school board buildings or vehicles and in the presence of another individual.
- Employees driving in a district vehicle by themselves or working in an office alone are not required to wear a mask
- Face masks are not required:
- Outside of buildings on school board property
- During activities requiring intense physical exertion in indoor spaces
- Students with a note from a medical doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant and employees with a medical exemption are not required to wear a face mask.
- Employees must submit exemption requests through the district's ADA office
- Face masks will be made available at district facilities.
- Individuals must wear one of the following types of face masks:
- Commercially produced, disposable masks
- Reusable, cloth masks
- Masks with clear panels
- Face masks must cover both the nose and mouth.
- Face masks with exhalation valves or made largely of porous material, neck gaiters, and neck buffs are not permitted.
- Face shields may be worn in conjunction with a face mask but cannot be used in lieu of a mask.
- Masks must comply with the dress code (cannot contain questionable language or symbols).
- Individuals should be reminded not to touch their masks and to wash their hands frequently.
- Individuals opting to wear reusable, cloth masks should ensure they are cleaned regularly.
- Disposable gloves should be replaced with handwashing or hand sanitizer unless required to perform job duties.
Hygiene Protocols
Hand Hygiene
Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick.
After you have been in a public place and touched an item or surface that may be frequently touched by other people, such as door handles, tables, counter tops, chairs, sinks, shared pens, elevator buttons and microphones. Always wash or sanitize your hands before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth because that's how germs enter our bodies.
- You can help yourself and others stay safe, especially during these key times when you are likely to get and spread germs:
- After entering a building or school
- Before, during and after eating food
- Before and after handling papers that are not your own
- Before and after treating a cut or wound
- Before taking medication
- After using the restroom
- After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
- After handling your cellphone that has been placed on a table or other area that is not your own
- After touching a recycle or garbage can
- Steps to Wash Your Hands the Right Way:
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
- Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy birthday" song from beginning to end twice.
- Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use district approved hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol can be used (for staff and older children who can safely use hand sanitizer).
- Contact your Custodial Services Area Manager to acquire additional handwashing supplies.
Health Monitoring
Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms
Health monitoring and recognizing the signs and symptoms are crucial to help reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.
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Encourage staff and students planning to enter the school environment to self-screen before coming on-site.
- Do not attempt to enter the school if any of the following are present:
- A temperature of 100.4° F or higher
- Symptoms of COVID-19
- Under evaluation for COVID-19 (for example, waiting for the results of a viral test to confirm infection)
- Diagnosed with COVID-19 and not yet cleared to discontinue isolation
Absenteeism and Academic Continuity
Monitor and Plan for Absenteeism
Monitor absenteeism of students and employees, cross-train staff, and create a roster of trained backup staff to use in case of excessive employee absences due to illness.
- Review the usual absenteeism patterns at your school among both students and staff.
- School administrators should alert Professional Standards and local health officials about large increases in student and staff absenteeism, particularly if absences appear due to respiratory illnesses (like the common cold or the "flu," which have symptoms similar to COVID-19).
- Review attendance and sick leave policies. Encourage students and staff to stay home when sick, even without documentation from a doctor.
- Identify critical job functions and positions, and plan for alternative coverage by cross-training staff within job description or classification.
- The district will provide further direction in the event a school or classroom needs to pivot to digital learning in order to support academic continuity.
- For individual students who may need to isolate or quarantine, schools will follow normal procedures for sick students.