School reopening plans take shape
New York mandates low rate of positive tests for COVID, adherence to numerous guidelines
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday said a key metric in allowing a region’s schools to reopen this fall will be a low rate of positive test results for COVID-19.
Speaking at a press briefing in New York City, Cuomo said that in order for schools to get clearance to reopen, their region must be in Phase 4 of the state’s reopening process (which all regions expect New York City currently are) and have a 14-day average of no more than 5% of COVID tests coming back positive. All 10 regions of the state currently meet that standard.
Fewer than 5% of tests coming back positive “means the virus is under control, and that means it
is safe to reopen,” Cuomo said.
A formal announcement about whether and where schools will be allowed to reopen is to be made the first week in August. Cuomo noted, however, that a decision to let a region’s schools open could be reversed if, between Aug. 1 and the start of the school year in September, a region’s seven-day average rate of positive COVID tests tops 9%.
The governor said the formulas for reopening schools have been put in place because “we are not going to use our children as guinea pigs.”
He did not say how any spikes after the start of the school year in any of the state’s 700 districts might be addressed.
Also required for schools in New York to reopen will be compliance with a long list of guidelines issued Monday by the state Education Department.
The guidelines — which focus on both in-person and remote learning — are divided into 17 parts, including health and safety, transportation, facilities, budget, absenteeism and social/ emotional well-being.
The wearing of face masks and adhering to social-distancing protocols are among the guidelines. Also, students and teachers returning to buildings will be screened for illness; and districts might have to stagger start times, install partitions or change hallway traffic patterns to reduce congestion.
Additional guidance is to be issued later this week, and school districts are to provide their plans to the state by July 31.
“Creating a framework to reopen New York’s schools has been an undertaking of paramount effort, made even more difficult by the devastating impact the pandemic has had here in New York state,” said Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa said in a prepared statement. “This framework and the guidance ... allows schools to plan for the upcoming school year under three different scenarios (in-person, remote or a combination of the two) that aim to keep our children, educators and school personnel safe and encourages equitable access to high-quality services for all students.”
School buildings across New York state shut down in March because of the COVID pandemic, and all teaching shifted to an online format.
Some of the guidelines issued Monday are as follows.
• Health and safety: Schools will be required to perform health checks and screenings and recognize signs and symptoms of illness in students and staff; develop plans to maximize social distancing; develop plans to manage and isolate ill persons until they can be sent home; instruct students and staff in proper hand and respiratory hygiene; require wearing appropriate face coverings; and develop cleaning and disinfecting procedures.
• Nutrition: Schools must provide all enrolled students with access to school meals each school day, even in cases of remote learning; address all applicable health and safety guidelines; ensure compliance with Child Nutrition Program requirements; and communicate with families through multiple means, and in the languages spoken by families.
• Facilities: Schools and school districts should promote social distancing while maintaining existing safety requirements designed to protect students. To accomplish this, schools may expand their physical footprint or change the way they utilize space. Schools also should meet or exceed ventilation requirements.
•Transportation: Districts will be required to perform regular bus disinfection; train school bus staff regarding social distancing on buses at stops and during unloading; and train staff regarding the wearing of masks. Students will be required to wear masks and social distance on the bus.
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