INTRODUCTION

Zion Lutheran School has created this COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan to assist in navigating the reestablishment of school where staff, students, and families feel safe and to reduce the impact of COVID-19 conditions upon returning to school. This plan is in response to Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order No. 2020-142.

The guidelines in this plan are based on the MI Safe Schools Michigan’s 2020-21: Return to School Roadmap. Zion Lutheran is committed to taking all precautions to keep students, staff, and families safe and healthy, including the current time of the COVID-
19 improvement and containment phases of the MI Safe Schools, in accordance with the local health department, and is deemed necessary by the leadership of Zion Lutheran School and Church.

  • Schools are closed for in-person instruction.
  • Licensed child care may continue to operate, following all emergency protocols identified by LARA and the State of MI.
  • Instruction, but not in-person instruction, will occur five days/week. Teachers will set a schedule, with the assistance of the school administrator. All academic subjects will be taught on a daily basis. All staff will conduct daily lessons of new material. Lesson plans will be submitted to principal every Friday.
  • No athletics will occur.
  • Weekly contact will occur between the school administrator and the staff.
  • Staff will remain in close contact with the families who have children in their classes.
  • Administration will send out a weekly newsletter via our weekly newsletter.
  • Zion Lutheran School will continue professional development activities with the staff on a regular schedule.
  • Student work will be collected, graded, recorded, and returned.
  • Custodian will continue to maintain the school building, even though not in use.
  • All staff will wear facial coverings when in classrooms, except (1) during meals and (2) unless face coverings cannot be medically tolerated as documented through written and signed verification by a physician.
  • All staff and all students in grades pre-school and up will wear facial coverings when in indoor hallways and common areas, except (1) during meals and (2) unless face coverings cannot be medically tolerated as documented through written and signed verification by a physician, with parental consent for students.
  • All students in grades preschool through fouth grade will not be required to wear facial coverings in their classrooms, unless (1) students do not remain with their cohort class throughout the school day and (2) come into close contact with students in another class.
  • All staff and students in grades 5-12 will wear facial coverings, except (1) during meals and (2) unless face coverings cannot be medically tolerated as documented through written and signed verification by a physician, with parental consent.
  • Bus transportation is provided through the public schools and their guidelines will be followed for transportation.
  • Zion will not conduct indoor assemblies that bring together students from more than one classroom.
  • Worship may be allowed provided that all PPE guidelines are followed.
  • Facial coverings may be homemade or disposable level one/basic-grade surgical masks, and/or face shields.
  • Provide adequate supplies to support healthy hygiene behaviors (including soap, hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol for safe use by staff and students, paper towels, tissues, and signs reinforcing proper handwashing techniques).
  • Teach and reinforce handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and/or the safe use of hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Educate staff and students on how to cough and sneeze into their elbows, or to cover with a tissue. Used tissues should be thrown in the trash and hands washed immediately using proper hand hygiene techniques.
  • Systematically and frequently check and refill soap and hand sanitizers.
  • Daily, provide opportunities for handwashing with soap and water by students and teachers.
  • Limit sharing of personal items and supplies such as writing utensils.
  • Space students as far apart as feasible in classrooms, whether desks or tables are utilized.
  • Post signage to indicate proper social distancing.
  • Place markers at six-foot intervals where line formation is anticipated
  • Provide social distancing markers in waiting and reception areas.
  • Post signs on the doors of restrooms to indicate proper social distancing and hand hygiene techniques.
  • Restrict entrance to the school to students and staff only, with the following allowances: Family members or other non-staff adults are not allowed in the school building except under extenuating circumstances determined by the school administrator. All non-staff adults entering the building must be screened for symptoms using a monitoring form, wear a facial covering, and wash/sanitize hands prior to entering. Strict records, including date and time, should be kept of all non-staff adults entering and exiting the building. Screening Students and Staff
  • Cooperate with the local public health department regarding implementing protocols for screening students and staff.
  • Identify and designate a quarantine area and a staff person to care for students and staff who develop signs or symptoms of COVID-19 at school.
  • Students and staff who become ill with signs or symptoms of COVID-19 will be placed in an identified quarantine area with a facial covering in place, if able, until they can be picked up. Identified person caring for these children/staff will wear a facial covering.
  • Symptomatic students and staff sent home from school and will stay home for at least 72 hours and not return until they are symptom free without the help of medicine, or tested negative for COVID-19, or have completely recovered according to the local public health department and/or CDC guidelines.
  • Staff will conduct daily self-examinations, including a temperature check, prior to coming to work. If they exhibit any new or unusual symptoms as reported on the COVID-19 school monitoring form, they will stay home. Staff member will contact the school administrator
  • Cooperate with the local public health department regarding implementing protocols for screening students and staff.
  • Symptomatic students and staff sent home from school and will stay home for at least 72 hours and not return until they are symptom free without the help of medicine, or tested negative for COVID-19, or have completely recovered according to the local public health department and/or CDC guidelines.
  • Families will be notified of the presence of any laboratory positive or clinically diagnosed cases of COVID-19 in the classroom and/or school to encourage closer observation for any symptoms at home.
  • Cooperate with the local public health department if a confirmed case of COVID-19 is identified, and in particular, collect the contact information for any close contacts of the affected individual from two days before he or she showed symptoms to the time when he or she was last present at the school. The Local Health Department will initiate contact tracing, following regular public health practice.
  • Notify local health officials, staff, and students immediately of any possible case of COVID-19 while maintaining confidentiality consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable federal and state privacy laws.
  • Prohibit indoor assemblies that bring together students from more than one classroom.
  • School Masses may be allowed provided that all AOD Mass guidelines are followed.
  • If cafeterias are used and six feet of distance between students is not possible, meal times should be staggered or physical barriers should be used. Serving and cafeteria staff will use barrier protection including gloves, face shields, and surgical masks.
  • Classrooms or outdoor areas can be used for students to eat meals at school.
  • Schools will comply with all guidance published by Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA).
  • Students, teachers, and staff must use proper hand hygiene techniques before and after every practice, event, or other gathering.
  • Every participant should confirm that they are healthy and without any symptoms prior to any event. On non-school days Monitoring Form needs to be completed by all participants (this includes all adult volunteers, coaches and administrators)
  • All equipment must be disinfected before and after use.
  • Each participant must use a clearly marked water bottle for individual use. There should be no sharing of this equipment.
  • Handshakes, fist bumps, and other unnecessary contact must not occur.
  • Indoor weight rooms and physical conditioning activities that require shared equipment are suspended. Outdoor physical conditioning activities are allowed while maintaining social distancing.
  • Large scale indoor spectator events are suspended. Large scale outdoor spectator or stadium events are limited to 100 people, and people not part of the same household must maintain six feet of distance from one another.
  • Spectators are allowed provided that facial coverings are used by observers and six feet of social distancing can be maintained at all times. Attention must be given to entry and exit points to prevent crowding.
  • Frequently touched surfaces including light switches, doors, benches, bathrooms, will undergo cleaning at least every four hours with either an EPA- approved disinfectant or diluted bleach solution.
  • Libraries, computer labs, arts, and other hands-on classrooms will undergo cleaning after every class period or when cohorts change classrooms, with either an EPA-approved disinfectant or diluted bleach solution.
  • Student desks will be wiped down with either an EPA-approved disinfectant or diluted bleach solution after every class period, or when cohorts change classrooms.
  • Playground structures will continue to undergo normal routine cleaning, but using an EPA-approved disinfectant is unnecessary.
  • Ensure safe and correct use and storage of cleaning and disinfection products, including storing products securely away from children, and with adequate ventilation when staff use products.
  • Staff must wear gloves, surgical masks, and face shields when performing all cleaning activities. Busing and Student Transportation
  • Students who use public school district busing will follow all safety guidelines set forth by the public school system.
  • Schools are to identify a point person or establish an access navigator to facilitate mental health referrals, communications to families/ students, and public-facing wellness materials.
  • Provide all staff with timely, responsive, and ongoing training/professional development.
  • Face coverings are optional for students and staff when in classrooms. If a staff member or student has been identified to be at increased risk of illness by their physician, face covering should be worn.
  • Zion Lutheran will not conduct indoor assemblies that bring together more students than the most recent Executive Order allows.
  • Provide adequate supplies to support healthy hygiene behaviors (including soap, hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol for safe use by staff and students, paper towels, tissues, and signs reinforcing proper handwashing techniques).
  • Systematically and frequently check and refill soap and hand sanitizers. * Daily, provide opportunities for handwashing with soap and water by students and teachers.
  • Limit sharing of personal items and supplies such as writing utensils.
  • Space students as far apart as feasible in classrooms, whether desks or tables are utilized.
  • Post signage to indicate proper social distancing.
  • Place markers at six-foot intervals where line formation is anticipated.
  • Provide social distancing markers in waiting and reception areas.
  • Post signs on the doors of restrooms to indicate proper social distancing and hand hygiene techniques.
  • Restrict entrance to the school to students and staff only, with the following allowances: Family members or other non-staff adults are not allowed in the school building except under extenuating circumstances determined by the school administrator. All non-staff adults entering the building must be screened for symptoms using a monitoring form, wear a facial covering, and wash/sanitize hands prior to entering. Strict records, including date and time, should be kept of all non-staff adults entering and exiting the building.
  • Cooperate with the local public health department regarding ongoing protocols for screening students and staff.
  • Maintain a quarantine area and a staff person to care for students and staff who develop signs or symptoms of COVID-19 at school.
  • Students and staff who become ill with signs or symptoms of COVID-19 will be placed in an identified quarantine area with a facial covering in place, if able, until they can be picked up. Identified person caring for these children/staff will wear a facial covering.
  • Symptomatic students and staff sent home from school and will stay home for at least 72 hours and not return until they are symptom free without the help of medicine, or tested negative for COVID-19, or have completely recovered according to the local public health department and/or CDC guidelines
  • Staff will conduct daily self-examinations, including a temperature check, prior to coming to work. If they exhibit any new or unusual symptoms as reported on the COVID-19 school monitoring form, they will stay home. Staff member will contact the school administrator.
  • Cooperate with the local public health department regarding ongoing protocols for screening students and staff.
  • Symptomatic students and staff sent home from school and will stay home for at least 72 hours and not return until they are symptom free without the help of medicine, or tested negative for COVID-19, or have completely recovered according to the local public health department and/or CDC guidelines
  • Families will be notified of the presence of any laboratory positive or clinically diagnosed cases of COVID-19 in the classroom and/or school to encourage closer observation for any symptoms at home.

  • Zion Lutheran will not conduct indoor assemblies that bring together more students than the latest Executive Order allows.

  • If cafeterias are used and six feet of distance between students is not possible, mealtimes should be staggered, or physical barriers should be used. Serving and cafeteria staff will use barrier protection including gloves, face shields, and face masks.

  • Schools will comply with all guidance published by Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA).
  • Students, teachers, and staff must use proper hand hygiene techniques before and after every practice, event, or other gathering.
  • Every participant should confirm that they are healthy and without any symptoms prior to any event. On non-school days Monitoring Form needs to be completed by all participants (this includes all adult volunteers, coaches and administrators)
  • All equipment must be disinfected before and after use.
  • Each participant must use a clearly marked water bottle for individual use. There should be no sharing of this equipment. * Handshakes, fist bumps, and other unnecessary contact must not occur.
  • Frequently touched surfaces including desks, light switches, doors, benches, bathrooms, and hands on classrooms will undergo frequent cleaning with either an EPA-approved disinfectant or diluted bleach solution.
  • Students who use public school district busing will follow all safety guidelines set forth by the public school system.
  • Schools are to maintain a point person or establish an access navigator to facilitate mental health referrals, communications to families/ students, and public-facing wellness materials.
  • Provide all staff with timely, responsive, and ongoing training/professional development.

RESOURCES

© Copyright Zion Lutheran School - Auburn, MI • All Rights Reserved
Made in Michigan by: Cadmium Design Studios

X