Cleaning and Disinfecting
Looking FORWARD to a healthy future.
Frequent cleaning and disinfection will support a healthy learning and work environment for students and staff. Health screening protocols are currently in place to ensure employees have not traveled to a restricted state or been in contact with anyone who tested positive for COVID-19.
Daily School Cleaning
• Each classroom will be cleaned and disinfected daily.
• All high-touch areas will be disinfected throughout the day.
• Custodians will be expected to wear PPE (masks and gloves) during work hours.
• Cafeterias will be disinfected between lunch periods.
• Staff and students will have access to disinfecting items to sanitize working surfaces, shared objects, and high-touch areas after use and during breaks in instruction.
Restrooms
• The District will properly socially distance toilet and sink fixtures.
• All bathroom facilities will be placed on a high frequency usage cleaning schedule.
• Cleaning Logs will be maintained on all areas designated high frequency.
• Staff will supervise and limit the number of students that enter the bathroom at one time to comply with Chemung County Department of Health recommendations and social distancing.
• The scheduling of whole class restroom breaks is recommended to eliminate co-mingling of students across various
classes and to ensure teacher monitoring of social distancing guidelines.
• Increased disinfecting will occur throughout the school day. Staff and students must wash hands with soap and water prior to exiting the bathroom. Proper handwashing techniques will be taught to all students and consistently reinforced.
Drinking Fountains
The District will close all drinking fountains that are not touch free water-bottle refilling stations. The District has touch free water-bottle refilling stations in all of our school buildings. It is strongly encouraged that all families bring their own water bottle. Students will be able to fill their water bottle at a centrally located filling station.
High Frequency Areas
High frequency areas will be placed on a daily schedule with multiple cleanings performed in each designated area. Examples of high frequency areas are but not limited to; tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets and restrooms and faucets and sinks.
Ventilation
Proactive HVAC ventilation and filtration is a critical first step to help ensure a safer indoor environment for increased occupancy in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The District plans to ventilate each room at or above the designed minimum outdoor air requirement for each piece of mechanical equipment. We will increase the number of hours the equipment runs in the occupied, ventilating state beyond actual occupancy time ranges. The district plans to install Merv-13 filters in mechanical units designed to serve multiple spaces to reduce transmission of potential threats between spaces.
Protocols for Common Areas and Meetings
Common areas include spaces that are used for meetings and collaboration. This includes computer labs, flexible spaces, conference rooms and other meeting rooms.
• All students and staff will be required to use hand sanitizer when entering and exiting common areas.
• Classes/grade levels will sign up to reserve common areas.
• Schools will develop schedules and follow protocols for the use of common areas, including how to sanitize the
space between use(s). When needed, students will bring personal supplies from the classroom.
• There will be procedures for students to sanitize their spaces before and after usage.
• Number of students in a common area will be based upon social distancing practices.
• Visual reminders will be displayed for social distancing throughout common areas. Informational graphics and
markers will be posted to help with 6 ft. social distancing.
• The use of virtual meetings/videoconferencing is preferred when possible
• If meetings must be held in-person, all social distancing protocols will be implemented.
Facial Coverings
• Six-feet social distancing when possible
• Limiting the sharing of materials/supplies
Training
At the start of the school year all students and staff, who attend school in school, will receive training on new protocols and procedures related to COVID-19.
Students
Student training will consistent of but not be limited to; appropriate PPE usage, social distancing practices, proper hygiene and new mitigation practices adopted by ECSD.
Parents
Parents are asked to talk to their students about COVID-19 symptoms and prevention strategies. The district webpage will contain public training videos that parents are encouraged to view with their students.
Staff
Teachers will attend training and develop classroom procedures consistent with NYSED, DOH, District and CDC guidance.
All staff will be trained on COVID screening, identification of symptoms, prevention of spread, and sanitation of occupied areas. All staff will monitor students that exhibit symptoms and will be required to notify the school nurse if a student is showing any symptoms.