School Re-Opening Plan

Submitted:  7/31/2020

Agency Name: The Center for Developmental Disabilities

BEDS Code: 280502996642

Administrative Address: 72 South Woods Road Woodbury, NY 11797

Program Site Address: 72 South Woods Road, Woodbury, NY 11797

Program(s) provided at this site:

            o  853 (School Age Special Education)

Contact Person (Name, Title): Paula Matthews, Principal

Contact Phone Number:  516-921-7650

Contact Email Address: pmatthews@centerfordd.org

Website where this plan and any plan updates will be posted: www.centerfordd.org

 

INTRODUCTION

This plan was developed to conform to the guidance provided by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) in their July, 2020, document entitled:  Recovering, Rebuilding, and Renewing:  The Spirt of New York’s Schools – Reopening Guidance.  This plan will be revised and updated as needed to adjust to changing public health conditions caused by the COVID-19 virus and all of the new requirements and regulations which may emerge over time.  We will rely on continued input from all stakeholders as we move forward implementing this plan and as we contemplate any additions or modifications.

We know our program must be as flexible and as responsive as possible to the needs of our students, families, staff members.  We will closely monitor the conditions of our community as the COVID 19 pandemic continues and the effectiveness and appropriateness of our plan.  Be assured that nothing has changed our sincere commitment to our students and our determination to provide the highest possible quality of educational programming and related services even during these difficult times.

The goal of the plan is to guide the delivery of high-quality educational services as safely as possible whether that service delivery is in-person or through a remote learning platform. Our focus and concerns extend to the social and emotional needs of our students, families and staff members. By diligently working together and remaining focused on the outcomes we desire, we can find solutions to the many challenges ahead.

Our plan includes all the required elements identified by NYSED and follows the structure of the guidance by addressing the following areas as they apply to our students with disabilities and their families:

Any suggestions, concerns and/or questions about our plan should be directed to the contact person identified at the beginning of this document.

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COMMUNICATION/FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

  • The following are all involved in Reopening Plan’s Creation and may be involved in any future revisions: The Executive Director, Principal, Assistant Principal, Assistant Director of Clinical Services, Operations and Facilities Specialist, IT Director, Administrative Assistant, Behavior Support Specialist, Nursing Department, Teachers, Assistants and Aides, Related Services Coordinators and Therapists.
  • Our Parent Association is very involved in all our school activities. We value their input.

We plan to consistently communicate with and provide information to each of the following groups:                                                                                                             

  • Students- through teachers in lessons for both in person and remote instructions
  • Parents/Legal Guardians- communicate through letters sent home, emails, phone calls and our website and social media.
  • Staff- email, phone calls, mail, website and small staff development
  • Visitors- signs posted, receptionist

 We will ensure that all students are taught or trained how to follow each of the following COVID-19 protocols safely and correctly:

  • Hand hygiene: teacher lessons, pictures in the bathrooms and by sinks
  • Proper face covering : teacher lessons, pictures, social stories, videos
  • Social distancing: teacher lessons, pictures, social stories
  • Respiratory Hygiene: teacher lessons, pictures, social stories

Both verbal and written communication will be used to encourage students, staff and visitors to adhere to Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Department of Health (DOH) regarding the proper use of face coverings when social distancing is not possible:

  • Staff are required to use face coverings and social distance. Posters indicating six feet distancing and face covering are posted throughout the building. Administration will verbally praise all for keeping safe by social distancing and a wearing face covering.

  HEALTH AND SAFETY

  • Staff have received training on the symptoms of COVID and what to look for. Temperatures are also taken twice daily. If staff or student have a temp of more than 99.9, they are immediately sent to the school nurse. They will be brought to the isolation room by an administrator while waiting for the parent to pick up their child.
  • Students will have their temperatures checked in the classroom each morning and then again midday. Staff take their temperature when they enter the building and answer must answer no to the three questions of travel, exposure and temperature. They also take their temperatures again midday.
  • Students who are ill or have fever will be sent to the nurse. The nurse will bring them to an isolation room where they will wait to be picked up by their parent. Staff will leave the building and go to their personal doctor.
  • Students with a temperature will be sent to the isolation room where they will wait for their parent to pick them up. Staff and students must be fever free for 72 hours without fever reducing medicine and bring in a doctor’s note before returning to school.
  • Visitors, guests and vendors are not permitted to come into the building at this time. Contractors must wear mask and answer the three questions, temperature, exposure and state.
  • Parents are asked to take their child’s temperature every morning before school and to look for COVID related symptoms.
  • Signs are posted in all bathrooms and classrooms on appropriate hand and respiratory hygiene. Staff have received training on appropriate use of PPE equipment.
  • Signs are posted on the floors and wall modeling appropriate distancing. Desks are separated and all facing the same direction.
  • Students have the option to participate in virtual learning if they are high risk. Staff is able to take a leave if they are a person at high risk.
  • All staff are required to wear masks at all times. Students are not required to wear masks due to their disabilities.
  • Masks are provided if needed. Masks are kept in the front lobby as well as in all of the administrator’s offices.
  • The DOH would be called immediately for guidelines if a staff member or students tests positive.
  • If a staff or student has a confirmed case of COVID-19, all staff and students who have had close or proximate contact with them for a prolonged period of time and are not experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms, must go home. They may return to work upon completing 14 days of self-quarantine.
  • The school is disinfected throughout the day, bathrooms, door knobs, frequently touched surfaces. The classrooms are cleaned and disinfected with a fog mist every day. All classrooms are supplied with school approved sanitizing wipes and disinfectant spray.
  • All classrooms have a designated area in which they go to during a drill that is socially distanced from other classes. All classroom have their own door to exit the building.

COVID-19 Safety Coordinator

Paula Matthews, Principal - Pmatthews@centerfordd.org   516-927-7650

  Health related considerations prior to reopening:

  • Visitors are limited (only if essential) and will adhere to all the safety measures the essential staff follow. Taking Temperature and answering DOH/CDC questions, wear masks and social distance.
  • Parents will be given written guidance on signs and symptoms of COVID, they are required to take their child’s temperature before school. All guidance will be posted on our website and media pages.
  • Students come off the bus and are taken into their class where their temperatures are taken. Students who are dropped off by their parent have their temperatures check by classroom staff prior to the parent leaving.
  • Students are encouraged but not required to wear face masks due to their disabilities.
  • School health personnel wear PPE when assessing ill students.
  • The staff lounge has been changed to the isolation room since it was closed due to being a communal area.
  • The nurse has an examination room in the health office.
  • Disposable equipment is used in the nurses office.
  • All custodial staff are provided PPE and required to use in while in the building.
  • Supplies are provided for all staff as needed.

FACILITIES

  • Desks in classrooms were spaced six feet apart and faced in the same direction. The cafeteria is closed and students will eat lunch in their classrooms.
  • Each classroom has a door they exit in the event of a drill. They have a designated area to go to and wait until it is safe to go back inside. The designated areas are all distanced from each other.
  • Staggered times and different entrances are used for staff coming into the building in the morning.
  • Windows can be open, doors cannot due to student safety.
  • We have multiple bathrooms in the hallways and sinks in every classroom.
  • Hand sanitizers are mounted on the walls in every hallway.
  • All water fountains are turned off.
  • HVAC Company came in to inspect our facility. We meet and exceed all recommendations from the DOH and CDC.
  • We have installed Merv 13 filters in our building’s rooftop units. We have also upgraded the classroom Air-Handler filters to Merv 10 and increased the air exchange flow.

NUTRITION

  • Students will bring their lunch each day to school in an insulted bag.
  • Foods that cause allergic reactions will not be permitted. We are a peanut free school.
  • We do not provide meals. Students bring their lunch each day.
  • Students will eat lunch in their classrooms.
  • Students wash their hands before lunch. There are sinks in the classrooms.
  • Food sharing and family style meals are not allowed in the classrooms.

TRANSPORTATION

  • Buses drop students off one at a time at locations all around the building. Staff escort them into the building.
  • Students are spaced both entering and during dismissal due to the number of bus stops.
  • Arrival times are staggered as the buses wait and unload one at a time.
  • Parents must wear masks when dropping off their child. They drop off their child one at a time. A staff member will take their temperature and then escort them to class.

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

  • Our Behavior Team monitors student’s behaviors. School Psychologist, BCBA, Behavior Coordinator and team are sensitive to the social emotional well-being of our students.
  • Policies and procedures are updated and revised according to DOH, SED and CDC guidelines and communicated to the staff, parents and school community.                                                                                                                                                                      
  • The administrative team will continue to plan to sustain a positive school climate; mental health; initiatives to promote social/emotional wellness; trauma-responsive care; restorative practices; social/emotional learning (SEL); professional development and increased family/community engagement.
  • Our clinical team provides referrals for mental health, behavioral and emotion support programs, resources and services.
  • We continue professional development in small groups. Online platforms such as OTIS Education is available for staff.

SCHOOL SCHEDULES

  • Staff have staggered schedules coming into the building in the morning and are coming in different entrances.
  • All required staff are present in the building.
  • Teachers are working with students in their classroom both in person and remotely
  • The hallway is marked with reminders to keep six feet social distancing. There is never a time that the hallway is congested. Classes leave their rooms at scheduled times if necessary.

 BUDGET AND FISCAL

  • We have expensed items specific to COVID-19 in order to track expenses outside our typical operational expenses. Our current budgetary reports and projected revenue and expenses have taken into account COVID-19 related expenses; we have also projected these expenses for the 2020 – 2021 school year based upon the expectation that the additional expense for PPE, cleaning, and other COVID-19 necessities will continue for at least the first two quarters of the 2020 – 2021 school year. All COVID-19 related expenses will continue to be tracked on a separate line.
  • We have applied for local private grants and available public grants for which we are eligible.
  • We continue to engage in fundraising activities to pay for items such as COVID-19 expenses that fall outside our reimbursement rate. We have also applied for local grants. On the expense side we have kept some staff furloughed and are considering eliminating positions deemed “non-essential.” We have reduced some central office support staff to reduce overhead. This has been accomplished through furloughs, not filling vacancies, and potential elimination of support positions our budget cannot sustain.  We are also taking advantage of any payroll tax credits we are eligible for.
  • We have ensured a strong virtual program throughout the pandemic when our school was closed. We opened up our school in July when we determined we could do so safety. We continue a strong presence through our webpage and social media to advise current and potential enrollees of our program offerings. We maintain close contact with all families and local school districts to ensure effective communication, excellence in service provision, and visibility for our program within the extended community. We have retained most if not all of our staff through administration and human resource outreach to maintain the ability to optimally serve current and prospective students.

ATTENDANCE AND CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM

  • Students who are in-person are marked accordingly. Students receiving remote learning confirm attendance by participation and various communication apps which monitor students participation.
  • Teachers communicate with parents daily.
  • School administrators contact the families to find out if they can assist.

TECHNOLOGY AND CONNECTIVITY

  • Devices are provided either through the school district or our school if needed.
  • OTIS for Educators an online professional development program is available for staff.
  • Feedback from the parents and student participation will help us determine the effectiveness.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

  • Our program went from all remote to in-person for summer school. We offer remote for the families who are not comfortable to send their child back to school or were not provided busing.
  • Instruction is always aligned with the NYS Learning Standards and the students IEP goals.
  • All students have the opportunity of remote or in-person instructions.
  • Email, phone calls and communication apps such as REMIND are all ways to communicate with parents. Communication is provided in the preferred method.
  • We have returned to in- person instruction for summer school. Most parents opted for in-person instruction due to their child’s disability and not having the support of staff at home.
  • Most of our students adjusted very quickly when they came back to the school routine.
  • Assessment can be done for in-person learning. Some apps such as IXL.com assesses students. Assessments can be done through conversations with parents, school psychologist and Behavior specialist.

MODELS FOR IN-PERSON AND REMOTE LEARNING

In-person education: School day runs from Monday- Friday, with staggered starting times between 9:30am- 3:00pm which includes a 30 minute instructional lunch. Our classroom ratios are 9:1:3 or 6:1:2.

Remote learning:  Students on remote learning receive daily lessons, related services and communications from their teacher, Monday-Friday, 9:30am-3:00pm.

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

All off campus jobs are suspended until further notice. Our PAES (practical assessment exploration system) Lab will work with smaller groups social distancing.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

  • We are in communication with all school district PPS and CSE staff through email and phone calls.
  • Progress reports will be sent out quarterly.
  • Related service providers will schedule students by class in order to minimize the number of therapists entering the classroom.
  • Students are provided differentiated instruction both in person and virtually.

STAFFING

  • All individuals will hold a valid certification/license appropriate to their service assignment.
  • All certifications and licenses be verified by the school using the internet-based tools made available by NYSED.
  • Staff members who are requesting an accommodation from reporting for in-person work due to concerns about their own health must notify the Human Resources department and then comply with submitting requested information before the agency can determine if a reasonable accommodation can be made based on applicable law, regulation and the agency’s needs and resources.