Strong Start: Health and Safety Protocols at IDEA

STRONG START:

HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS AT IDEA

One glance around an IDEA campus and there is a noticeable difference from previous school years. There is a line of students, social distancing, waiting to have their temperature checked. In classrooms, desks are surrounded by plexiglass on three sides while children smile from behind masks.

IT IS THE REALITY of in-person instruction, as campuses across the nation grapple with how to safely keep schools open and students learning.

The safety, health, and well-being of every scholar is always a top priority at IDEA. However, student learning is at its best during in-person instruction on-campus. There were decisions to be made and a range of factors to consider. In the end, IDEA developed a robust assortment of health and safety protocols that were continually monitored and improved to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on our campuses.

To ensure IDEA was prepared to meet the highest safety standards and meet the expectations of families returning to campus, IDEA consulted with local, state, and county health officials and conducted several surveys to aid in the planning and implementation of procedures for the new school year. Based on more than 400 focus-group participants, over 4,000 bilingual-survey respondents, and leading research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health departments, IDEA established protocols that all teachers, staff, students, and parents adopted to ensure the IDEA Team & Family was meeting the highest safety standards to help safeguard students and staff.

The results are an approach that encompasses personal protective equipment, updated school procedures and protocols, and safety upgrades to campus buildings. The following practices have been in place on each IDEA campus since August:

ALL ON-CAMPUS STUDENTS:

• Were provided with two reusable cloth masks • Wear masks when in public spaces (like hallways) • Stay in the same group & classroom throughout the day • Eat all meals inside the classroom • Receive physical education modified for social distancing • Learn at desks while social distancing to the extent possible

TEACHERS: • Participate in optional weekly free COVID testing offered on campus • Ensure active-learning and handwashing breaks occur throughout the day • Wear masks when delivering one-on-one instruction but are able to replace them with face shields during Direct Instruction

In addition, IDEA invested in equipment designed to protect students and staff from exposure to infection or illness. New campus entryways were also established to avoid crowding and expedite campus pickup and drop-off procedures. Emergency government funding was used to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) and afford every student with access to technology via IDEA’s 1:1 initiative. Facility upgrades included implementing MERV13 filters throughout campuses, hand hygiene stations located at each point of entry and in every classroom, floor decals and signs emphasizing safety requirements, and restroom fixtures are retrofitted with auto-flush kits.

IDEA worked to ensure no employees were laid off during the pandemic, and emergency funding was used to compensate frontline workers and additional health services and custodial staff.

Updating school arrival, dismissal, and transportation procedures also presented unique challenges. Arrival and dismissal windows were extended, with staggered arrival and dismissal times for families. Upon arrival, all staff and students undergo health screenings—including temperature checks with no-contact thermometers—and visit hand-hygiene stations prior to entering the school. "Our dedicated team has worked around the clock to make the transition for students, staff and families as smooth as possible," explains Layne Fisher, Vice President of Auxiliary Services. "Every protocol, training, practice and procedure has been evaluated and adjusted as needed to ensure that our students, staff and families remain safe on-campus this year."

In this most unique school year, we want to thank our students and families for their cooperation and commitment to keeping our campuses healthy and safe. By practicing safety measures at home, speaking to children about what to expect during the school day and why, and exercising patience as schools update and adjust to new schedules and procedures, we will continue forward with a safe and successful school year.

IDEA continues to improve procedures as they become more habitual for everyone and more is known about the spread of the COVID-19 disease. Students have cooperatively adapted to the unusual limitations on the school day and have worked with their classmates and teachers to keep everyone safe and healthy.

As always, our number-one concern will continue to be the health, safety, and well-being of every IDEA scholar. This year may present some unique challenges, but our end-goal remains the same: healthy bodies, strong minds, and happy students. ♦