2021
Safe School Return Plan
Table of Contents 03
Message From Our Executive Director
04
Our Pledge to You
05
Personal Responsibility
06
Layered Mitigation Strategies
09
Flexibility and Virtual Instruction
10
Guidelines For Staying Home
14
References
CONTACT OUR HEALTH SCREENING TEAM
BY USING THE FOLLOWING SECURE EMAIL ADDRESSES STAFFCOVIDREPORT@IVYMOUNT.ORG OR
STUDENTCOVIDREPORT@IVYMOUNT.ORG
Dear Families and Staff, We have always said that we are better together. We know that students learn best from in-person instruction, and keeping students in school – safely - is our priority. That’s why we are committed to the layered protective measures that you will find in this Safe School Return Plan.
"
We all play a role in helping the Ivymount Community, including Ivymount School, The
Maddux School, Endeavors Early Childhood, and Ivymount Outreach Programs, to support the academic and social needs of our students and clients. We thank you for your ongoing flexibility and your outstanding support of guidance and shared responsibility. I look forward to an exciting year of new adventures in learning as we renew our commitment to excellence in all that we do. We will also make sure to laugh and have fun while enjoying being together in person. Thank you for your partnership.
-Susan Holt
"
Executive Director and CEO
Susan Holt Executive Director and CEO Ivymount Corporation
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Our Pledge to You Ivymount, including Ivymount School, The Maddux School, Endeavors Early Childhood, and Ivymount Outreach Programs, plays a critical role in our community by supporting our students to achieve the best version of themselves. Because we are committed to the wellbeing of our employees, students, clients and families, we pledge to: Create a safe and healthy education environment for all, with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Follow CDC, Maryland Department of Health, and local health department guidelines for education and childcare environments. Make decisions based on community transmission rates, school health, and medical advisor recommendations.
Ensure our campus design, cleaning practices, and ventilation meet standards recommended to reduce the spread of illness.
Support our employees through training, COVID-19 leave, Employee Assistance programs, health plan resources, and personal protective equipment.
Clearly communicate policies, procedures and COVID-19 related events. Health Alerts will be sent to the entire community about the quarantine or isolation of staff members, students, or clients participating in on-site programs. If the situation involves you, your students, or your family directly, you will receive additional communication.
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Personal Responsibility Sign the Oath of Personal Responsibility
Stay home when sick
Self-monitor health daily by taking temperature prior to leaving home and observing for COVID-19 symptoms
Wear face masks when advised
Maintain physical distancing when possible
Practice good hygiene
Report any incidence of symptoms, exposure or positive test result
Follow all directives of medical professionals, health department, and Health Screening Team
Acknowledgment of Risk: While we have taken extensive actions to limit the potential for transmission of COVID-19, families and staff are asked to acknowledge their understanding that transmission is still possible. Risks to any student or staff include spreading or contracting the COVID-19 virus. The use of face coverings or other mitigation strategies does not guarantee that individuals will not contract or spread disease or Illness.
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Layered Mitigation Strategies
Our community, including staff, families, and students, will strive at all times to maintain consistent and accurate implementation of our layered mitigation strategies in adherence with public health guidance.
Prevention and Screening Stay home if presenting with COVID-19 symptoms regardless of vaccination status, and complete diagnostic testing.
All individuals entering our campus buildings are required to complete health
screening and temperature checks. For in-home programs, all family members in the household should screen for symptoms before staff enter.
We continue to advocate for everyone, including our students, to be fully
vaccinated when eligible. Employees are required to submit proof of vaccination or submit a weekly negative COVID-19 test.
Additional COVID-19 screening testing may be requested of students and staff based on community transmission rates. The Health Screening Team will communicate who should be tested prior to each testing window.
The CDC continues to advise unvaccinated individuals to refrain from domestic and international travel until fully vaccinated. Our current travel policy
recommends testing after domestic travel and requires testing 3-5 days after
international travel for all individuals. Unvaccinated individuals are also required to stay home for a full 7 days after international travel.
Unvaccinated individuals who participate in activities considered high-risk (e.g. attending large gatherings, socializing in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor settings) are encouraged to get tested 3-5 days after the activity.
Individuals considered at high risk in the event of a COVID-19 infection should
notify the Health Screening Team and consult with their medical provider before returning to campus.
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Layered Mitigation Strategies Consistent Use of Face Coverings Face Masks are required both indoors and outdoors on the Ivymount campus during school hours. When students are not present (i.e. after school hours and on professional days), face masks may be removed by staff outside. Face coverings should have two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric, and completely and consistently cover the nose and mouth, be secured under the chin, fit snugly against the sides of the face, and should not have gaps. Accommodations will be made when face mask use is contraindicated due to a medical condition, disability, or other health or safety concerns, as indicated by the CDC and ADA (Please contact your child's Program Director if you believe this exception applies to your child. Staff should contact Staff Services if this exception is applicable).
Physical Distancing When indoors, 3ft physical distancing between students, 6ft physical distancing between staff and students, and 6ft physical distancing between staff will be maintained as feasible and appropriate. Desks/instructional areas will be physically distanced to the greatest extent possible within classrooms. Utilization of outdoor spaces for learning, breaks, eating, and recreation will be optimized. Only essential visitors will be allowed in the building.
Preventative Hygiene Special attention will be given to promote frequent and thorough hand washing or use of hand sanitizer when water and soap are not available. Gloves and additional personal protective equipment will be readily available and utilized as situations necessitate.
Building Modifications Upgrades to ventilation and touchless sinks, toilets, paper towel dispenser have enhanced the cleanliness of our physical building and the air circulation. High traffic areas will continue to be cleaned frequently throughout the day, and all areas of the building will be cleaned thoroughly at the end of each day.
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Layered Mitigation Strategies Mealtime Routines Student meals should require minimal on-site preparation. Staff and students will follow social distancing procedures when eating in classrooms or designated lunch areas. Staff and students will be encouraged to eat outside when possible. Masks may be removed during snack/meal times and students will be required to remain in their designated area. Talking will be minimized during meal times but students will have access to other leisure activities (e.g. music, books, and magazines). Students will wash their hands before and after eating.
Limiting Shared Materials Students will avoid sharing work tools (e.g., scissors, pens/pencils, markers, whiteboards) when possible. Staff and students will minimize personal materials brought into the building (e.g., purses, backpacks) to the greatest extent possible and store them in designated areas. When possible, a shift to electronic communication will be implemented to replace printed flyers, IEPs, and related documentation.
Responding to Sick or COVID-19 Positive Individuals Sick individuals on campus will be safely isolated, sent home, and required to complete diagnostic testing with negative results before returning to campus. Families are expected to pick up their children immediately if they exhibit symptoms while at school. The locations and materials used by the symptomatic individual will be avoided until they have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. A period of isolation will be required for all positive cases regardless of vaccination status. Contact tracing will be conducted in collaboration with state and local health departments for close contacts that occurred in Ivymount programs. Close contacts of positive cases or probable cases will be required to quarantine based on the guidance of the Montgomery County health department. Length of quarantine will vary based on vaccination status and ability to consistently and correctly wear a mask while onsite.
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Flexibility and Virtual Instruction
Flexibility
We are committed to remaining flexible in our response plan and instructional models as we respond to the quickly changing health situation. While it is our goal to have all students on-site for full-time instruction, we recognize the health situation may necessitate an alternate plan. We will continue to follow all guidance at the local and state level and recommendations from our medical advisory team to make the best possible decisions for the health and education of our students and clients.
Virtual Instruction
If a student is directed to isolate or quarantine due to a positive COVID-19 test or known exposure and is asymptomatic or otherwise well enough to participate, we will provide synchronous instruction and asynchronous classwork. Virtual instruction will not be provided when quarantine is a result of travel. If students are absent due to other reasons (i.e., vacation, transportation issues, symptoms/illness), virtual instruction will not be provided. If an entire class is quarantined due to COVID exposure, instruction may move to virtual learning after allowing the team a short period to prepare. Related services will be provided according to your child’s schedule to the extent allowed by licensure regulations (therapist must be licensed in state where child is located).
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Guidelines for Staying Home Staff and Students Should Stay Home If: diagnosed with a confirmed case of COVID-19 through testing exposed to a person with COVID-19 or exposure to a person with a probable case of COVID-19 Students and staff who are fully vaccinated are exempt from quarantine and may come to
campus if they have provided a copy of their vaccination card to the health screening team. Fully vaccinated individuals who have been exposed should still notify the health screening
team of their exposure, monitor for symptoms, and complete a PCR test 3-5 days after exposure. experiencing any one of the following symptoms of COVID-19 fever of 100.4° or higher sore throat
cough difficulty breathing diarrhea or vomiting new onset of severe headache loss of taste or smell Exposure: having had close contact with an individual with confirmed COVID-19 or a probable case of COVID-19. Close Contact: being within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from two days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic individuals, two days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the individual is isolated, regardless of whether the person with COVID-19 or the contact was wearing a mask or other PPE. Probable Case of COVID-19: a person with a COVID symptom who has had close contact with a person with COVID-19 in the past 14 days.
Additionally, Staff and Students Should: Notify the Health Screening Team of a confirmed case, exposure, or symptoms using the following secure email addresses:
Staff: staffcovidreport@ivymount.org Families: studentcovidreport@ivymount.org Follow guidance of Ivymount Health Screening Team, local health department and or medical professionals about next steps.
Check-In regularly during quarantine or isolation period using the secure email addresses listed above to report new symptoms, improvement of symptoms, or test results.
Assist with contact tracing. A member of the Ivymount Health Screening Team will contact you by phone or email to gather additional information as needed. We will conduct initial contact tracing
for Ivymount, Maddux, or Outreach related potential exposure. We will support the Montgomery
County Health Department and Maryland Contact Tracing Team to identify close contacts on the Ivymount campus or in homes or other agencies while conducting outreach services. Return to Campus only after receiving clearance from a member of the Health Screening Team.
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Guidelines for Staying Home
COVID-19 Confirmed Case STAY
NOTIFY HEALTH
HOME
Stay home and isolate for at least 10 days from when symptoms first appeared (or 10 days from positive test if asymptomatic) and until feverfree for at least 24 hours without feverreducing medication AND improvement of symptoms
FOLLOW
MONITOR
IDENTIFY
SCREENING TEAM
GUIDANCE
SYMPTOMS
CONTACTS
Notify Ivymount Health Screening Team
Follow guidance from medical professionals, the health department, and Ivymount Health Screening Team
If asymptomatic, monitor for COVID-19 symptoms. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus
Assist Ivymount Health Screening Team by identifying individuals that you were in close contact with 2 days before symptoms began or if asymptomatic, 2 days before the test date. Notify non-Ivymount close contacts
COVID-19 Symptoms fever of 100.4° or higher sore throat cough difficulty breathing diarrhea or vomiting new onset of severe headache loss of taste or smell
What it means to isolate: You isolate when you have been infected with the virus, even if you don’t have symptoms. Isolation is used to separate people infected with COVID-19 from those who are not infected. People who are in isolation should stay home until it’s safe for them to be around others. At home, anyone sick or infected should separate from others, stay in a specific “sick room” or area, and use a separate bathroom (if available).
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Guidelines for Staying Home Known exposure to others with confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 STAY
NOTIFY HEALTH
FOLLOW
HOME
SCREENING TEAM
GUIDANCE
Stay home and monitor for symptoms
Notify Ivymount Health Screening Team of the exposure regardless of vaccination status
Follow guidelines for quarantine below based on vaccination status
Vaccinated Individuals
Unvaccinated Individuals
Students and staff who are fully vaccinated do not need to quarantine and may come to campus if they have provided a copy of their vaccination card to the health screening team. Fully vaccinated individuals who have been exposed should still notify the health screening team of their exposure, monitor for symptoms, and complete a PCR test 5-7 days after exposure. Masks should be worn in all public places while awaiting test results. If the individual experiences symptoms, they should quarantine and be tested for COVID-19.
Unvaccinated staff and students should stay home and quarantine for the full length of time directed by the health department. Additionally, they should complete a PCR test on Day 5 or later. Length of quarantine will vary based on ability to consistently and correctly wear a mask while onsite.
What it means to quarantine: If you receive a POSITIVE test result for COVID-19
Follow the guidelines above for COVID-19 confirmed case.
If you are not fully vaccinated and receive a NEGATIVE test result for COVID-19
Continue to stay home and quarantine for the full length of time determined by the health department.
You quarantine when you might have been exposed to the virus. People who are in quarantine should: Stay home for designated # of days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19. Watch for fever (100.4 F), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19. If possible, stay away from people you live with, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19.
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Guidelines for Staying Home Symptom of COVID without known exposure ANY COVID SYMPTOM (REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS) THAT IS NOT DUE TO A PREEXISTING CONDITION THAT HAS BEEN CLEARED BY THE HEALTH SCREENING TEAM
STAY
NOTIFY HEALTH
GET
HOME
SCREENING TEAM
TESTED
Stay home. Consult a medical professional for symptoms as needed
Notify Ivymount Health Screening Team of the symptom(s)
A negative PCR COVID test result OR confirmation of a specific alternative diagnosis by a healthcare provider is required to return to campus
If you receive a POSITIVE test result for COVID-19
If you do not test for COVID-19 or do not receive an evaluation to confirm another specific diagnosis
Follow the guidelines above for COVID-19 confirmed case.
If you receive a NEGATIVE test result for COVID-19
If healthcare provider documents symptoms are due to a specific alternative diagnosis
Stay home and return when symptoms have improved, with no fever for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. Consider being retested if symptoms do not improve.
COVID-19 Symptoms fever of 100.4° or higher sore throat cough difficulty breathing diarrhea or vomiting new onset of severe headache loss of taste or smell
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References
Our plan is based on the recommendations included in the following documents: COVID-19 Guidance for Maryland Schools COVID-19 Guidance for Child Care Facilities Maryland Health Department Resources Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services CDC School Guidelines Pre-K to 12 CDC schools-childcare FERPA and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Privacy Supplemental Fact Sheet Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Schools While Serving Children with Disabilities Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Schools While Protecting the Civil Rights of Students EPA Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) The American Academy of Pediatrics COVID-19 Planning Considerations: Guidance for School Re-entry Montgomery County Free Testing
FOR QUESTIONS NOTIFY TEAM USING THE FOLLOWING SECURE EMAIL ADDRESSES
STAFFCOVIDREPORT@IVYMOUNT.ORG OR
STUDENTCOVIDREPORT@IVYMOUNT.ORG
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