Reopening School
W
hile it is uncertain what school will look like in the Fall, there are groups of educators and health professionals working to better understand what happens next in our schools. The Maine Education Association recommends that all local associations work with their school districts to have a voice in the process of what any reopening plans look like. It is crucial local associations are included in discussions around schools reopening. Local associations should work with their MEA UniServ Director on any discussions surrounding the reopening of schools. Additionally, the Maine Department of Education has convened a team of administrators, educators, parents and students of Maine along with a group of twenty school nurses to work with the DOE School Nurse Consultant to develop scientifically-based, school-specific guidelines, which will then be reviewed by partner state agencies, and shared with our education community. This group has created guidance for school reopening this summer. It is not known if these recommendations will change come Fall. The detailed plan, which includes everything from how to enter school, to where to hang a coat, and how to have snacks can be found on the next page. New guidance has also been released from the American Academy of Pediatrics* (AAP) outlining several key issues that need to be addressed prior to school reopening. The AAP notes that “schools will need to prepare for intermittent closures of schools in the event of COVID-19 infections, and consider options to allow for a phased re-opening, such as beginning with reduced hours by grade level. The guidance addresses the significant impact of lost instructional time on students, particularly for those with disabilities, and the risk of student distress if academic expectations are unrealistic.� The AAP guidance also covers: The availability of testing and contact tracing. Implementing infection control measures, such as disinfecting classrooms and surfaces, screening children and staff, use of masks, appropriate social distancing, limiting interactions between children and staff, and testing for infection when appropriate. The availability of supplies for disinfecting and testing. How will plans for opening differ by grade level? A plan for possible intermittent school closings. Creating options for a phased reopening, perhaps with reduced school hours, to allow local health officials to monitor community infection rates.
The CDC also has issued specific guidance on the cleaning of schools. In a nine-page document, the CDC outlines the frequency of what needs to be cleaned, how to create a plan and then how to implement that plan. To see the complete guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC, read the Maine Educator Online found at maineea.org. *The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
Reopening School This Summer In all instances where a school district is considering offering summer programming, the school district and the local association should be in communication and seek to collaborate around any plans. The MEA encourages all stakeholders to be reasonable with each other and work together to come up with ways to best address an offering of summer programming given the continued extraordinary circumstances. While the points below are the recommendations of the MDOE for summer programming, MEA knows that school districts are starting to put together plans for school next Fall, as well. The MEA continues to work to develop and advocate for plans and procedures that put the health and safety of students and our members as a number one priority in any return to school plans.
Making plans for children with high-risk medical conditions who might not be able to return to school safely.
MEA believes the MDOE guidelines for summer programming should be strictly followed and enforced. Local associations should seek written agreements that these guidelines will be strictly followed and enforced in order to provide the greatest level of safety possible for the well-being of all concerned.
Consider plans for sports teams and events, as well as other extracurricular activities.
Previous guidance from the MEA still applies related to cloth face masks and for local associations to seek a Memorandum of Understanding/ June 2020 • www.maineea.org
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