The response plan must be staged, localized by county based on official, publicly available, vetted scientific data.
The Tennessee Department of Health Epi Curves - New cases by County will be our primary source when filtered for Hamblen County.
The Harvard Global Health Institute and Brown School of Public Health COVID Risk Levels Dashboard will be our secondary source when filtered for Hamblen County.
The stages in our plan aim to be proportional to the exponential growth of COVID-19.
While responding to COVID-19, every effort will be taken to ensure academic excellence, while keeping students and staff safe. Attempts will be made to allow children who do better physically present in a learning environment to learn at the school if their parents feel their children are safe at the school. Parents who feel unsafe if their children attend school when COVID-19 new local infections rise to a level noted below, will have the option of an online learning experience for their children.
While it is recognized that some debate the gravity of COVID-19, there are some undisputed, legitimate concerns that must be considered:
Some families cannot afford to contract COVID-19 and miss work
While fatality rates are generally low for children who contract COVID-19, other adult immunocompromised household member's lives may be vulnerable by proxy through the student
There are cases of lasting or permanent damage due to COVID-19
Communication of changes between stages will be shared by OneCallNow ?and the school website?.
While the school will make every reasonable effort to educate children well during a online learning environment, parents must me aware and sensible about the online instruction of their child(ren). Children, who have the ability to focus and be disciplined to do their class work, will do well. Children who do not will likely need more parental help.
Masks optional and encouraged for those families who choose to do so. Each family who wishes to wear masks must provide their own cloth or basic grade surgical masks.
The Governor or the local health department has the authority to close school, which our school has to follow. For example, the local health department, at their discretion can mandate that students exposed to COVID-19 positive students at school must stay home. We will also follow the stages outlined below:
STAGE 1: Based on the prior day's numbers 0-9 cases per 100,000 people average in the past 7 days in Hamblen county
All activities normal
Good public health practices
No one may enter the school if any of the following are true: cough, fever over 100.4, shortness of breath, or contact with anyone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days. (lack of taste, etc???). Parents should screen their children for the above symptoms before bringing them to school.
Each person who wants to enter the school must have their temperature taken at door with contactless thermometer. Parents must remain in their cars by the school door until their child is cleared to enter.
***Note plan to disinfect with air, UV light
Social distance seating arrangements
Students and teachers will wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before lunch
No public drinking fountain use
???Does playground equipment need to be disinfected?
???Social distancing stickers on ground for line ups?
Educate about safe health practices
STAGE 2: Based on the prior day's numbers 10-39 cases per 100,000 people average in the past 7 days in Hamblen county
Modify some activities
Screening described above PLUS
Outside door handles that are used throughout the day will be disinfected. The UV disinfecting light will disinfect other surfaces.
Required programs at the church are permitted provided social distancing takes place
No field trips (due to no social distancing in vehicles)
No overnight events
School Board moved to online/phone conference (to accommodate immune-compromised board members)
Communicate
STAGE 3:
3a response (Local Health Department or executive recommendation we believe to be important OR based on the prior day's numbers 40-44 cases per 100,000 people average in the past 7 days in Hamblen county):
Screening and modified activities above PLUS
No handshakes or hugs
?No microwave use?
No games or activities with unnecessary contact (for example the game of tag)
Parents are given a chance to keep their child at home with online learning. Those at home would learn in a online environment while the other classmates would learn locally.
3b response (Local Health Department or executive recommendation we believe to be important OR based on the prior day's numbers 50-54 cases per 100,000 people average in the past 7 days in Hamblen county):
All previous restrictions PLUS
?Masks are mandatory for ages ?9 and up? ?what about teachers??? (Masks are like sunscreen: You can still get sunburned, but it takes longer.)
Any child with a preexisting COVID-19 health vulnerabilities must stay home and learn online. Those at home would learn in a online environment while the other classmates would learn locally.
3c response (Local Health Department, executive order OR based on the prior day's numbers 55+ cases per 100,000 people average in the past 7 days in Hamblen county):
Online classes only
Response when students have been exposed to another positive student in class
[include response when positive with no contact of classmates]
Parents must immediately report to the principal or school board chair when their child tests positive for COVID-19. Positive COVID-19 tests will be reported to the local health department.
The following school day only online instruction will start and continue until the school will be disinfected.
Once the school is disinfected, students may return to the school with a current negative COVID-19 test documentation. Otherwise all students must be taught online until 14 days have passed.
Infected students who feel up to classwork (asymptomatic) are highly recommended to keep up with their coursework online.
