Horseheads Central School District 2021-22 Opening of School

Health and Safety Guide

Update 3-7-22:

The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and Education Department (NYSED) have issued follow-up guidance to its decision to lift the school mask mandate earlier this week. We would like to share a few updates on this guidance and review the current safety protocols in place in our schools.

Masking

Masking is now optional at school, on school buses, and school functions. Anyone who wishes to wear a mask may do so, and everyone’s mask preference will be shown equal respect.

The state has issued two exceptions to the mask optional decision. It is the responsibility of individuals in these situations to mask when in schools, on school buses, and at school activities:

For any student or staff member who has tested positive, masking is required once returning from five days of isolation on days 6-10 in order to attend school and school functions.
Those students and staff who know that they have been exposed to a positive individual are to mask for ten days after exposure and to test for COVID using a home test.

Individual COVID Protocols

Students and staff with symptoms are to stay home and should test using a home test (if available). If negative and fever-free with symptoms improving, student or staff member can return to school. It is no longer required to obtain a test administered by a medical provider.

What to do with test results or if your child feels ill:

If your child tests positive, keep your child at home and report the result to the county through their reporting portal at this link: https://forms.chemungcountyny.gov/covidpaperwork/. Please also contact your school nurse to give the district this information for attendance purposes.
If your child has symptoms but tests negative on a home test, keep your child at home until your child is fever-free without medication and symptoms are improving. Report proof of the negative test result to your school nurse. Photos of the test are acceptable.
If you learn that your child is a direct contact from a positive COVID exposure, according to the NYSDOH, “exposure is not a reason to remove from the classroom or school setting.” Exposed individuals should mask in school for 10 days after exposure.

If you have questions about these protocols, please contact the Chemung County Health Department at 607-737-2028.

Testing

The district will continue COVID testing as a preventative measure for athletics and certain extracurricular activities, as well as pool testing for unvaccinated staff.
We will continue to provide home tests to families and staff as long as we continue to receive a supply of tests from the state. Note that the district is not charged for these tests.
Home tests are available at all district schools. Those wishing to obtain tests should visit their school’s main office.

Health & Safety

We continue to clean and sanitize schools and offices as we have been doing during the pandemic.

Distancing

Although there are no specific requirements for physical distancing at this time, it is recommended that classrooms and transportation settings maximize physical space whenever possible. This includes music and physical education space, as well as extracurricular and athletic activities. The district will continue to maximize spacing whenever possible.

3-1-22:

On Sunday, Governor Hochul announced that the state will lift the mask mandate in schools effective tomorrow. After consultation with the Chemung County Health Department, the district will no longer require masks on school buses. Beginning tomorrow, students and staff are no longer required to wear masks in schools or on school buses. All are welcome to do so if they choose, and we ask everyone to respect each other’s personal choice.

2-27-22:

This afternoon, Governor Hochul announced that the state is lifting the mask mandate in schools effective Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

Beginning Wednesday, students and staff will not be required to wear masks in schools. However, all are welcome to do so if they choose. We ask that parents and guardians have a discussion with your student regarding your wishes. Additionally, we ask all to carry a mask with their belongings as a precaution and to respect each other’s personal choice.

As always, we ask that everyone continue to be vigilant against the COVID-19 virus, including staying home and getting tested if exhibiting symptoms. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.

2-17-22:

As shared last week, the district will send two COVID test kits home with each student tomorrow, Friday, February 18. The governor has directed districts to distribute these test kits. Parents and guardians are asked to check their students' backpacks or check with your student for the test kits.

The state encourages families to test their students at the end of the February break and again during the week they return to school. However, testing of students by parents is not mandatory. The Governor is asking that families assist with this testing effort to help control the spread of the COVID virus.

Parents and guardians with questions are asked to contact the school office. The Governor’s Office can be reached at https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form or 518-474- 8390.

Update 2-11-22:

Please click here for a message from the superintendent regarding the next home test kit distribution.

Update 2-8-22:

Please click here for a message from the superintendent regarding updates to the Return to Play and Test to Stay protocols.

Update 1-25-22:

Please click here for an update from the superintendent regarding the mask mandate.

Update 1-21-22:

State and local guidance regarding COVID procedures and protocols for students and staff will continue to be updated as we move through the global pandemic.

Beginning Monday, January 24, Horseheads, along with all Chemung County school districts, will follow the new state Department of Health contact tracing procedures, which are deemed to be safe by the state and local health authorities. As a result, districts and the county will end daily contact tracing and identifying direct contacts in schools. The district, with the continued help from parents and staff, will continue to follow protocols for symptomatic, direct contact, and positive students and staff members. All other COVID protocols including distancing and masking remain in place.

Of all the contact tracing we do as a district, the number of resulting direct contacts in our schools who become positive remains extremely low. This means our schools are not where the virus is spreading. As a district, we have implemented protocols that prevent the spread of COVID in schools. This includes required distancing, masking, and cleaning protocols. Additional safeguards put in place include updating ventilation, testing unvaccinated staff and student-athletes weekly, distributing home COVID tests, and implementing a Test to Stay procedure to identify positive direct contacts prior to the school day.

What to do if your child has symptoms of COVID or any illness, or is a direct contact:

If your child tests positive,

Keep your child at home.
Report the result to the county through their reporting portal at this link: https://forms.chemungcountyny.gov/covidpaperwork/.
Please also contact your school nurse to give the district this information for attendance purposes.

If your child has symptoms but tests negative on a home test,

Keep your child at home.
Contact your medical provider to make arrangements for an alternative diagnosis or additional testing.
- If your child gets an alternative diagnosis or a negative test from your medical provider, the child may only return to school once they are 24 hours with no symptoms.
- If you do not get an alternative diagnosis or an additional negative test from a medical provider, the district must treat your student as a presumed positive for COVID with a five-day isolation period.

If you learn that your child is a direct contact from a positive COVID exposure,

Keep your child at home.
Notify the school nurse and sign up for the Test to Stay procedure (TTS) if eligible and if you wish for your child to continue attending school during their quarantine. Please note: If your child is a direct contact to a positive individual living in the same home, the child is not eligible for TTS until the positive individual's isolation period ends.
For updated information on the Test to Stay procedure, click here: https://horseheadsdistrict.com/HCSDTestToStayStrategy.cfm. Please note the location of the TTS program will move from our High School Fieldhouse to individual buildings beginning in late January.

Update 1-14-22:

If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID:

The positive test result is to be submitted to the Chemung County COVID Paperwork Portal at this link: https://forms.chemungcountyny.gov/covidpaperwork/. After you have submitted the electronic form, an isolation order will be sent to your email by Chemung County. Please provide this documentation to your school nurse (if a staff member, to your supervisor).
The positive person (regardless of vaccination status) must isolate for 5 days. The five-day isolation begins the day following the first day of symptoms. If the positive person is without symptoms, the five days start the day following the positive test result for COVID.

If the positive person continues to have symptoms after day 5, the person will need to continue to isolate until the person is fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and other symptoms have improved.

If a vaccinated student or staff member is identified as a close contact:

Fully vaccinated individuals (students and staff) who have been exposed to an individual with COVID-19 and have no symptoms may continue to attend school, regardless of booster status. Note: ‘Fully vaccinated’ is defined as two weeks after the receipt of either two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Janssen/Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
Extracurricular or after school activities: Beginning with the spring athletic season on March 14, 2022, individuals 12 years and older who are eligible for a booster but have not received it and who have been exposed to an individual with COVID-19 may attend the instructional day; however, they must still adhere to a 5-day quarantine outside the school day and cannot participate in extracurricular or after school activities. These students may ride the bus to and from school. (Fully vaccinated children age 5-11 are not eligible for a booster and have no further restrictions.)

If an unvaccinated student or staff member is identified as a close contact:

Students, teachers, and staff who are not vaccinated or have not completed a primary vaccine series who came into close contact with someone with COVID-19 must quarantine for at least 5 days after their last close contact. This means day 0 through day 5, with the last day of contact with the positive individual being counted as day 0.
Unvaccinated individuals are eligible for the district’s Test to Stay program (TTS)*. This program allows them to remain in the school setting if testing negative daily at the testing site during the quarantine period. When an individual is under the TTS protocol and outside the instructional day, the individual must still adhere to all quarantine requirements (no participation in athletics and extracurricular activities are allowed during the quarantine period). *Please note: If the individual is a direct contact to a positive individual living in the same home, the close contact is not eligible for TTS until the positive individual's isolation period ends.

Masking and Distancing

Both masking and distancing continue to be required in all school settings, as directed by the state.

Please note: as of 1-14-22, per the New York State and Chemung County departments of health, isolation/quarantine is now five days.

Original plan approved by the Board of Education September 1, 2021; updated September 16, 2021:

Horseheads CSD approach to preventing and monitoring transmission of COVID-19

The health and safety of the children and adults in our schools are paramount. Health and safety considerations must always come first in every decision made and every action taken by our schools.

Schools have an important role to play in educating and communicating with our community about the precautionary actions the district is taking to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Prevention is accomplished by following the recommendations of health authorities.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend schools should consider many factors as they prepare for the 2021-2022 school year, including the level of COVID-19 transmission and vaccination coverage rates in both the community at large and in their school community.

Horseheads Central School District will continue to consult with state agencies, local health officials, and monitor community transmission through multiple national, state, and local data sources, as well as vaccination coverage, screening testing, and/or occurrences of local outbreaks to guide decisions on the level of layered prevention strategies.

Horseheads will use multiple prevention strategies in a layered approach to promote safer in-person learning and care. This is particularly significant due to the fact that students under age 12 cannot receive the vaccine at this time.

These strategies include but are not limited to:

Consistent and correct use of masks;
Physical distancing;
Screening testing to quickly identify cases;
Improved ventilation;
Proper handwashing and respiratory etiquette;
Staying home when sick and getting tested;
Contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine (Note: as of 1/24/22, the district and county will no longer conduct daily contact tracing in schools. Click here for more information.);
Routine cleaning with disinfection; and
Promoting vaccination;

Horseheads will continue to monitor levels of community transmission by regular discussions with the Chemung County Health Department and County Executive, as well as evaluating multiple points of data, including data provided by the Chemung County Health Department.

Wearing Masks

Please note: State mask requirements were updated effective March 2, 2022. See top of page.

Universal Indoor Educational Masking

Horseheads Central School District requires universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors in PreK-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status and community transmission levels at the time. The New York State Health Department directive now requires that masks that cover both the nose and mouth be worn at all times while in PreK-12 school buildings. The Horseheads district requires that masks be multi-layered.

Single-layered masks and gaiters are not acceptable face coverings.

Outdoor Educational Masking

Horseheads Central School District recommends for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to PreK-12 schools who are not fully vaccinated wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings and/or during activities that involve sustained close contact with other people and physical distancing is not possible. When appropriately distanced in outdoor activities during the school day (e.g., outside physical education class and recess), students and staff may choose to remove their masks.

Universal Mask use on School Transportation

Horseheads Central School District abides by the CDC Order issued January 2021 that requires universal masking on school buses/school transportation. The CDC’s Order regarding masks requires that “[a]ll passengers on public conveyances ... traveling into, within, or out of the United States ... regardless of their vaccination status, are required to wear a mask over their nose and mouth.” Passengers and drivers must wear a mask on school buses regardless of vaccination status. Passengers and drivers in all district vehicles occupied by more than one person must wear a mask regardless of vaccination status.

Event Masking Indoors

Horseheads Central School District requires universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to PreK-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status and community transmission levels at this time. The New York State Health Department directive requires that masks, which cover both the nose and mouth, be worn at all times while in these preK-12 school buildings for any event/activity.

Event Masking Outdoors

Horseheads Central School District recommends that people who are not fully vaccinated wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings and/or during activities that involve sustained close contact with other people.

Music Masking Indoors

Horseheads Central School District requires universal indoor masking. However, for instrumental music, students should maintain six feet distancing, when possible, if unmasked when playing an instrument. Likewise, vocal music should maintain six feet distancing, when possible, if unmasked when singing. If masked, singing can occur at three-foot distancing.

Physical Distancing

PreK-12 Classrooms

Horseheads Central School District will maintain at least three feet of physical distance between students within classrooms to reduce potential transmission of COVID-19.

A distance of at least six feet must be maintained between students and teachers/staff, and between teachers/staff who are not fully vaccinated when not engaged in instruction.

Hallways and Movement

All teachers, staff, students, and visitors to PreK-12 Horseheads Central School District schools will physically distance, when possible, in hallways and when moving about the buildings. Masks are required when in the buildings.

Cafeteria

Horseheads Central School District teachers, staff, students, and visitors will mask and maximize physical distance as much as possible when students are moving throughout the food service line and while eating. Horseheads teachers, staff, students, and visitors should continue to wear their masks while moving through the cafeteria until seated and eating. When teachers, staff, students, and visitors are finished eating indoors, all are required to wear their masks.

School Buses and Other School Transportation Vehicles

Pursuant to the CDC's order, physical distancing is not required on school buses or other school transportation vehicles. Physical distancing will be maintained where possible on school buses and transportation vehicles. This will be combined with universal mask wearing on all school-related transportation.

Indoor Events

Horseheads Central School District will require spectators who are not engaged in the event/activity to physically distance six feet between adults/household families, regardless of vaccination status and community transmission levels at the time. Masks covering both the nose and mouth must be worn at all times while in PreK-12 school buildings for any event/activity.

Outdoor Events

Horseheads Central School District highly recommends outdoor spectators/household families physically distance at least six feet.

COVID-19 Screening Testing to Promptly Identify Cases, Clusters, and Outbreaks

COVID-19 screening testing identifies people infected with COVID-19, including those with or without symptoms, who may be contagious. In PreK-12 schools, COVID-19 screening testing can promptly identify and isolate cases, help quarantine those who may have been exposed to COVID-19 who are not fully vaccinated, and identify clusters where the virus exists.

Horseheads CSD will employ screening testing when appropriate as a mitigation strategy after consultation and cooperation with the Chemung County Health Department:

For certain higher risk activities. See Sports and Extracurricular Activities.
For participants who are not fully vaccinated and seek to participate in sports, extracurricular activities, or other activities with elevated risk (such as activities that involve singing, shouting, band, and exercise that could lead to increased exhalation). See Sports and Extracurricular Activities.
If Horseheads is determined to be an area of high community transmission levels by evaluating multiple points of data including data provided by the local health department.
If Horseheads district staff/students are determined by local health authorities to have low vaccination coverage.
If other prevention strategies are not implemented.

Horseheads will obtain written parent/guardian consent prior to conducting any COVID-19 testing of students.

Improved Ventilation

Horseheads Central School District has already implemented the New York State requirement to provide adequate ventilation, both natural and mechanical, in our buildings and on our buses.

Proper Handwashing and Respiratory Etiquette

Horseheads Central School District continues to provide training to all students and staff on best practices in hand washing and respiratory etiquette. This includes handwashing periodically throughout the day and before/after eating.

Staying Home from School When Sick and Getting Tested

Students and school personnel should stay home from school and get tested if they are showing signs and symptoms of infectious illness, including COVID-19. See chart at bottom of page.

Parents/Guardians/Staff who are coming onto district property including district buildings, fields, and transportation, are expected to self-monitor daily for any COVID-19 symptoms. This includes both during the school day and activities/ events outside school hours.

If a student or staff member shows signs and symptoms of infectious illness, including COVID-19, to re-enter our schools and buildings, they need to:

Be 24 hours symptom-free with no fever-reducing medication and produce a doctor's note stating they have a negative test result.

Be 24 hours symptom-free with no fever-reducing medication and produce a produce a copy of a negative test result.

Be 24 hours symptom-free with no fever-reducing medication and produce a doctor's note with an alternative diagnosis.

If refusing to take a COVID test or see a physician, choose to be presumed positive and complete ten days quarantine through the Chemung County Health Department. Note: as of 1-14-22, the quarantine is five days per the New York State and Chemung County departments of health.

No One With Symptoms Should Enter District Property.

The CDC has outlined COVID-19 symptoms as follows:

Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea

Horseheads encourages everyone in our school community to get tested when symptoms are compatible with COVID-19. This will help with rapid contact tracing and prevent the spread of COVID-19 at school.

Horseheads will comply with Education Law § 906, which provides that:

“[w]henever…a student in the public schools shows symptoms of any communicable or infectious disease reportable under the public health law that imposes a significant risk of infection of others in the school, he or she shall be excluded from the school and sent home immediately, in a safe and proper conveyance. Parents/Guardians are expected to immediately come to school and pick up their student. The director of school health services shall immediately notify a local public health agency of any disease reportable under the public health law. … The director of school health services, or other health professionals acting upon direction or referral of such director, may make such evaluations of teachers and any other school employees, school buildings and premises as, in their discretion, they may deem necessary to protect the health of the students and staff.”

Contact Tracing, in Combination with Isolation and Quarantine

New York State Department of Health requires that all individuals who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for ten days from the date of test, or date of onset of symptoms, whichever is sooner. Note: as of 1-14-22, the isolation is five days per New York State and Chemung County departments of health.

Horseheads Central School District requires proof of a release from isolation/quarantine from the local health department in order to be able to return to work/school.

At-home COVID-19 tests are for screening purposes only. Individuals who take at-home COVID-19 tests outside of a health care setting and receive a positive result must go to a medical provider for a confirmatory test and report their results immediately to the Chemung County Health Department in order to receive a release from isolation to be able to return to work/school. NOTE: as of 1-14-22, Chemung County accepts positive home test results. Positive home test results should be submitted to Chemung County via this link: https://forms.chemungcountyny.gov/covidpaperwork/.

New York State Department of Health requires that unvaccinated close contacts of positive individuals quarantine for ten days from exposure. Note: as of 1-14-22, the isolation is five days per New York State and Chemung County departments of health. Fully vaccinated individuals DO NOT need to quarantine after contact with someone who had COVID-19 unless they have symptoms.

A close contact is defined as someone who was within six feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual five-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes).

Exception: In the PreK-12 indoor classroom setting, the close contact definition excludes students who were within three to six feet of an infected student if both the infected student and the exposed student(s) correctly and consistently wore well-fitting masks the entire time. (This exception does not apply to teachers, staff, or other adults in the indoor classroom setting.)

Contact tracing will be done by the Chemung County Health Department in cooperation with Horseheads Central School District. All final quarantine and isolation orders/releases will come from the Chemung County Health Department. Note: as of 1-24-22, the district and county will no longer conduct daily contact tracing in schools, per state guidance. Click here for more information.

The Chemung County Health Department and the New York State Department of Health may update/adjust isolation and quarantine requirements. Any such adjustments would supersede this guidance. Note: as of 1-14-22, the isolation/quarantine requirements are now five days in length.

Routine Cleaning (with Disinfection)

Horseheads Central School District has the necessary cleaning agents, and continues to purchase products, to clean and disinfect schools and transportation vehicles. A list of products used can be found here. Beyond these routine cleanings and disinfection, we also clean frequently touched spaces throughout the school day (e.g., door handles, desks, tables).

Promoting Vaccination

Horseheads Central School District has, and will continue to, provide locations within our schools for the local health department to host Chemung County directed vaccination clinics for eligible staff, parents, students, and all community members.

Instructional Program

For the 2021-22 school year, Horseheads CSD will be open to five days a week of in-person learning for all students. At the heart of teaching and learning are the relationships that students have with their peers, teachers, and school community members. A return to regular in-person instruction provides the normalcy of positive routines and welcoming environment that supports students during this unpredictable time.

Attendance

Students will be required to attend in-person all five days of the week. As in any other school year, if a student is unable to attend school, the parent/guardian is required to provide an excuse. There is no remote option available for students. Therefore, all registered students are required to attend school when it is in session.

As a reminder, if students are feeling ill, they should stay home. Parents/guardians should contact the school nurse. Students will need to proceed through COVID-19 protocols to return. If it is determined to be a non-COVID illness, students should only return to school no sooner than 24 hours after all symptoms have resolved.

Student Quarantines

During instances when a student has been placed in a quarantine or isolated as a result of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, learning will be made available via the itslearning platform. Click here for the itslearning Quick Start Guide for Students.

First, students should focus on their health before engaging in learning. Teachers will provide students with work to engage in during the school day while at home. There may be a 24-hour delay in transitioning a student to this learning to give the necessary time to gather and send necessary materials for the student. The materials provided will be accompanied with explicit information that provides clear directions and/or videos for students to follow. Teachers will check in with students regarding both academic and social-emotional health while students are quarantined or in isolation.

Preparing for 100% Remote Instruction

Schedule

If the district is required to move to remote instruction, the remote instructional schedule will be the same as the daily in-person schedule, unless otherwise changed by the district. Students and parents will need to be prepared to transition to daily remote instruction upon notification by the district.

Technology and Devices

A survey identifying the need for technology at home will be sent to families. Needs to be identified will be for both laptops and hotspots.

For parents/guardians who would like to purchase a device for their students, click here for information on technical specifications and recommendations.

Sports and Extracurricular Activities

Horseheads Central School District recognizes that school-sponsored sports and extracurricular activities provide students with enrichment opportunities that can help them learn, achieve, and support their social, emotional, and mental health.

To ensure the health and safety of students during these activities, Horseheads will follow the following protocols:

Students participating in sports and extracurricular activities are required to bring a mask to all practices/contests/performances.
Masks are required to be worn while traveling on school transportation to and from events.
For teams and extracurricular activities that operate indoors, all student-participants, advisors, coaches, spectators, and participants are required to wear masks at all times. Students who are swimming are required to wear a mask when not in the pool. Indoor physical distancing of six feet is required for adult spectators (outside of the same household). Physical distancing is also highly recommended for athletes and student participants.
For outdoor practices, student-participants must wear masks when not engaged in activity and on the sidelines when physical distancing cannot be maintained. All advisors and coaches must be masked at all times.
For outdoor sports and activities, student-participants are not required to wear masks while in competition/performance or on the sidelines, but may elect to do so if they choose. All advisors and coaches must be masked at all times. Physical distancing is highly recommended for all student-participants, advisors, coaches, and spectators.
Students, advisors, coaches, and spectators are not to attend extracurricular activities if they have symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
COVID-19 screening testing serves to facilitate safe participation, reduce the risk of transmission, and avoid jeopardizing in-person education and activities due to outbreaks. Horseheads will use COVID-19 screening testing for student-athletes and students participating in extracurricular activities with elevated risk (such as activities that involve singing, shouting, band, and exercise that could lead to increased exhalation. All students participating in these activities will need parent/guardian consent to testing in the event the district must test all participants in order to continue participating in these activities. The initial focus will be on testing those students who are unvaccinated. Adults who support these activities (e.g., coaches, teachers, advisors) will also be tested. Horseheads will participate in county-determined COVID-19 testing protocols for each group on a weekly basis. If authorized, the district will make adjustments to the testing schedule after evaluating multiple points of data.
People who are fully vaccinated can refrain from quarantine following a known exposure if they are asymptomatic, facilitating continued participation in in-person learning, sports, and extracurricular activities.
The opportunity for spectators to attend events, as well as capacity limits for venues, will be continuously evaluated and updated as appropriate for physical distancing recommendations.

The district administration will adjust this plan as appropriate and reasonably needed or as directed by state and local health departments, until such time that the Board of Education approves the changes.

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