Schuylerville CSD 2021-22 Reopening Plan      

Mission

The chief priorities for the 2021-22 school year will be to:

  • Bring students back to school, in-person, at 100% capacity
  • Safely maintain in-person learning for all students
  • Maintain the offering of co-curriculars, extracurricular activities, and athletics for students

Unless a mandatory quarantine is issued by Saratoga County Public Health Services, there will be no remote learning option for students. In consultation with the Schuylerville CSD school physician, Dr. Robert Nielson, a number of health and safety protocols will be implemented beginning September 9, 2021, the first day of school for grades K-12. 

Please note: this reopening plan is a fluid document subject to change based on guidance from the NYS Department of Health. The details of this plan apply to all faculty, staff, students and spectators at school athletic events, as well as during extracurricular activities, recess, physical education classes, and athletics.

Community Transmission

Some details of the plan are based on Saratoga County’s COVID-19 community transmission rate. Transmission rates are measured by the CDC’s four-category system of low, moderate, substantial, and high. Click here for the CDC COVID-19 data tracker.

Masks

Amended Feb. 14, 2022

If the mask mandate from the NYS Department of Health is lifted for schools, masks will be optional for all students, faculty, staff, athletes and visitors regardless of vaccination status, both indoors and outdoors.

Physical Distancing

Per the NYS Department of Health, because of the importance of in-person learning, schools should implement physical distancing to the extent possible, but should not exclude students from in-person learning to keep a minimum distance requirement. Valid reasons for removing a mask include: 

  • Eating
  • Drinking
  • Permitted mask breaks
  • A medical or developmental condition that is documented by a medical provider
  • Students may remove masks during chorus when the community transmission rate is low or moderate in Saratoga County.

Other Health/Safety Protocols and Policies

Attendance
  • All students are expected to attend school in-class every day 
  • Remote learning will only be provided if a student is mandatory quarantined by Saratoga County Public Health Services
Transportation 
  • Passengers and drivers must wear a mask on school buses, regardless of vaccination status
  • Windows/vents open to the extent possible
  • Families who are able to provide transportation to and/or from school are encouraged to do so to reduce the population on buses
Cafeteria
  • Students can be unmasked while eating, seated six feet apart
Mask breaks
  • Frequent mask breaks will be provided to all students in grades K-12
Use of school facilities
  • No indoor use of school facilities by outside groups during county designation of high community transmission
  • Outdoor use of facilities by outside groups will be permitted
Parent visitation  
  • Parents will be allowed into the school buildings if masked (regardless of vaccination status)

COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies 

Daily Cleaning/Disinfecting Procedures and Protocols

The district will continue regular cleaning and disinfection daily or more frequently, as needed, along with frequent cleaning and disinfection of shared objects and surfaces as well as high transit areas, such as restrooms and common areas.

  • Bathrooms: touchless sinks, toilets (flushometers) soap and paper towel dispensers.
  • Water fountains capped and replaced with water filling stations. Students will be encouraged to bring their own water bottles from home.
  • HVAC: UV lighting in heating and cooling rooftop units and local UV light technology in cafeterias and kitchens
  • Filtration/Ventilation: ensure maximum outside air is utilized in all HVAC equipment by monitoring the EMS system for outside damper positions when appropriate. MERV 13 filters will be utilized where appropriate.
  • Classrooms will be disinfected as necessary
  • High volume touch points will be disinfected frequently throughout the day as well as each night
  • Primary products used: EPA approved disinfectants, disinfecting mist/fogger, disinfecting sprays & surface wipes 
  • Use of hand sanitizer and the practice of good hygiene will be taught/encouraged
  • All staff will have access to PPE

Testing Protocols

In an effort to mitigate potential cases of COVID-19, Schuylerville CSD intends to implement the following protocols for the testing of symptomatic students:

  • Students or staff members who are symptomatic will be sent to the nurses office for an evaluation.
    • High risk symptoms include fever over 100.4, cough, shortness of breath, loss smell/taste
  • Use Quadrant Biosciences COVID-19 saliva tests for symptomatic students
    • Test results come back within 24 hours
    • Parents must consent to testing of students at school 
  • Should a parent or staff member not agree to diagnostic testing, the individual will be allowed to return to school/work following upon official notification of a negative COVID-19 test or upon the end of a quarantine period as determined by Saratoga County Public Health Services.

2021-22 Schuylerville CSD Nurses’ COVID-19 Protocols

Send home a student and perform diagnostic test (with parent approval) when student exhibits any of the following symptoms:

  • Fever over 100.4
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Loss of smell or taste

Use nursing judgement when a student has only one symptom; the COVID-19 symptom list is extensive and includes many systems in our bodies.  

  • Does the student have more than one symptom?  
  • How severe is the symptom?  
  • Is anyone at home sick?
  • What are the exposure factors (both known and unknown) 
  • Did the student recently travel? Do they have houseguests? Is anyone at home sick? Were they at a birthday party over the weekend? Do they know anyone who has recently tested positive? Where do the parents work?  Etc.
  • Gather background information; headaches often go away with a bottle of water and rest. What did the student eat for lunch? Did they take a medication on an empty stomach before school therefore causing a stomach ache?
  • Call the teacher and/or counselor and see if there is something else going on