Zion Elementary District 6 School Reopening Plan 2021-2022

Zion Elementary District 6 is dedicated to ensuring our students have access and opportunity to have the safest in person instructional program for the in-person 2021-2022 school year. This health and safety plans follows the mitigation strategies recommended by the CDC, IDPH , and LCHD.

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SCHOOL REOPENING PLAN

Zion Elementary District 6 School Reopening Plan 2021-2022

Reopening schools during COVID-19 is critical to reopening the community and even the state. This is an obligation our district does not take lightly. However, our first commitment is to the students and families we serve. Our priority must be keeping them safe. This School Reopening Plan aims to define clear guidance for the full reopening of schools for the 2021-2022 school year that aligns with the protocols developed in collaboration with local, state, and national health guidelines and regulations.

As of August 17, 2021, District 6 will be following the ISBE guidelines stating that all students must attend in-person learning for the 2021-2022 school year. Remote instruction is only to be utilized during quarantine.

Pursuant to Governor Pritzker’s August 4, 2021, Executive Order

Number 18 (COVID-19 Executive Order No. 85), all public and

nonpublic schools in Illinois serving pre-kindergarten through

12th

grade students must follow the joint guidance issued by

the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Illinois

Department of Public Health (IDPH) and require “the indoor use

of face coverings by students, staff, and visitors who are over age

two and able to medically tolerate a face covering, regardless of

vaccination status.” Executive Order Number 18.

The areas outlined in this plan represent major considerations our district is addressing to fully reopen schools safely and to sustain their reopening. Each department has taken the safety of both staff and our learners into consideration.

We strongly believe the actions brought forth in this plan are in the best interests of our students, families, staff, and community. District 6 thanks you for all that you have done and continue doing throughout the pandemic.

Guiding Principles For the 2021-2022 School Reopening Plan

Ensure the SAFETY and WELLNESS of

students and staff .

Deliver HIGH QUALITY education for all students.

Provide families with RELIABILITY and TRUST

for in person instruct ion.

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Zion Elementary District 6 School Reopening Plan 2021-2022

Instructional Practices

Student Schedules

All students will follow a full daily schedule.

To limit COVID-19 exposure and promote social

distancing, students will be placed in groups.

Students will mobilize throughout the building to

classes such as exploratories and lunch, however,

will remain with the same students in the group for

a majority of the day.

PreK-Grade 5

• Students will remain with their teacher throughout

the day but will move collectively to their

exploratory subjects.

• Daily schedule will remain the same as previous

years.

• Student recess: available weather permitting.

• Specials/exploratories are held quarterly, with PE all

year (3x/week.)

Grades 6-8

The middle school schedule is modified to reduce

hallway transitions.

• Students remain within their cohort/class

throughout the day, to the greatest extent possible.

• Students move together as a cohort/group.

• Daily schedules contain core classes: ELA, Math,

Science, Social Studies, special/exploratory.

Attendance

Any student not in attendance must notify the school

office before 8:15 am. A message can also be left on the

school attendance line. Attendance will be taken and

daily participation is required.

Equipment and Material Cleaning Communal supplies are not encouraged. If items or

equipment must be shared, cleaning of equipment must

occur between student use. Time for cleaning must be

planned for between activities.

Technology

District-issued technology and support will be provided

for all students. All district devices are managed and

filtered through GoGuardian.

PreK: iPads Grades K-8: Chromebooks

• Families who demonstrate a need for internet

access can participate in the Emergency Broadband

Benefit (EBB) program and/or the Internet Essentials

program from Comcast, based upon availability.

Further details can be located on the district website

under the Families tab.

• The Technology Department has a limited inventory

for short term Hot Spot connectivity. Check-outs

will be provided based upon availability and

completion of the district Hot Spot Request Form,

located on the district website.

• Parents and guardians will utilize the technology

help line at 847-379-0099 to report technology

issues and receive support.

• Physical repairs and device collection/distribution

will be handled by Technology Department.

• Limited loaner devices will be available in

instructional spaces for student use, however, these

devices will not be allowed to leave the classroom

and will be wiped down with technology sanitation

spray between usage.

M,T,TH,F W

Grade Start End Start End

PreK AM 8:30 am 11:00 am 8:30 am 11:00 am

PreK PM 12:30 pm 3:00 pm 11:30 am 2:00 pm

PreK All Day 8:30 am 3:00 pm 8:30 am 2:00 pm

K-5 8:30 am 3:00 pm 8:30 am 2:00 pm

6-8 8:15 am 3:00 pm 8:15 am 2:00 pm

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Zion Elementary District 6 School Reopening Plan 2021-2022

Health, Wellness, and Safety

Zion Elementary District 6 is working closely with

Lake County Health Departments, Illinois Department

of Public Health, and ISBE to monitor COVID-19 cases

in our area. We are collaborating with medical

officials, business leaders, teachers, school

administrators, and families to help guide our decision

making around protocols and guidelines to ensure the

safety of our entire district.

It is imperative that we educate our learners, staff, and

community about health and safety measures to slow

the spread of COVID-19 within our schools.

All students and staff may recognize their traditional

environment may look different due to enhanced safety

and health protocols. This new normal will require an

adjustment for all, but ultimately these changes will

keep health and safety as the top priorities.

Face Coverings

(PPE-Personal Protective Equipment) Face coverings will be required based upon best

available data and input from local health authorities,

the School Board, CDC guidelines and stakeholder

groups including teachers and parents.

Special clear masks will be available for grades PreK-2

for teaching staff to support instruction for language

acquisition.

Students are required to wear face coverings during

school hours as well as on school buses. Face coverings

must be school appropriate and shall not interfere with

the district’s dress code policy.

Face coverings should be provided to students by

parents/guardians and must be 2 layered cloth OR

disposable. The district will provide masks only when a

student’s mask is forgotten, ruined, or soiled.

Mask Enforcement: School administration or staff will

be stationed at entry points throughout each campus to

remind students to wear face coverings prior to entering

the building. Students who repeatedly do not wear a

mask in the school building will be educated on their

importance while faculty will work to use restorative

practices to encourage students to utilize a mask.

Each school will have a COVID Point Person to work on

compliance issues at the school level. The School Office

will be enforcing the facial covering mandate. Masks are

required for all vaccinated and unvaccinated students

and staff while in the school buildings at this time. CDC

and State guidance is subject to change and the district

will update the information accordingly.

Common areas and classrooms: Students must wear

masks in all areas, to include the classroom, as well as

hallways and other shared spaces. Teachers can work

with students to provide designated “mask breaks”

during which time students will be socially distanced,

such as during recess breaks.

Exemptions: Students or staff must have a medical

need for which a face covering would cause an

impairment. A doctor’s note is necessary to be exempt

from wearing a mask. There is also an applicable

exemption for students or staff who need to

communicate with someone who is hearing impaired

and needs to see the person’s mouth to communicate.

Understanding that there may be students, due to the

nature of their disabilities, who will not be able to wear

a mask/face covering, staff in those cases may wear a

mask and face shield. Therapists, teachers and other

staff working with students who are Deaf/Hard of

Hearing, will need to wear a special clear mask and not

a regular mask to ensure proper communication. Face

shields will also be used by Speech and Language

Therapists when providing speech therapy.

Pursuant to State guidance, the District may make

limited exceptions to this requirement for students “who

cannot wear a mask or cannot safely wear a mask

because of a disability as defined by the Americans with

Disabilities Act (ADA) (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).” To

request a face covering exemption for your child due to

a medical or developmental need, please complete this

form or contact the nurse at your child’s school.

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Zion Elementary District 6 School Reopening Plan 2021-2022

Social Distancing It is essential to create a healthy and safe environment

by limiting potential COVID-19 exposure whenever

possible. It is our goal that as we reopen schools and

welcome children into a new year of learning, that we

mitigate the health concerns with which we are faced,

and focus on providing high-quality instruction and

engagement for every student despite the

circumstances.

Students will be socially distanced to the greatest extent

possible. When it is not possible to socially distance,

students should engage in more frequent hand washing

and mandatory mask wearing.

Every classroom will be designed to maximize space and

distance between each student.

• Classroom furniture will be rearranged to provide

additional space. Administrators will preview and

approve classroom designs prior to the start of

school, and throughout the school year as

adjustments are required.

Students will practice social distancing from the arrival

on campus through departure.

• Our district will be limiting access to essential

educational visitors and volunteers to appointment

only. A request must be made 24 hours in advance.

• Administrators will establish protocols for greeting

visitors and the need for screenings and

temperature checks.

Administrators will create site-based procedures for

community restrooms and confined spaces to allow for

social distancing and proper hand washing.

Transportation: Students will be encouraged to stay

socially distanced while at the bus stop. This must be a

joint education effort between families and school

personnel. Students will be socially distanced as much

as the physical capacity of the bus allows.

• Students will load on school buses from back to

front, increasing social distancing and limiting

exposure to others.

• Students and drivers will wear masks while riding

the bus. Bus drivers will have disposable masks to

hand out to students in the event a student does

not have his or her mask.

Additional Hand Sanitation Stations Each classroom will be outfitted with additional

sanitation stations with a variety of supplies to

encourage proper cleaning practices. Each station will

include gloves and disinfectant wipes for spot cleaning,

along with hand sanitizer. Students and staff will work

together to ensure everyone is contributing to a healthy

environment by wiping surfaces after classroom

instruction is complete.

Students will be encouraged to take hand-washing

breaks throughout the day, in addition to washing

hands before and after eating, as well as before sharing

materials. Hand soap and paper towels will be provided

at every sink. Hand sanitizer will be in each classroom.

Classroom Modifications Administrators will view and approve classroom designs

prior to the start of the school year.

• Extraneous furniture will be removed from each

classroom as much as possible for proper social

distancing practices.

• Students will be provided materials to avoid sharing

of items.

The site-based administrator will determine site-based

procedures that minimize the spread of the virus

including minimal transitions and consistent grouping

whenever possible. This includes all classroom settings,

teacher directed PE, specials, and special education

services locations when possible and appropriate.

School administrators will need to establish an inventory

system to identify shared items for the curriculum and

see how additional items can be ordered. If additional

items are not readily available to the school,

consultation with content supervisors will be required.

Common Area Modifications Students will be monitored in all common area locations

to encourage social distancing practices.

Additional signage will be placed in all buildings to

proper hygiene and social distancing.

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Zion Elementary District 6 School Reopening Plan 2021-2022

Hallway directional signage will be placed throughout

the buildings to limit traffic congestion and

congregating of students.

Controlled Movement Patterns Scheduled bathroom and recess breaks will be

established utilizing controlled movement patterns

based on signage throughout campus.

Contract tracing will be implemented. Staggered entry/

exit points may be established for arrival and dismissal

patterns with designated drop-off and pick-up areas for

walkers and bike riders.

No nonessential outside visitors will be allowed

admission into the building.

Meal Service Breakfast and lunch will include pre-packaged items.

Students will receive meals through a delivery system to

their classroom or gym/cafeteria. Meals will be

prepacked and heated, if required.

School Supplies Registered students will receive a school supply kit

delivered to their classroom.

Teachers will increase the use of digital instruction where possible to limit the spread of germs in classroom areas.

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures Schools will establish arrival and dismissal procedures to

minimize crowding, foot traffic, and transmission of

COVID-19, including drop-off and pick-up points for

walkers and bike riders.

Dismissal procedures will include transition directives

that limit the mixing of cohorts of students. Signage will

be provided to remind students and parents of the

traffic flow pattern upon entrance and exit of school

grounds.

Additionally, school-based teams will establish a rainy-

day plan.

Students will be supervised by staff throughout

dismissal. Students will always be required to wear their

face covering during dismissal.

• Schools will clearly message families regarding

times when supervision is available and when

students are permitted on campus.

• Administrators will create site-based protocols for

all late arrival and early pickup. Parents/guardians

picking students up will have to wait in the

designated area, with face covering, and student will

be escorted to them.

Mass Gatherings/Extracurricular Activities/Field

Trips/Athletic

In-person field trips will not be scheduled until further

notice in order to promote social distancing and follow

proper safety guidelines. Virtual field trips will be

offered throughout the year. Extra-Curricular activities

and athletics will be offered while following the

established health protocols. Open houses will be virtual

at this time.

Nurse’s Office Our district is committed to assigning full-time RN’s for

each school and one district-wide registered nurse to

help create a safe and healthy environment. Students

exhibiting possible COVID-19 symptoms will be isolated

from others within the nurses office until picked up by

their parent/guardian. The building nurse will assess

other students outside of the nurses office or in the

classroom and provide appropriate care. After the

isolated student is picked up, the nurses office will be

sanitized accordingly.

Sanitation, Cleaning and Disinfection Zion District 6 partners with RJB for cleaning services.

District 6 and RJB requires that all employees wear

appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE.)

RJB has increased the amount of staff dedicated to

cleaning our school buildings, which also included a

dedicated Day Porter to each location.

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Zion Elementary District 6 School Reopening Plan 2021-2022

Day porters keep the facility clean and sanitized but,

most importantly they provide visibility to staff,

students, or visitors ensuring that the space that they

are in is clean and disinfected.

• Continuous cleaning and sanitizing of high

touchpoints throughout the day. For example:

tables, door handles, light switches, water fountains,

countertops, restrooms fixtures, handrails, coffee

machines, etc.

• Frequent disinfecting multiple times daily of

communal areas as they get used.

• Replenishment of supplies. For example: soap,

paper towels, and hand sanitizers.

• Distribution of hand sanitizers.

• In addition to your nightly custodial staff, a Day

Porter can help in round-the-clock cleaning and

disinfection of our facility.

All schools will be cleaned multiple times daily, focusing

on major touch entry points in common areas such as

lockers, doorknobs, handles, stairwell railings, light

switches and soap dispensers. Bathrooms will be

frequently cleaned to accommodate increased traffic

patterns.

Custodial staff will disinfect using ECAS, or

Electrochemically Active Solutions, with microfiber

cloths to spray and wipe down objects and surfaces.

In addition to traditional sprayers and foggers RJB is

exploring further ways to effectively and efficiently clean

and disinfect our buildings.

Scheduling and Routine: Throughout the workday, the

custodial staff will implement a routine of surface

cleaning in the major touch point areas discussed such

as restrooms. The staff will, in some cases, report at

staggered times depending upon hours of operation to

ensure consistent disinfection practices while primary

building employees are

present. Later custodial

shifts will apply the full

standard cleaning of all

areas to be ready for the

next day. Additional

disinfecting will be

performed prior to the

arrival of district staff in high

-traffic areas such as the front office. Custodial staff will

wear face masks and gloves.

COVID Positive Cleaning Protocol

Deep cleaning: If a positive COVID-19 case is

determined within a school or building, district staff will

use an approved chemical and electrostatic machine to

disinfect any area deemed appropriate by contract

tracing processes. The sanitization solution is OSHA

(Occupational Safety and Health Administration),

WHMIS (Workplace hazardous Materials Information

System) and GHS (Globally Harmonized System of

Classification and Labeling of Chemicals) compliant.

• Teachers and students must work together with

custodial staff to promote a clean and healthy

environment for everyone within each building.

• Each classroom will have additional sanitation

stations that will include gloves and disinfectant

wipes.

• Students and teachers shall wipe down any

community or high-touch areas after each class to

reduce exposure for the next classroom.

School closures: School closures due to cleaning or

positive cases will be determined on a school by school

basis and appropriate protocols with be followed.

NOTE: ISBE and IDPH does NOT require a complete

school closure due to a positive COVID-19 test.

Positive COVID-19 Case Confirmation

Upon notification of a positive result, a parent or

employee will notify their principal or supervisor,

respectively. The principal or supervisor will notify the

regional superintendent or assistant superintendent/

chief, who will notify the district nurse. Upon receipt, the

district nurse will communicate details with the health

department.

Positive individuals must quarantine for 10 days from

onset of symptoms, or 10 days from positive test date if

they are asymptomatic.

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Zion Elementary District 6 School Reopening Plan 2021-2022

Contact Tracing

Zion District 6 is collaborating with the Illinois

Department of Health to conduct contact tracing.

Upon notification of a positive case on campus, the

district nurse will also communicate with administration

to track movement of the person who tested positive

and secure affected areas. Impacted individuals will be

notified.

Quarantine/Isolation Procedures

Quarantine is necessary to keep someone who might

have been exposed to COVID away from others.

• ISBE and IDPH mandate any individual in close

contact with someone testing positive for COVID-19

must self-quarantine for 10 days.

• ISBE & IDPH define ‘close contact’ as “any individual

who has been closer than 3 feet for more than 15

minutes without PPE (Hallway transitions and lunch

are excluded.)

If someone is a close contact to a COVID-19 positive

person at school while masked, they must quarantine

for 10 days from last exposure IF they are unvaccinated,

unless they have consent to do screening testing with

the nurse on Day 1, 3, 5 & 7 if they remain

asymptomatic.

• If the contact comes from within the household

they still must quarantine.

• Vaccinated individuals do not need to quarantine if

they are a close contact.

If your student OR any of your household members are

symptomatic with any of the below symptoms, they

must stay home and either get a negative COVID-19

test result or a doctor’s note to return, regardless of

vaccination status. Only the symptomatic person is

required to get tested.

Covid Symptoms Are as Follows:

• Fever over 100.4

• Cough

• Shortness of Breath

• New Loss of Taste or Smell

• Body Aches

• Sore Throat

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

Return To Campus: At least 10 days have passed since

symptoms appeared; at least 24 hours fever-free

without using fever-reducing medication, and all other

symptoms have subsided.

COVID-19 Positive Notifications

District 6 is dedicated to alerting our community about

current COVID-19 information. This information will be

shared as follows:

• Any/all exposed parties notified based upon

contact tracing.

• Families and staff will be asked to report possible

cases to school to initiate contact tracing.

• All known positive cases will be reported to the

Lake County Health Department.

School-based employee or student with positive COVID-19 Test Results

Self-quarantine for 10 days

Building Administration Informed

District Nurse Notified

Superintendent Notified

Lake County Health Department Notified

Initiate Contact Tracing

Notify any/all exposed parties

If students riding same bus route are required to self

-quarantine due to positive test; riders impacted will

transition to remote learning during quarantine period

If classroom(s) or individuals are required to

self-quarantine due to positive test; classroom will transition to remote learning

during quarantine period

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Zion Elementary District 6 School Reopening Plan 2021-2022

• Emergency notifications will be sent through School

Messenger.

• Website and social media to be updated with any

new information.

• Contact d6info@zion6.org if you are uncertain

who to contact or have questions.

Staff engage in weekly surveillance COVID-19 testing via

BinaxNOW. BinaxNOW COVID-19 testing is available for

symptomatic children if consent from parent is on file.

The district and registered nurses working for the

district are NOT administering the COVID-19 vaccine to

any staff or students. The district has partnered with

Walgreens and LCHD to provide separate vaccination

events to staff, students, and families.

Signage/ Communications

Our district remains committed to communicating

important, current information to safeguard our

students, staff, families, and community stakeholders.

The following actions will remain at the forefront of our

initiatives for health, safety, and wellness.

• Signage within schools to promote proper hygiene

and social distancing.

• Provide flyers for students and families on

COVID-19 protocols.

• Media posts targeting families to educate regarding

virtual options for the fall.

• A landing page dedicated to updated information

for students and staff regarding COVID-19

developments can be located on our district website

at www.zion6.org.

• Regular digital newsletter updating families on the

latest information for school reopening sent

through School Messenger.

Page 8

Non-essential visitors are prohibited.

Daily deep cleaning and wipe downs.

Limit furniture within classrooms.

Teaching proper hand hygiene.

Stay home if you feel sick.

Wear a mask within school buildings.

Wash your hands often and properly.

Stay informed and up-to-date by

following our nurse’s newsletter.

What We’re Doing

What You Can Do