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COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

General

All students and staff will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms regularly and individuals who present with symptoms will be separated and sent home. All staff and volunteers at DCP must ensure that they are symptom-free.

Screening

Staff and volunteers will be required to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms prior to reporting to work each day. Parents/guardians are expected to screen their students for COVID-19 symptoms each day prior to sending them to school. Teachers will monitor students and refer to office administration if symptoms are present. Additionally, it must be reported to DCP if an individual has had close contact with someone who is lab-confirmed with COVID-19, as defined at the end of this document, and, if so, cannot return to DCP until the 14-day incubation period has passed. Any student, teacher, staff member or volunteer living with someone who experiences any of the symptoms of COVID-19, whether they have a positive COVID-19 test or not, should self-isolate until the below conditions have been met. If they do not experience any COVID-19 symptoms during that period, they can return to school. If they experience symptoms, they must self-isolate until the conditions outlined below have been met.

 

Symptoms to screen for:

  • 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

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Any individuals who are lab-confirmed to have COVID-19, or experience the symptoms of COVID-19 (listed above) must stay at home throughout the infection period and cannot return to campus until DCP screens the individual to determine any of the below conditions for re-entry have been met:

 

In the case of an individual who was diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual may return to school when all three of the following criteria are met:

  1. At least 24 hours have passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications)

  2. The individual has improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath)

  3. At least ten days have passed since symptoms first appeared

 

In the case of an individual who has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and who is not evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19, such individual is assumed to have COVID-19, and the individual cannot return to DCP until the individual has completed the same three-step set of criteria listed above.
If the individual has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and wants to return to school before completing the above stay at home period, the individual must either obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for return based on an alternative diagnosis or receive two separate confirmations at least 24 hours apart that they are free of COVID-19 via acute infection tests at an approved COVID-19 testing location found at https://tdem.texas.gov/covid-19/.


Parents must ensure they do not send a child to school if the child has COVID-19 symptoms (as listed above) or is lab-confirmed with COVID-19 until the conditions for re-entry are met.

Isolation: Student, Staff or Volunteer Displaying COVID-19 Symptoms

  • When a student has displayed symptoms of COVID-19, the school will provide a clinical assessment to determine if and when a student needs to be sent home. Students who are ill will be separated from their peers and should be picked up within 30 minutes and no later than an hour from the time the campus contacted the student’s parent/guardian. Other students will be removed from the classroom and taken to an alternate location on campus (e.g. go on a walk outside, move to a different classroom, etc.) so that the classroom can be disinfected.

  • Communication will be provided to the parents of students who come in contact with a COVID-19 positive student, staff member or volunteer.

  • Staff members displaying COVID-19 symptoms will follow protocols including isolation from students and other staff membersand volunteers.

Response for Lab-Confirmed Cases

If an individual who has been in the school is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19, DCP must notify its local health department, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, including confidentiality requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Isolation and closure decisions will be made in collaboration with the Denton County Health Department.
Schools must close off areas that are heavily used by the individual with the lab-confirmed case (student, teacher, staff or volunteer) until the non-porous surfaces in those areas can be disinfected, unless more than 3 days have already passed since that person was at school.
Consistent with school notification requirements for other communicable diseases, and consistent with legal confidentiality requirements, schools must notify all teachers, staff, volunteers and families of all students at DCP if a lab-confirmed COVID-19 case is identified among students, teachers, staff or volunteers who participate in any activities at the school.
Decisions regarding classroom and/or school closure will be made in collaboration with local health officials.

Face Coverings

The use of face coverings will be determined by the rate of community transmission of COVID-19 and the health recommendations associated with each level. DCP will rely on guidance from the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Denton County Health Department, Center for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) and Denton County Public Health, as well as any executive orders or directives from Governor Greg Abbott, to determine the community transmission level and use of face coverings. DCP will develop a process to alert students, parents, staff and volunteers of the community transmission level and when face coverings must be worn.

Community Transmission Levels

Substantial:

  • At least two symptoms are present

  • Number of new cases per 100,000 people over the most recent one-week period is greater than 100

  • Percent of tests that return a positive result over the most recent one-week period is greater than 9.9%

  • Trend in new cases per 100,000 people over the most recent one-week period is INCREASING (by 15 or more cases) as compared to the prior one-week period

Moderate:

  • At least one of the following symptoms are present

  • Number of new cases per 100,000 people over the most recent one-week period is less than 26

  • Percent of tests that return a positive result over the most recent one-week period is less than 5.1%

  • Trend in new cases per 100,000 people over the most recent one-week

  • Period is STABLE (within 15 cases) or DECREASING (by 15 or more cases) as compared to the prior one-week period

Minimal to Low:

  • All symptoms present for 14 consecutive days

  • Number of new cases per 100,000 people over the most recent one-week period is less than 26

  • Percent of tests that return a positive result over the most recent one-week period is less than 5.1%

  • Trend in new cases per 100,000 people over the most recent one-week period is STABLE (within 15 cases) or DECREASING (by 15 or more cases) as compared to the prior one-week period

Source Control Measures & Transmission Precautions

Substantial:

  • Face coverings must be worn by staff, volunteers and visitors as feasible, especially when social distancing is difficult, including in classrooms. Face coverings should cover both nose and mouth.

  • Use of face mask/n95, eye protection, gown, gloves, by staff when in close contact with suspected case of COVID-19 (fever plus symptoms)

  • Use of face masks, eye protection, gloves by staff and volunteers at high risk for coming into contact with blood, body fluids, secretions and excretions

  • Staff and volunteers at high risk of coming into contact with blood, bodily fluids, secretions and excretions will utilize appropriate PPE to mitigate potential transmission

  • Placement of face mask on student, staff or volunteer with fever and/or symptoms of COVID-19

Moderate:

  • Face coverings must be worn by staff, volunteers and visitors as feasible, especially when social distancing is difficult, including in classrooms. Face coverings should cover both nose and mouth.

  • Implement increased social distancing measures

  • Use of face mask/n95, eye protection, gown, gloves, by staff when in close contact with suspected case of COVID-19 (fever plus symptoms)

  • Use of face masks, eye protection, gloves by staff and volunteers at high risk for coming into contact with blood, body fluids, secretions and excretions

  • Staff and volunteers at high risk of coming into contact with blood, bodily fluids, secretions and excretions will utilize appropriate PPE to mitigate potential transmission

  • Placement of face mask on student, staff or volunteer with fever and/or symptoms of COVID-19

Minimal to Low:

  • Face coverings optional

  • Follow standard infection control protocols

  • Practice standard universal precautions when coming into contact with blood, body fluids, secretions and excretions

  • Staff and volunteers will practice standard universal precautions when coming into contact with blood, body fluids, secretions and excretions

Visitors

DCP will utilize virtual meeting options to limit visitors when possible. All essential visitors who enter the building will be required to wear a face covering during substantial and moderate transmission levels. Individuals who proceed beyond the reception area will follow specific guidelines for visitors.


Visitor Screening/PPE Requirements
All individuals, including visitors, entering the building will be required to wear face coverings during substantial and moderate transmission levels.
 

Individuals proceeding beyond the reception area will be subject to the following guidelines:

  • All visitors will be subject to screening by way of a symptom screening form

  • Virtual meetings will be available when possible

  • Visitors, staff and volunteers will maintain physical distancing

Cleaning, Hand-washing & Disinfecting

Frequent cleaning and disinfecting will promote a healthy learning and work environment for students, staff and volunteers.


Daily Campus Cleaning:

  • Each classroom and restroom will be disinfected daily

  • All high touch areas will be disinfected daily

  • Individuals will wear masks and gloves while cleaning

  • Staff will have access to disinfectant wipes to sanitize working surfaces and shared objects after each use and during breaks in instruction

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Frequent disinfection and hand sanitization will ensure health and wellness of students, staff and volunteers.


Hand Washing/Sanitizing Expectations:

  • Alcohol-based hand sanitizer will be available at the main entry to the building, in classrooms and in common areas throughout the building

  • Staff will be expected to regularly wash or sanitize their hands

  • Thorough hand washing upon return from outdoors, before eating, following restroom breaks
     

Disinfecting Expectations

  • Staff and volunteers will have access to disinfectant wipes to sanitize high-touch and working surfaces and shared objects regularly

  • Staff and volunteers will limit the use of shared supplies when possible

Work & Learning Environments

  • Group or pair work can be implemented while maintaining physical distancing.

  • When possible, technology can be utilized when the use of manipulatives is needed. Teachers will consider assigning cohorts of students specific manipulatives in order to reduce the possibility of exposure or consider creating individual bags of supplementary aids and/or manipulatives for student use that could also be sent home in the event of school closure.

  • Desks or tables will be socially distanced as much as instructionally possible.

  • When possible, eliminate communal supplies. Shared supplies will be sanitized between use.

  • Remove blankets, pillows, and other shared non-essential items from the classroom.

  • Recommended procedures will be applied to all classroom settings. Students’ individual needs will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

  • Multiple locations of hand sanitizer, tissues, and trash cans will be available to limit student, staff and volunteer movement.

  • Whenever possible, physical education classes will be held outside to allow for maximum physical distance between students.

  • Any activities bringing students into close physical contact will be avoided.

  • Equipment will be disinfected after each use.

  • Activities requiring multiple students to touch or handle the same equipment will be avoided.

  • Sanitizing areas and access to handwashing will be provided.

 

Common Areas 
In order to provide the safest environment possible in our common/collaborative spaces, while promoting disease prevention and mitigation, the following guidelines will be implemented:

 

Meeting Spaces

Meetings will be limited to video conferencing when possible.
If meetings must be held in person, all social distancing protocols will be implemented.
Facial coverings during substantial and moderate transmission levels.
Limit the sharing of materials/supplies. 

 

Administrative Spaces

When possible, meetings will be conducted virtually. However, if the need arises to meet in person please follow campus guidelines.
Facial coverings or masks will be utilized during substantial and moderate transmission levels.
Hand sanitizer will be provided in office spaces.
Distances of six feet will be provided between all occupied seats and workspaces.


Restrooms

Students must wash hands and use hand sanitizer before entering the classroom.
Increased disinfecting will occur throughout the school day.
DCP will comply with health agency recommendations and social distancing. 

Transitions
Students, staff and volunteers will follow protocols for face coverings.
Traffic patterns will be established throughout the campus that separates individuals to the greatest extent possible.
When transitioning, individuals shall travel corridors as far to the right as possible.
Staff and volunteers will reinforce physical distance expectations.

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Transportation

Students, staff and volunteers will be required to use hand sanitizer upon boarding the bus.
When possible, windows will be open to allow outside air to circulate in the bus.
Buses should be thoroughly cleaned after morning and afternoon routes, focusing on high-touch surfaces such as bus seats, steering wheels, knobs, and door handles. During cleaning, windows will be open to allow for additional ventilation and air flow.
Masks will be worn in compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order.

 

Arrival
Parents will conduct routine screening of their children prior to school arrival.
Entry protocols will be established to maintain physical distance.
Sanitizer stations will be placed at the entrance and students will sanitize hands upon entry.
Students will go directly to their class or designated location upon arrival.

Dismissal
Sanitizer stations will be placed at the exit and students will be encouraged to sanitize hands prior to exit.

Breakfast/Lunch
Students will have meals in their respective classrooms.
Physical distance will be provided around each occupiable seat.
Handwashing will be enforced before and after meals.

 

Recess
Staggered schedules can be utilized when needed.
All students, staff and volunteers will be required to use hand sanitizer before entering the playground and upon exiting the playground.

Field Trips

Field trips will be scheduled as appropriate to meet curricular needs while maintaining proper social distancing requirements. Virtual field trips will be considered as often as possible.
Parent events and fundraising information is pending.

In-School Activities

Any school wide events need to adhere to social distancing requirements.
Parent conferences, etc. will be held virtually.
Parents will be allowed to attend class parties and performances virtually.
School wide events will be live streamed and/or occur virtually when possible.

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