Pre-Re-entry Preparation:
- Building/office/classroom spaces are being thoroughly sanitized prior to staff return (carpets, desks, chairs, countertops, doorknobs, etc.)
- An ample stock of personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitization materials are being supplied by KCPS and are available at all school/work sites for all staff. Upon Re-entry to school/work sites, PPE will be distributed to each school/work site/department based on the number of staff at the school/work site
- Facemasks - cloth masks, surgical masks and KN95 masks are available for staff use upon return to school/work sites. The district will provide facemasks or you may provide your own. All cloth masks should be cleaned after use for reuse. Disposable masks must be properly disposed of after use and a new one used each day.
- Gloves are recommended for tasks such as removing trash, opening mail, cleaning an area, using the copier or other shared tools or devices, but may be removed upon completion of that task. Gloves should be properly discarded when task is completed. When gloves are not worn, hand-washing/hand sanitizing must occur before/after these activities.
- Hand Sanitizer for every office/work area/classroom/communal areas
- Sanitation wipes for office/work/classroom/communal areas
- Boxes of tissue for office/work/classroom/communal areas
- Digital temperature scanners: Will be located at the primary entrances of schools and office buildings. These devices are able to read the body temperature of staff in a non-intrusive manner. The devices use a powerful thermal camera and industrial grade binocular wide dynamic camera with artificial intelligence to determine if someone is running a fever. To take a temperature the student or staff member will simply need to stand in front of the device and the cameras will scan and determine their temperature.
- Infrared thermometers will also be available when and if necessary
- Air purification retrofitting will be utilized in order to increase air exchange in schools/work sites, as determined
- Sanitation stations will be provided where appropriate
Pre-Screen:
- Regular Monitoring: Upon return to school/work sites, staff are to perform a daily self-check for temperature and/or symptoms prior to leaving home. Recommended daily questions are below.
- Do I have any current potential symptoms of COVID-19 (fever [100 degrees F] 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)?
- Have I come into close contact (within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more) of someone diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last 2 weeks?
- If so, stay home; call you supervisor; call your health care provider and follow their guidance
- Temperature and Symptom check upon report to School/Work Site: On site temperature checks for all staff/students will be conducted at entry to school/work site.
It is critical to everyone’s health and safety that staff/students must stay home if ill, exhibiting symptoms, has had close contact with someone with COVID-19, or has themselves tested positive for COVID-19.
Daily Procedures and Practices
PPE (Face Masks and Gloves) and Sanitary Practices:
- Each staff member will wear a facemask upon arrival and for the duration of their time at the school/work site. This is especially critical if 6-feet social distancing cannot be achieved.
- Gloves are recommended for tasks such as removing trash, opening mail, cleaning an area, using the copier or other shared tools or devices, but may be removed upon completion of that task. Gloves should be properly disposed of when task is completed. When gloves are not worn, handwashing/hand sanitizing must occur before/after these activities.
- Handwashing (preferable) or hand sanitizing (if soap and water not immediately available) should ALWAYS occur:
- After blowing one’s nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After using the restroom
- Before and after eating or preparing food
- After touching a surface in a communal area, handling mail or other shared documents, materials and/or other office materials (i.e. copy machine, pen, stapler, calculator)
- Use hand sanitizer frequently when not wearing gloves and at times you are unable to access soap and water.
- Cough and/or sneeze into tissue when available
- Throw used tissues in the trash
- If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands
- Do not share headsets or other objects
- Keep hands off face (eyes, nose and mouth)
- Staff and students are encouraged to bring their own water, clearly marked and labeled
Disinfect and Clean Work/Classroom spaces:
- Cleanliness of the school/work site is the responsibility of all staff
- Custodial staff will clean and disinfect all areas such as classrooms, offices, bathrooms, common areas, commonly touched surfaces, and shared office and other equipment routinely and frequently
- Each staff member will clean and sanitize their personal office/work area upon arrival and prior to departure each day
- Employees will clean and sanitize communal areas after use when necessary
- Teachers/Paraprofessionals/Classroom Staff will ensure a clean classroom environment for themselves and their students
Social Distance of 6 Feet (aka 3 Feet Radius “Bubble”):Staff are to maintain a 3 feet radius (“bubble”) of social distance around themselves at the school/work site, whenever feasible. If everyone maintains their 3 foot radius “bubble”, that gives us all 6 feet social distance. KCPS strongly encourages everyone to maintain a 3 feet radius “bubble” at all times. However, if there are times it cannot be maintained, all staff must wear facemasks, whether indoors or outside.
- Interactions/communications between staff should primarily be conducted via email, over the phone, or on Teams to promote social distancing
- Staff should socially distance when taking lunch and breaks. Stagger breaks and don’t congregate in restrooms, break rooms, classrooms, or the cafeteria
- Staff should avoid sharing food and utensils. Communal food is not permissible at this time.
- No more than 2 people in a break room at a time (3ft radius “bubble”)
- No more than 8 people in large congregational spaces (3ft radius “bubble” between persons) at a time
- No more than 2 staff persons in a restroom at a time, depending upon restroom configuration. Capacity for restrooms will be listed on each restroom facility
- No more than 1 person in an elevator at a time. Staff who have accommodation and/or staff facilitating a student with an accommodation by utilizing elevators at school sites must do so while maintaining as much social distancing as permitted on the elevator, while keeping a student appropriately supervised. For example, a student may not ride alone in an elevator, but it is required that a staff member and student wear masks in the elevator, if medically permitted.
Contact Tracing:
- Contact tracing protects everyone. KCPS will undertake contact tracing of KCPS staff/students who are exposed to COVID-19 at school/work sites. Staff are required to update their contact information in Alio as soon as possible prior to the start of the 2020-2021 School Year. You may do so by logging into the Alio Staff Portal from the KCPS Staff Intranet at kcpublicschools.org. This updated information is vital to ensure you are contacted should KCPS be made aware you have possibly come into contact with COVID-19 at KCPS.
Traveling Employees:
The CDC provides guidance (see below) for both travel within the United States and internationally. Note: Work related travel for KCPS will be restricted through the end of 2020-2021 School Year. You will be notified when that restriction is lifted.
According to the Center for Disease Control, all international travelers arriving into the U.S. should stay home for 14 days after their arrival or return to the U.S. At home, they are expected to monitor their health and practice social distancing. To protect the health of others, these travelers should not report to work on-site for 14 days but are expected to work remotely during that time.
You may return to work as usual following domestic travel for personal reasons. You will need to monitor for symptoms including fever, chills, cough, shortness of air, runny nose/congestion, sore throat or muscle aches. Do not report to work at your school/work site if you develop any of these symptoms. Non-essential travel is discouraged and will not be funded with district resources.