Paper and Pencil

HSCUD #5 Return to School Plan 2021-22

Amended 2/28/22

Dear Henry-Senachwine Families & Staff:

Below you will find the HSCUD #5 return to school plan for the 2021-22 school year.  In addition to prioritizing the health and safety of all, a focus of the plan is to ensure that we remain in-person as much as possible and limit quarantining students and staff.

Please understand that our Return to School Plan is subject to change based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC,) Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and other factors.

The School Day:

School will resume to an in-person format, regular hours, 5-days a week.  

There will be no temperature checks or symptom screenings for students as they enter the school buildings or board the bus.  

Parents/Guardians are to symptom check their students prior to school and keep students home if they are sick or exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.  By sending your child to school you are self-certifying, daily, that your child is symptom free from COVID-19.

Visitors to the building will be required to self-certify they are not exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms and adhere to any current masking/prevention policies.

Outside recess and playground activities will resume, as normal as possible.  

Breakfast and lunch will be offered on-site this year.  Breakfast will be available to students in the morning at each building.  All students will receive free breakfast/lunch this year.

Field trips and fundraisers must be approved by the administration and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

We will utilize a heat release schedule on an as needed basis at the beginning of the school year.  Heat releases may be as early as 11:30 a.m.  We will notify you through our text notification system and on our website “Live Feed”, as early heat releases are announced.

Remote Learning:

Given the requirement to return to in-person education, the remote learning format will be different this school year.   

Remote learning will be provided on a limited basis to students who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine or who are not eligible for a COVID vaccine, only when they are under quarantine consistent with health department guidance. 

Students who have a medical condition may be eligible for homebound programming, which will require a physician's certification. 

Face Coverings/Masking:  

The mask mandate is suspended - masks are optional.  Masks are optional, but not required, on district transportation.   We will respect each individual choice regarding wearing/not wearing masks.  Masks will continue to be available for anyone who voluntarily elects to do so.  

Physical Distancing:

Classrooms (Indoors):  We plan to maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students in classrooms, to the greatest extent possible.  In order to prioritize in-person learning, distances may be less than 3 feet. 

Food Service (Indoors):  We plan to maintain 3 feet of physical distance in the food service line and 6 feet of physical distance while students are eating, to the greatest extent possible.

Bus Transportation:  Physical distancing will be maintained to the greatest extent possible, but may be less than 3 feet.  It is anticipated that two (2) students will be assigned per bus seat.  

Masks are optional, but not required, on district transportation.

Contact Tracing & Exclusion:

If Symptomatic:

Symptoms include: fever (100.40), new onset of severe headache, shortness of breath, new cough, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea,loss of taste or smell, fatigue, and muscle/body aches.

Symptomatic individuals should not report to school and will consult with the school nurse.  

Depending on symptoms, students will be instructed to be excluded from school until symptoms improve and  for at least 24 hours from last instances of fever, diarrhea, and vomiting.  

Instances in which symptoms indicate a suspected COVID-19 case will be addressed in consultation with the local health department, if needed.

Individuals with any COVID-19 symptoms will be encouraged to test for COVID-19.

If COVID-19 Positive:

Individuals who are COVID-19 positive should not report to school and will consult with the school nurse.

Individuals will need to be excluded from school for at least 5-days.  Individuals may return on day 6, if symptoms have improved and fever-free for at least 24-hours.  Masking is strongly recommended through day 10.

Close Contacts & Contact Tracing:

The school will not contact trace and asymptomatic close contacts will not be excluded from school.

Screening & Testing:

HSCUD #5 is offering a SHIELD (saliva testing) and BinaxNOW (rapid antigen test) screening/testing program for students and staff.  The screening/testing program is optional and will require parental/guardian consent. 

The weekly testing requirement for unvaccinated school personnel is suspended.

Athletics/Extracurriculars:

We will utilize the Restore Illinois All-Sports Guidance guidance provided by DCEO/IDPH/ and/or ISBE, as well as information from the IHSA/IESA and other pertinent agencies. 

Cleaning, Sanitation, & Disinfection:

Hand Hygiene:  Schools will encourage frequent and proper handwashing.  Handwashing supplies (soap, paper towels, hand sanitizer, tissues etc..) will be available for all grade levels and in common areas.

Frequent cleaning and disinfection will be conducted per the recommendations of the CDC, and IDPH.  Cleaning protocols have been established for our facilities, food service areas and school buses.

Sanitation kits will be located in each classroom as well as throughout the buildings to assist with cleaning. 

Health/Safety Guidance:

Any individual  who tests positive for COVID-19 or who shows signs or symptoms of the illness should stay at home and contact the school office.  Currently known symptoms are:

Fever

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Chills

Fatigue

Muscle and body aches

Headache

Sore throat

New loss of taste/smell

Nausea

Vomiting

Diarrhea.

Vaccination  Information:

Visit www.vaccines.gov to find out where teachers, staff, students, and their families can get vaccinated against COVID-19

District Communication:

The District will utilize the following platforms to communicate information:

District/School websites: www.hscud5.org

Email messages

Phone/Text messages

Dated:  August 5, 2021

Updated:  February 28, 2022