DuBard School Covid-19 Response

Return to Learn

These guidelines follow USM policies and guidance and are consistent with recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Mississippi Department of Health (https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/resources/14912.pdf)  for health professionals and children. These plans will be revised as needed based on current public health guidelines.

General Information

SCHOOL SCHEDULE

• School will begin Monday, Aug. 9.
• The school will be open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 2:30/2:40 p.m. on a traditional schedule.

DAILY SCHEDULE

• 7:45 a.m. student drop off begins. Students will go directly to their classrooms.
• 2:30 p.m. 230 Hall students dismiss.
• 2:40 p.m. 240 Hall students dismiss.

MEET THE TEACHER

• Meet the Teacher will be Friday, Aug. 6 from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
• Masks are required for all people, regardless of vaccination status.
• A school supply list was previously emailed to parents.
• All labeled school supplies should be brought to meet the teacher.
• All student forms will be emailed to parents to complete by August 6. If you do not receive the forms or need a printed copy to complete, please let our front office know.

Health Protocol

1. It is recommended that all eligible students and staff members 12 years of age and older receive COVID-19 vaccination.  Vaccination remains the primary public health prevention strategy to end transmission and allow for safe participation of in-person classes and activities. 
2. Masks or other face coverings are to be worn indoors by all staff, students, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status.  Masks do not have to be worn during outside activities.
3. For individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 (15 minutes of contact over a 24-hour period at less than 6 feet):
   1. No quarantine is required for fully vaccinated individuals unless symptoms develop.  It is recommended that all individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 get tested 3-5 days following exposure.
   2. People who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 3 months and recovered do not have to quarantine or get tested again as long as they do not develop new symptoms
   3. In the K-12 indoor classroom setting, unvaccinated individuals within 3 to 6 feet of an infected student do not have to quarantine if both students were wearing masks.
   4. In all other settings the standard definition of close contact applies.
   5. Students, teachers, and staff who are not fully vaccinated and are identified as close contacts to COVID-19 should be in quarantine for a full 14 days.  Considering the highly infectious Delta variant of COVID-19, MSDH is no longer recommending a modified quarantine. 
4. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 should be excluded from the school setting and remain in isolation for a full 10 days from the onset of symptoms and are fever free for 24 hours (or excluded for 10 days from the date of the test if asymptomatic). 
   1. Should a student be mandated to stay home from school due to COVID-10, he or she is counted as absent.   
   2.  Asymptomatic individuals with a positive rapid COVID-19 test who have a negative molecular based COVID-19 test within 48 hours of the rapid positive do not require further exclusion and may return to the school setting. This only applies to molecular based tests (i.e., PCR) and does not include antigen test or antibody tests.
5. All staff and students should self-monitor for fever (100 degrees or higher) before entering the DuBard School.  Any staff member or student with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher should remain home until he or she has been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medication for 24 hours and has no other symptoms of COVID-19.  
6. Students who become sick will be isolated from other students.  Families will be called and asked to come immediately to pick up their child.  A student who is sent home will not be able to return to school the following day and until he or she has been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medication for 24 hours and exhibits no other symptoms of COVID-19.  
7. If a staff member or student at the DuBard School is diagnosed with COVID-19, families of students in the affected areas will be informed of the possible exposure.  The identity of the diagnosed individual will be kept confidential to comply with HIPPA regulations.  We will follow University and state guidelines for cleaning and closing classrooms.

Handwashing

• Handwashing will be completed frequently throughout the day.  Hand sanitizer will be used in conjunction with proper handwashing.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• All unvaccinated staff members and visitors will be expected to wear a facemask or face shield while conducting business in the USM DuBard School for Language Disorders, to the degree that it is reasonable to perform activities.

Physical Distancing

All staff members and students will abide by physical distancing recommendations. 

•  In the lobby, a distance of at least 3’ between visitors is the goal.
• Students will go directly to their classrooms at the start of each day to avoid a large number of students gathered in the lunchroom.
• Students will be spread out in the classrooms to the extent possible.
• PE equipment will be disinfected between classes.

School Disinfection

• At the beginning and end of the day, staff members will disinfect the classroom, including counter and desk tops, door knobs, tables, chairs, water fountains, computer equipment, and any school materials used.
• Student restrooms located in the cubbie areas will be sprayed with disinfectant spray at the end of each class period.

Device Handling Audiology

These procedures are to be followed by staff members who handle student hearing aids and/or cochlear implants.

1. Hearing devices must be handled with gloves at all times. Gloves must be changed after every student interaction. Do not use the same pair of gloves for devices from two different students. 
2. Avoid all unnecessary contact and properly disinfect hands before and after interacting with student’s devices.
3. Disinfect all surfaces that came in contact with student’s devices.

Therapy Location Determination Process

Plan A:  School will be conducted in a face-to-face format, complying with health and safety recommendations from the Mississippi Department of Education and The University of Southern Mississippi.

Plan B:  Should the school or individual classrooms be closed, instruction will move to a temporary virtual format.  According to state mandate, students will be required to spend a minimum of 5.5 hours each day in synchronous and asynchronous learning activities. Attendance will be tracked, and work samples will be uploaded to the Learning Management System.  

1. Virtual learning will take place through a Learning Management System.  To access this, students must have access to a reliable device and reliable internet service.  An email address will be required.  Students who need access should contact the school.
2. Virtual attendance requires 330 minutes of instructional time per day.  This will include a scheduled time each day with the student’s speech-language pathologist or teacher assistant, assignments completed through the Learning Management System, and independent assignments.
3. Attendance will be logged.  Any absences will be reported to the Mississippi Department of Education.  Students who are unable to meet the virtual attendance requirements will be referred back to their local school districts.  

Students who are ill and unable to complete schoolwork should provide an excuse upon their return to school.