Knoxville School of Progressive Education (hereinafter “School”) takes the health and safety of our students, families, and employees very seriously. With the spread of the coronavirus or COVID-19, a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, everyone associated with the School must remain vigilant in mitigating the outbreak.
In order to be safe and to maintain continuous operation of the School, we have developed this COVID-19 Exposure Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Contract to be implemented, to the extent feasible and appropriate, throughout the School and by our employees and families as part of their association with the School.
The School also has identified a safety committee to monitor the related guidance that the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) continue to make available. This Contract is based on information available from the CDC, WHO, and OSHA at the time of its development, and is subject to change based on further information provided by the CDC, WHO, OSHA, and other public officials. The School may also amend this Plan based on operational needs.
The School has identified four spheres of possible exposure that must be controlled, to the extent possible, in order to maintain continuous operation of the School and the safety of our employees and families. These include the following: School & Campus; Home & Family Life; Parental Workplace Habits; and Community Contact.
The Contract below outlines the best practices all employees and families agree to follow, with the knowledge that the endemic nature of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in East Tennessee means that exposure may happen despite our best collective efforts as a community.
I. Responsibilities of the School
All members of the Board of Directors and the Safety Committee must be familiar with this Contract and be ready to answer questions from employees, students, and families. Employees and School leaders must set a good example by following this Contract at all times. This involves practicing good personal hygiene and safety practices to prevent the spread of the virus. School leaders must encourage this same behavior from all employees, students, and families.
II. Responsibilities of Employees & Families
The School is asking every one of our employees and students to help with our prevention efforts while at School. In order to minimize the spread of COVID-19, everyone must play their part. As set forth below, the School has instituted various housekeeping, social distancing, and other best practices at the School. All employees, students, volunteers, and families must follow these.
In addition, all people associated with the School are expected to report if they are experiencing signs or symptoms of COVID-19, as described below. If you have a specific question about this Contract or COVID-19, please ask our Safety Committee chair.
The School asks that all employees, students, and families associated with the School observe the following control and preventive guidance, regardless of exposure risk:
- Wear a mask when in close proximity or in an indoor space with other people. Or, wear a shield that covers the face from chin to forehead, in addition to a mask or in lieu of a mask, when in close proximity or in an indoor space with other people. Please note that early studies have shown that shield wearing, alone, is unlikely to protect the wearer.
- Frequently wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, at least once an hour when outside of the home. When soap and running water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand rub with at least 60% alcohol.
- Teach proper hand washing to children and observe periodically to ensure it is done properly.
- Maintain six feet of space between people outside of the family unit, when indoors and outdoors.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth, in general, but particularly with unwashed hands.
- Follow appropriate respiratory etiquette, which includes covering for coughs and sneezes.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Adopt a strict self-quarantine protocol if illness is observed.
- Practice full disclosure and transparency regarding known or potential COVID-19 exposure. This includes any high-risk activities as described below.
- Self-report symptoms, as described below, that may indicate a COVID-19 infection.
- Avoid high-risk activities such as visiting bars, church, and sporting or entertainment events, including team sports and other after high-risk after school activities. When in doubt, check with the Safety Committee.
- Quarantine using the protocols described in Illness Guidelines (Section III.E) after unavoidable high-risk activities. A single family member who engages in a high-risk activity can self-isolate from the family, thus eliminating the need for the entire family to quarantine.
COVID-19, like other viruses, can spread between people. Infected people can spread COVID-19 through their respiratory secretions, especially when they cough or sneeze. According to the CDC, spread from person-to-person is most likely among close contacts (about six feet).
Person-to-person spread is thought to occur mainly via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, like influenza and other respiratory pathogens. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. It is currently unclear if a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.
In addition, employees and families must familiarize themselves with the symptoms of COVID-19, which include the following:
- 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
Please note that symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus and that fever often is not the first indicator of illness. An elevated temperature (above 99 degrees Fahrenheit but under 100 degrees Fahrenheit) is sometimes reported, but stomach upset — including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea — often is the first symptom in many people. If you or a family member experiences an elevated temperature and new symptoms, or complains of being excessively fatigued beyond what is normal, do not come to the School and contact your family physician or get tested as soon as possible.
By signing this contract, you agree that if you or a family member develops a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath, or if you come into close contact with someone showing these symptoms, you will not enter the school. In addition, you should call a healthcare provider or seek a COVID-19 test as soon as possible.
III. School & Campus
The School has instituted the following protective measures to protect employees, students, and families. The School’s COVID-19 safety protocol defaults to science-based, research-driven practices. As scientific knowledge about COVID-19 changes, so, too, may the policies outlined in this Contract.
A. General Safety Policies and Rules
- Students will have their temperatures checked upon arrival and after lunch. Elevated temperatures — above 98.6 degrees but below 100 degrees — will be logged.
- Any employee, contractor, student, volunteer, or family member showing symptoms of COVID-19 will be asked to leave the School and return home.
- The School will maintain a cohort of 12 or fewer children.
- Students and employees must wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, upon entering the building and at least once an hour. When soap and running water are unavailable, alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can be used.
- Gloves will be provided for the use by employees and volunteers, as needed.
- Students may carry a lunch bag and backpack to and from school. Emerging scientific knowledge suggests that the risk of catching the SARS-CoV-2 virus from surfaces is low. We urge parents to regularly wipe down, wash, or otherwise sanitize these items.
B. Snacks and Meals
- Students and employees will be encouraged to eat snacks and lunches outdoors, if possible.
- Students and employees must wash hands before and after snack and meal times.
- All students and employees are encouraged to bring and use two water bottles during the school day to avoid the need to fill water bottles on site.
- Students and employees must bring their own snacks and food, and sharing of food items is not permitted.
C. Indoor Guidelines
- All parents/guardians, faculty, staff, volunteers, students, and any other visitor or contractor to the school are required to wear face masks and/or face shields while in an indoor setting.
- Face masks should be washed after each use. The School requires that every child bring two clean masks to school every day. These must be taken home and washed before being returned to the School.
- Whenever practical, students will maintain six feet of physical distance while in the indoor classroom.
- To the extent possible, children will be assigned and maintain their own desk space in the classroom.
- To the extent possible, employees and children must avoid physical contact with others and shall direct others to increase personal space to at least six (6) feet, where possible.
- Students must wash hands before and after the use of community materials.
- Only one person may enter and use the bathroom at a time.
- Students will be required to purchase and maintain their own school supplies. Sharing of supplies is not permitted without permission.
- Whenever possible, students will be asked to limit their use of others’ tools and materials. To the extent tools must be shared, the School will provide alcohol-based wipes to clean tools before and after use.
- A HEPA air filter will be used in the classroom as an additional precautionary method for maintaining air quality.
- The school will follow the cleaning practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control. A full cleaning schedule is available for review.
- Students will be required to wipe down their desks with appropriate cleaning materials upon arrival in the morning and after lunch.
- All high-touch areas will be cleaned frequently throughout the day, including door handles, faucets, and other areas.
- The restrooms will be deep-cleaned and disinfected once a week; however, parent volunteers will be assigned the task of checking the restrooms and cleaning and/or disinfecting as needed throughout the week.
- The School will ensure that any disinfection shall be conducted using one of the following:
- Common EPA-registered household disinfectant;
- Alcohol solution with at least 60% alcohol; or
- Diluted household bleach solutions (if appropriate for the surface).
- OSHA has indicated in a reliable report that when an employee has tested positive for COVID-19, the employer does not typically need to perform special cleaning or decontamination of work environments, unless those environments are visibly contaminated with blood or other bodily fluids. Notwithstanding this, the School will clean those areas of the campus that a confirmed-positive individual may have contacted, and it will do so before employees or students can access that work space again.
D. Outdoor Guidelines
- Whenever possible, students will be given the opportunity to complete lessons and coursework in a shaded outdoor classroom setting.
- Mask wearing will be optional in the outdoor setting, as long as students maintain an appropriate six foot or greater distance from one another. In some cases, a brief three foot distance for short duration can be safe.
- If students play games or sports that require close proximity, such as soccer or basketball, the game must be modified to create appropriate distance between children, or the participants must wear masks or face shields.
- An outdoor hand sanitizing station will be maintained so that students can wash hands after using communal playground equipment. The station will include facial tissue for nose wiping, as needed.
E. Illness Guidelines
- Students who must stay home sick or be quarantined will have the option of online learning. Students who complete online learning tasks as assigned by their teacher will be counted as attending class and not marked absent.
- Families should pay close attention to any unusual symptoms, including but not limited to fever, cough, diarrhea, new sore throat or sinus issues, unusual persistent headache (not allergy related), they might experience. If a child does not feel well, they should stay home.
- The following protocols will be observed:
- Employee/Student Exhibits COVID-19 Symptoms
- If an employee or student exhibits COVID-19 symptoms, they must remain at home until they are symptom free for 72 hours (3 full days) without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g., cough suppressants).
- The School will similarly require an employee or student who comes to campus with symptoms to return home until he or she is symptom free for 72 hours (3 full days). To the extent practical, employees and students are required to obtain a doctor’s note clearing them to return to work or to attend school.
- Employee/Student Tests Positive for COVID-19
- An employee or student who tests positive for COVID-19 will be directed to self-quarantine away from the School. Employees or students who test positive and are symptom free may return to work when at least ten (7) ten days have passed since the date of their first positive test, if they have not had a subsequent illness.
- Employees or students who test positive and are directed to care for themselves at home may return to work when: (1) at least 72 hours (3 full days) have passed since recovery; and (2) at least ten (10) days have passed since symptoms first appeared. Recovery is defined as: (1) resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and (2) improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath).
- Employees who test positive and have been hospitalized may return to work when directed to do so by their medical care providers. The School will require an employee to provide documentation clearing his or her return to work.
- Employee/Student Has Close Contact with an Individual Who Has Tested Positive for COVID-19
- Employees or students who have come into close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 may be directed to self-quarantine for up to 14 days from the last date of close contact with that individual. Close contact is defined as six (6) feet for a prolonged period of time. In some cases, quarantine may not be required. Employees and students are asked to use caution and to consult with the Safety Committee when making this determination.
- If the School learns that an employee has tested positive, the School will conduct an investigation to determine who may have had close contact with the confirmed-positive person in the prior 14 days and alert those individuals.
F. Campus Visitors
- Visitors to the School during hours of operation will be limited to employees, contractors, key church personnel, and family members, unless otherwise approved.
- If an approved visitor comes to campus, they must be screened upon arrival. Screening will include a temperature check and a series of questions. If the visitor answers “yes” to any of the following questions, he/she should not be permitted to access the School:
- Have you been confirmed positive for COVID-19?
- Are you currently experiencing, or recently experienced, any acute respiratory illness symptoms such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath?
- Have you been in close contact with any persons who has been confirmed positive for COVID-19?
- Have you been in close contact with any persons who have traveled and are also exhibiting acute respiratory illness symptoms?
- All meetings will be conducted by Zoom or telephone, whenever possible. If meetings are conducted in-person, attendance will be collected verbally and the notetaker will sign-in each attendee. Attendance will not be tracked through passed-around sign-in sheets. During any in-person meetings, participants must remain at least six (6) feet apart.
IV. Behavior Outside of the School
By signing this contract, you agree to adhere to the highest level of transparency and to follow all science-guided best practices to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. In doing so, you help ensure the School can remain operational in-person for the duration of the school year.
The virus is endemic to the community; thus, all community members are at risk of infection. However, certain high-risk practices are known to result in increased probability of infection and transmission. At times, it is impossible for employees and families to avoid certain high-risk behaviors, but to the extent possible, the School requires those signing this Contract to adhere to the guidelines listed under Responsibilities of Employees & Families (Section II).
Everyone associated with the School agrees to adhere to full transparency regarding illness or possible illness; possible or known exposure; and engagement in high-risk activities.
V. Confidentiality/Privacy
Except for circumstances in which the School is legally required to report occurrences of communicable disease, the confidentiality of all medical conditions will be maintained in accordance with applicable law and to the extent practical under the circumstances.
When it is required, the number of persons who will be informed that an unnamed employee or student has tested positive will be kept to the minimum needed to comply with reporting requirements and to limit the potential for transmission to others.
The School reserves the right to inform other employees that an unnamed co-worker has been diagnosed with COVID-19 if the other employees might have been exposed to the disease so the employees may take measures to protect their own health.
The School also reserves the right to inform the church, vendors/suppliers or visitors that an unnamed person has been diagnosed with COVID-19 if they might have been exposed to the disease so those individuals may take measures to protect their own health.
VI. General Questions
Given the fast-developing nature of the COVID-19 outbreak, the School may modify this Contract on a case by case basis. If you have any questions concerning this Contract, please contact the chair of the Safety Committee.
VII. Signature
In signing this contract, I agree to the provisions, guidelines, and responsibilities outlined in the Contract with the understanding that the endemic nature of the virus renders perfect safety impossible. In signing this Contract, I further agree to hold the School harmless in cases of unavoidable transmission of COVID-19.