When Could Greendale Schools Close and Move Learning Virtual?
Greendale Schools has developed a reopening plan that includes in person instruction. In collaboration with the Greendale Health Department using state and federal guidelines, the Re-Opening Greendale Schools Team included mitigation strategies as part of the plan. The team is confident that following these requirements will reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19 and allow schools to reopen and stay open safely. The plans include:
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Face Coverings - All students and staff are required to wear face coverings indoors unless eating or unable to do so based on a medical condition.
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Physical Distancing - Altered classes and schedules to reduce the number of people in a shared indoor space to provide adequate room to remain 6 feet away from others.
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Hand Washing/ Hand Sanitizer - Increased reminders and opportunities to wash hands throughout the day.
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Upgraded Air Filters - Following the upgrades to HVAC throughout the referendum updates, filters have been changed in alignment with American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards to improve air filtration and remove airborne particles
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Cleaning and Sanitizing Protocols - Nightly cleaning and disinfecting with deep cleaning on Wednesdays and over the weekend.
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Daily Symptom Screening upon arrival at school.
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Additional Personal Protective Equipment for staff working with students unable to wear a face covering
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Practices for Contact Tracing and Isolation of COVID-19 Cases - Additional health care staff hired by the district will oversee symptom screening and case follow up in collaboration with the health department.
These mitigation protocols greatly reduce the risk of virus spread, but there remains a risk. The district has been working with the Greendale Health Department and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to develop a plan to transfer from in-person learning to fully-digital instruction under specific conditions. The criteria shared here will be used to guide Greendale Schools and the Greendale Health Department.
All guidance shared here is based on the best current evidence and is designed to produce the safest school reopening for our community. Just as our COVID-19 knowledge and evidence base continues to evolve, so will guidance about how to safely maintain school operations.
In collaboration with the Greendale Health Department and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the following guidance will be considered and published each week.
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