6114.8 6114.8Instruction
Emergencies and Disaster Preparedness
Pandemic/Epidemic Emergencies
The Board recognizes that a pandemic/epidemic outbreak is a serious threat that stands to affect students, staff, and the community as a whole. With this consideration in mind, the Board establishes this policy in the event the town/municipality and/or school district is threatened by a reasonably likely pandemic/epidemic outbreak. At all times the health, safety and welfare of the students shall be of foremost concern along with the health, safety and welfare of the District employees and mindful of the overall health and welfare of the community.
Planning and Coordination
The Superintendent shall designate the head School Nurse or other appropriate staff members who in conjunction with the School Medical Advisor, shall serve as a liaison between the school district and local and state health officials. This designee and the School Medical Advisor are jointly responsible for connecting with health officials to identify local hazards, determine what crisis plans exist in the school district and community, and to establish procedures to account for student well-being and safety during such a crisis. The designee shall work with local health officials and shall keep the Superintendent advised when the risk of a pandemic or an epidemic of a serious illness has materially increased.
The Principals and/or school nurse or other designee shall develop a curriculum component to health classes that is designed to teach students about preventing or limiting the spread of communicable diseases.
With fiscal concerns in mind, the District shall purchase and store supplies necessary for an epidemic/pandemic outbreak, including but not limited to disinfectant products, face masks, water, examination gloves, and other supplies as recommended by the school nurse and/or School Medical Advisor.
The Superintendent shall develop procedures and plans for the transportation of students in the event of an evacuation. Such procedures shall include provisions for students who cannot be transported to home at the time of the evacuation.
Response
In the event anyone within the school is discovered or suspected to have a communicable disease that may result in an epidemic/pandemic, that person shall be immediately quarantined pending further medical examination, as recommended by state and national protocols. Local and state health officials shall be notified immediately.
In conjunction with local and state health officials, the Superintendent shall ascertain whether an evacuation, lockdown, or shelter-in-place needs to be established. As soon as such a decision has been made, the school district shall attempt to notify the parents of all students.
In the event of an evacuation, the Superintendent is charged with determining when the school shall re-open. In the event of a lockdown or shelter-in-place, the Superintendent shall notify all proper authorities and relief agencies to seek their assistance for the duration of the lockdown or shelter-in-place.
Infection Control
Any student or staff member found to be infected with a communicable disease that bears risk of pandemic/epidemic will not be allowed to attend school until medical clearance is provided by that individual’s primary care physician or other medical personnel indicating that that person does not bear the risk of transmitting the communicable disease.
Students with excessive absences due to a communicable disease shall be given a reprieve from other Board policies relative to excessive student absences. Efforts will be made by the staff to determine what, if any, school work the student can complete while absent.
Staff members who are forced to miss excessive days of work shall first use any leave entitled to them through the Family and Medical Leave Act and/or accrued sick leave. If a staff member has still not received medical clearance to resume his/her work duties, absences in excess of a staff member’s allotted leave be managed through existing contract provisions and will not affect the employee’s right to continued employment.
Continuance of Education
The Superintendent shall develop a plan of alternate means of educating students in the event of prolonged school closings and/or extended absences. Such a plan may include, but are not limited to, providing students with assignments via mail or by email, local access cable television, or the school district’s website.
The Superintendent, in consultation with the Board of Education, may amend the traditional class schedule and schedule of days. Such a plan may include extending the school day, having school days held on Saturdays if Connecticut statute changes, the use of previously scheduled vacation days, and/or extend the school year beyond the previously established end of school year, within applicable statutory requirements.
(cf. 5141.22 - Communicable/Infectious Diseases)
(cf. 5141.6 - Crisis Management Plan)
(cf. 6114 - Emergencies and Disaster Preparedness)
(cf. 6114.6 - Emergency Closings)
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-154a Professional communications between teacher or nurse and student.
10-207 Duties of medical advisors.
10-209 Records not to be public.
10-210 Notice of disease to be given parent or guardian.
10-221 Boards of education to prescribe rules.
19a-221 Quarantine of certain persons.
52-557b Immunity from liability for emergency medical assistance, first aid or medication by injection. School personnel not required to administer or render.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232g, 45 C.F.R. 99.
Policy adopted:
6114.8
Appendix A
Pandemic/Epidemic Emergencies
Administrative Procedures
For the School District, the following individuals would be involved (with back up staff as appropriate):
Incident Coordinator: Superintendent
Building Operations: Principals
Nurses
Other Staff Members
Planning/Information: Health Director, Local Health District Officials, Designated Office Staff
Logistics: Principals, Lead Teachers, Department Heads, Administrative Clerical Staff
Finance/Administration: School Business Affairs Coordinator
Other Important Contacts:
Commissioner, Dept. of Public Health J. Robert Galvin, M.D., M.P.H. (860) 509-7101
State Police (860) 824-5457
_______ Police Department Chief ______________
Area Health District:
Director
District School Nursing Staff:
Lead School Nurse
School Medical Advisor:
Communications
Media communication would normally be handled through the Superintendent’s office. The District would communicate to the public via its website, through press releases, written notices/factsheets, and the School Notification System.
Surveillance Protocols
During a pandemic, the Connecticut Department of Public Health will be monitoring hospital admissions, emergency department visits, deaths and, potentially, school and workplace absenteeism. The District will monitor student and staff absenteeism through its attendance module and report to the __________ Area Health District and the State, as appropriate.
In addition, when directed by the administration, the school secretaries will initiate procedures for screening calls to the school related to student absences (see form A). Based on the results of these questions, the information may be forwarded to the Lead School Nurse for additional questioning. Once initiated, this information will be collected daily and copies sent to the Superintendent.
PANDEMIC INFLUENZA RESPONSE LEVELS (FOUR):
LEVEL 1 LOW RISK – SITUATION:
First pandemic flu case reported in country. No reported cases in local community. School community (employees, students, parents) are encouraged to take temperature regularly as recommended by the school nurse. If temperature is 100 °F or 37.7°C or greater, please stay home.
School hours will remain on regular schedule.
Communication: (All Pandemic information from W.H.O., CDC/State/Superintendent only). Preventative information will be shared with parents and the school community through the website, fact sheets, newsletters, and the telephone alert system.
School Access: Access to school grounds per normal school policy.
Educational Delivery: Regular school programming. Daily homework provided by teachers for any student who stays at home and is healthy enough.
Co-curricular Program: All regularly scheduled activities allowed.
Community Gatherings/Events/Field Trips/Travel: Field trips allowed, as per normal school policy.
Personnel: Normal working conditions. All school employees returning from affected areas have their health monitored for 10 days.
Emergency Care: Contact physician if temperature is over 100°F or 37.7°C. Nurses implement steps to minimize potential influenza outbreak through education/information such as encouragement of hand washing. Nurse staff also stockpile personal protective supplies as appropriate, e.g., masks, gloves, alcohol, hygienic soap, etc.
School Provided Transportation: All bus routes run as usual.
School Operations/Cafeteria: Normal cleaning and maintenance. Continual disinfecting by cleaning personnel. Review food handling procedures with staff.
LEVEL 2 MODERATE RISK – SITUATION:
First pandemic flu case reported in town, increasing number of cases reported in country. School community members (employees, students, parents) are strongly encouraged to take temperature daily. If temperature is 100°F or 37.7°C or greater, students or staff will be asked to stay home.
School hours will remain on regular schedule.
Communication: (All Pandemic information from W.H.O., CDC/State/Superintendent only)
Periodic updates will be made by the Superintendent to the community on status of pandemic flu in country and impact on school program. In-class instruction to insure students understand protocol and proper hygiene.
Communication with parents will encourage those that have students with a fever of 100°F or 37.7°C or greater to remain home until cleared by their physician or as per protocol from the local Health District officials, Department of Public Health or CDC.
Data Collection procedures by secretaries and nurses should be initiated at this level.
School Access: Visitors are welcome by appointment only. School community members with temperature over 100°F or 37.7°C, report to school health office. Any student or staff member with a cough (but no temperature) may be required to wear a medical mask. Nursing staff will assess this on a case by case basis.
Educational Delivery: Regular school program. Daily homework will be provided by email to students ill at home for more than 3 consecutive days and well enough to complete the work.
Co-curricular Program: All scheduled co-curricular programs allowed.
Community Gatherings/Events/Field Trips/Travel: All events will be reviewed. Events may be cancelled for risk exposure on a case by case basis.
Personnel: Normal working conditions. Staff are advised to stay home if symptomatic.
Emergency Care: School Nurse in concert with Torrington Area Health District will determine whether individual who has recovered from flu can return to school. If temperature is over 100°F or 37.7°C, individual must go home ASAP.
School Provided Transportation: All bus routes run as usual. Bus access may be denied for those with temperature over 100°F or 37.7°C.
School Operations/Cafeteria: All Food Service workers must wear gloves. Continual disinfecting throughout the day. Full disinfection every three days.
LEVEL 3 MEDIUM RISK – SITUATION:
Increased spread of pandemic flu in town with transfers in public places. School community (employees, students, parents) are strongly encouraged to take temperature daily. If temperature is 100°F or 37.7°C or greater, students or staff MUST stay at home.
Communication:
(All Pandemic information from W.H.O., CDC/State/Superintendent only) Regular updates to faculty and community by superintendent through the School Notification System.
STRICT CARE TAKEN TO MAINTAIN CONFIDENTIALITY PROTOCOLS.
Daily classroom instruction to explain situation and to emphasize proper hygiene.
School Access: Visitors must report to nurse to assess temperature. Anyone with temperature 100°F or 37.7°C or greater will not be admitted.
Educational Delivery: School hours will remain on regular schedule but after school programming/activities will be canceled on a case by case basis in consultation with medical and health department officials. Work will be provided to students ill at home for more than 3 consecutive days via email. Instruction to parents via email for students to access lessons and assignment via computer.
Teachers healthy enough to do so will maintain weekly contact with students via email for academic reflection.
Co-curricular Program: Co-curricular programs are suspended on a case by case basis. Large gatherings are discouraged and may be canceled by the administration as necessary and in consultation with the health officials.
Community Gatherings/Events/Field Trips/Travel: All special events, field trips, travel, etc., discontinued on a case-by-case basis. Large faculty or staff gatherings discontinued without permission of administration. Field trips discontinued unless special permission provided by administration. Students and parents are advised to not congregate in large groups in outside community activities.
Personnel: All faculty and staff report to work after assessing temperature at home. Incident Command Team meets to determine how best to continue school operation.
Emergency Care: School Nurse determines if individual who has recovered from flu can return to school. If temperature is 100°F or 37.7°C or greater, individual must go home.
School Provided Transportation: All bus routes run as usual. Bus access may be denied for those with temperature over 100°F or 37.7°C. Bus service may be discontinued at this level.
School Operations/Cafeteria: Some form of Food Services in place for staff and students who are attending school. Continual disinfecting throughout the day.
LEVEL 4 HIGH RISK – SITUATION:
Spread of pandemic flu within the school community. Government directs the schools to close OR Superintendent closes school due to level of absenteeism and interruption of instruction.
Communication: (All Pandemic information from W.H.O., CDC/State/Superintendent only) Daily updates by Superintendent through the School Messenger System.
Further communication via website.
School Access: No classes held on campus. School facility closed to all but essential personnel for indeterminate period of time. School quarantine, no visitors.
Educational Delivery: Students may access lessons and assignments via computer. Teachers healthy enough to do so will maintain weekly contact with students via email for academic reflection.
Co-curricular Program: School facility closed.
Community Gatherings/Events/Field Trips/Travel: School facility closed.
Personnel: Administration reviews process of school closure and academic support.
Emergency Care: School facility closed. Use hospitals for pandemic flu prevention and containment. Prepare for possible use of schools for vaccination procedures.
School Provided Transportation: School facility closed.
School Operations/Cafeteria: School facility closed. Necessary cleaning and maintenance.
POST PANDEMIC FLU EVENT PLAN:
• Determine criteria and timing for re-opening of school(s),
• Determine impact on school calendar and need for possible changes,
• Determine impact on student instruction and need for additional or compensatory instruction,
• Determine what steps necessary to ensure staff are in place and prepared for the return of students,
• Determine what kinds of mental health support may be necessary for students and staff.
6114.8 Appendix B
Public Health Instructions During a Pandemic Flu
Throughout a pandemic flu, people may be asked or required to do things to help hold back the spread of the disease in our community.
Here are some examples of what public health officials may ask people to do:
STAY HOME
People who are sick should stay home. Children should not go to school if they are sick. Staying home will be absolutely necessary during a pandemic flu to limit the spread of the disease.
AVOID LARGE GROUPS
People – even those who are well – should stay away from gatherings of people such as sporting events, movies and festivals. During a pandemic flu these kinds of events could be cancelled because large gatherings of people help spread the flu virus.
Isolation and quarantine are public health actions used to contain the spread of a contagious disease. If asked, it will be important to follow isolation and/or quarantine instructions.
ISOLATION
Isolation is for people who are already ill. When someone is isolated, they are separated from people who are healthy. Having the sick person isolated (separated from others) can help to slow or stop the spread of disease. People who are isolated can be cared for in their homes, in hospitals, or other healthcare facilities. Isolation is usually voluntary, but local, state and federal government have the power to require the isolation of sick people to protect the public.
QUARANTINE
Quarantine is for people who have been exposed to the disease but are not sick. When someone is placed in quarantine, they are also separated from others. Even though the person is not sick at the moment, they were exposed to the disease and may still become infectious and then spread the disease to others. Quarantine can help to slow or stop this from happening. States generally have the power to enforce quarantines within their borders.
6114.8 Appendix C
FACT SHEET: Stopping Germs at Home, Work and School
How Germs Spread: The main way that illnesses like colds and flu are spread is from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. This is called "droplet spread." This can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air and are deposited on the mouth or nose of people nearby. Sometimes germs also can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches his or her own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands. We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks.
How to Stop the Spread of Germs: In a nutshell: take care to:
• Cover your mouth and nose.
• Clean your hands often.
• Remind your children to practice healthy habits, too.
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing: Cough or sneeze into a tissue and then throw it away. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.
The "Happy Birthday" song helps keep your hands clean? Not exactly. Yet it is recommend that when you wash your hands – with soap and warm water – that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. That's about the same time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice!
Alcohol-based hand wipes and gel sanitizers work too: When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.
Germs and Children: Remind children to practice healthy habits too, because germs spread, especially at school.
The flu has caused high rates of absenteeism among students and staff in our country's 119,000 schools. Influenza is not the only respiratory infection of concern in schools – nearly 22 million schools days are lost each year to the common cold alone. However, when children practice healthy habits, they miss fewer days of school.
More Facts, Figures, and How-To’s: CDC and its partner agencies and organizations offer a great deal of information about hand washing and other things you can do to stop the germs that cause flu, the common cold, and other illnesses.