Rogers Park Montessori Reopening Plan

Auxiliary Services

Joan Costa, Larry DiStasi, Nick Lepine, Laura McCoskey, Rose Selker

• Focus on Daycare, Athletic, and After School Programming

Community Communications

Ben Blair, Laura McCoskey, Ann Scholhamer

• Schedule, maintain, forecast and prepare school community communications

Educational Program

Ben Blair, Geordie Jones, Kristen Mark, Liz Shanahan, Lila Yusen

• Evaluate, develop, implement, survey and adjust remote Home Learning and On-campus programming based on building occupancy
• Provide educational and emotional support to the community

Employee Relations

Ben Blair, Larry DiStasi, Geordie Jones, Kathy Lunsky, Kristen Mark, Liz Shanahan

• Monitor, coach, and support staff engagement, physical and mental health through shifts in program and expectations

Health & Safety

Ben Blair, Nick Lepine, Laura McCoskey
Medical Advisory Board: Mike Green, Russ Horowitz, Angira Patel, Sapana Shah, Kathy Weber

• Monitor public health & safety guidance
• Determine health & safety supplies minimum inventory
• Identify, codify, and maintain health procedures and protocols during on-campus occupation

Operations and Facilities

Larry DiStasi, Kyle McCoskey, Laura McCoskey

• Procure and maintain proper safety equipment
• Determine and manage increased cleaning protocols
• Monitor, determine, and adjust facility needs during reopening stages

Student Wellness

Geordie Jones, Kristen Mark, Liz Shanahan

• Onboard social worker into team to provide Social-Emotional resources and support for students
• Forecast and adjust to impacts of potential temporary closure to on-campus learning

What conditions would allow RPMS to open in-person, on-campus learning?

Rogers Park Montessori School will follow the latest versions of all Center for Disease Control (CDD), Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidelines for reopening and retaining in-person, on-campus learning before and during the 2020-2021 school year. These include but are not limited to:

• CDC Covid-19 Pandemic Planning Scenarios (updated May 20, 2020)
• CDC Interim Guidance for Administrators of US K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs (updated March 12, 2020)
• Illinois Department of Public Health School Guidance
• City of Chicago Department of Public Health Industry Education and Childcare Reopening Guidelines

Please note: The CDC regularly shares information and provides assistance to state, local, territorial, and tribal health authorities. Our state and local authorities are responsible for making decisions including “stay at home” or “shelter in place”, what is included in these orders, and how they are implemented. These decisions may also depend on many factors such as how the virus is spreading in Chicago.

What conditions would cause RPMS to close facilities and move to a remote Home Learning situation for our students?

RPMS will transition to remote Home Learning if mandated by the Governor or recommended by the CDC or IDPH. This may occur due to rates of infection or hospitalization and capacity, as well as any other statistics that change the Phase of Reopening Status.

This may include situations where some programs we offer move to remote Home Learning, while other programs are allowed to remain safely open under the guidance of the RPMS Health & Safety Task Force and Medical Advisory Board.

Mid July

• Revised reopening plan with updated CDC and IDPH guidelines published to the RPMS community
• Employee Relations Committee completes faculty and staff guidelines and protocols
• Bi-monthly POV with updates and new information

Late July

• Staffing and Class placement finalized
• Onboarding new faculty, staff, and families off campus

August

• RPMS faculty and staff participates in training and professional development on and off campus
• Onboarding new faculty, staff, and families on campus

Late August

• All RPMS staff return to campus for set up and continues training and professional development
• Classroom prepared environments finalized
• Community training and onboarding
• MS August Conferences

Learning Modality 2: Blended Learning

Students return to On-campus Learning and possible remote Home Learning

RPMS recognizes that even with a return to full On-campus Learning, there are situations that may require a return to remote Home Learning.

Acknowledging that, the Educational Programming Task Force is considering a blended or hybrid model, looking at a variety of offerings for both in-person On-campus Learning and Home Learning experiences to maintain the integrity of our programs and support the well-being of all of our community members.

Harmonizing concepts

• Synchronous and Asynchronous lessons and instruction
• Possible Montessori materials and supplies check out system
• Remote Art, Music, Drama, Gym, and Spanish Classes
• Blended social gatherings and opportunities

Safeguard & Protect

Face coverings

Face coverings are meant to protect other people in case the wearer is unknowingly infected and may not have symptoms. Every adult should wear a face covering, with the exception of those having trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance. All students, faculty and staff should arrive at school with a face covering. RPMS will provide face coverings to anyone who does not have one upon arrival. Students must wear face coverings while inside, and while they are outside if they are unable to maintain social distancing.

Students will be required to wear face coverings when:

• On campus and in our programs as recommended by the CDC or IDPH;
  • All students 3 years and up will be required to wear face coverings all day
  • Children age 2 years and over shall wear face coverings when arriving and leaving the campus; when in hallways; and in the classroom, as practicable (except when eating, napping, or playing outdoors where social distancing is maintained)

Faculty and Staff will be required to wear face coverings when:

• Staff shall wear a mask or face shield at all times when in the facility
• Assisting drop off (arrival) and pick up (departure) procedures
• All RPMS employees will wear face coverings while in shared spaces on campus and entering/exiting the building
• When performing health screening(s) of students, faculty, and staff, and other
• When working in the classroom except during presentations that require clear articulation and visibility
• When assisting students, faculty and staff that are feeling ill or in isolation

Visitors will be required to wear face coverings when:

• Asked to assist or volunteer by RPMS who will follow CDC and IDPH guidelines
• Needed to be on campus

Health and Temperature Screening Protocol

Home Based Pre-Screenings

• We are encouraging all parents and caregivers to be on the alert for signs of illness in their children and to keep them home when they are sick. Parents are required to conduct the pre-screening each day at home
• Faculty and staff will conduct self-screening prior to campus arrival. If a faculty or staff member self-identifies as having symptoms listed in the screening criteria, they will contact the designated administrator, not come into work, and follow the CDC and IDPH procedures
• Visitors will conduct self-screening prior to campus arrival. All individuals who enter the school building must complete an illness/symptom free checklist before arriving on campus and temperatures will be taken upon arrival

Families are attesting that their students are illness/symptom free by arriving on campus and by answering NO to all of the following:

• Do you have or have had a fever greater than or equal to 100.4 in the past 24 hours without taking fever reducing medication?
• Are you experiencing shortness of breath or difficulty breathing?
• Any signs or symptoms of a respiratory illness (cough, runny nose, respiratory secretions) with or without fever?
• Do you have the chills or generalized body or muscle aches?
• Have you lost your sense of smell or taste?
• Do you have a headache?
• Have you experienced any GI symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite in the last 24 hours?
• Undiagnosed rash or new and/or untreated rash or skin condition (i.e. hives, wound with purulent drainage)?
• Do you have or have been diagnosed with a bacterial infection (i.e. pink eye or strep throat) for which you have not been on an antibiotic for 24 hours?
• Have you been asked to self-isolate or instructed to quarantine by a medical professional or local health department official?
• Have you been in close contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19?
• Have you been in close contact with anyone placed on quarantine for possible contact with COVID-19?

All students, faculty and staff who meet any of the criteria below will be denied entry:

• Temperature over 100.4°F
• Is under investigation for COVID-19

Campus Based Temperature Screenings

• A designated Administrative Staff Member will conduct temperature screening for each student upon arrival on campus
  • Will take your child’s temperature using a contactless thermometer
  • If the child has a temperature of over 100.4°F, the staff member will verify the temperature with another thermometer
  • A child with a temperature of over 100.4°F will not be admitted on campus
• A designated Administrative Staff Member will conduct temperature checks of children and/or adults on campus as necessary throughout the day
• Faculty and staff will make visual inspection of the child for signs of illness which could include flushed cheeks, rapid breathing, or difficulty breathing, fatigue, or extreme fussiness. If the child exhibits any of these symptoms at arrival or at any point during the day, the child will be isolated, and parents will be required to pick up their child

All students, faculty and staff are expected to follow the sick policy when experiencing signs or symptoms of COVID-19 and MUST follow up with a medical provider. All students, faculty and staff are expected to stay home if they are exhibiting any signs of illness. If symptoms arise during the school day, the individual will be sent home promptly.

Social Distance

Physical Distancing Strategies

RPMS will implement the following strategies for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 within our community. We anticipate that for our youngest students it will be difficult to distance themselves from other children or adults while at school. Young children learn by engaging with their environment, which includes the other people in it. However, RPMS will employ the following strategies for limiting the spread of COVID-19 within our communities.

All RPMS faculty, staff and students will practice social distancing:

• Classroom communities will consist of static grouping of students with consistent caregivers in the same group as much as possible
• If an illness occurs, a designated float for the group will assist with caregiving
• Students will not change from one group to another during the school day
• The prepared environment will accommodate student and faculty work areas that are spaced apart
• Distancing between students will be increased during daily lessons, lunch, and transitions
• Multi-purpose spaces may be modified to serve as additional classroom space or break-out space
• Outdoor spaces will be utilized to their full potential for instructional, social, or recreation purposes
• Rotation schedules and areas will be defined for recess to limit intermixing of groupings
• Foot traffic flow will include ‘one-way up’ and ‘one-way down’ stairwells and hallways with clear, visible signage
• For Children's House students sleeping cots will be spaced out as much as possible
• Rotation of breaks and other gathering times will adhere to recommended procedures, practices, and protocols
• Expectations of new lunch practices will adhere to best practices and recommendations from the CDC and IDPH

All visitors will be asked to practice social distancing when on campus

• Visitors will be restricted to those that are essential
• Visitors will be subject to health screenings and be asked to wear face coverings
• Off campus outings, social and community gatherings are being reimagined

Signage regarding signs and symptoms of COVID-19, proper handwashing, respiratory etiquette and how to properly wear a face covering will be placed around the campus.

Clean and Disinfect

Healthy Hand Hygiene

Hand Washing

As Montessorians we know that proper and consistent hand washing can keep you healthy and prevent the spread of infections from one person to the next. Students will continue their practical life skills and engage in frequent hand hygiene which include but are not limited to:

• All students will wash hands at classroom arrival and departure times
• Faculty and staff will teach and support proper hand hygiene
• Hands will be washed:
  • At all transitions and before or after work choices or handling materials or supplies
  • Before and after eating or handling any food
  • After handling and cleaning supplies or garbage
  • After recess, taking a walk, going out or playing outdoors
  • After using the toilet or bathroom visit
• Assisting a child use the bathroom or changing a diaper
  • Faculty and staff should also wash their own hands after assisting children with using the bathroom or a diaper change
  • Faculty and staff should also wash their own hands after assisting children with handwashing
• After coming in contact with bodily fluid
• Before (or after) touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
• After handling pet food, supplies, or pet treats

All supplies will be provided for proper hand hygiene (soap, paper towels, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and spray). Hand sanitizer stations will be placed throughout the campus. Pump hand sanitizer will be in every classroom and work area to be used by faculty, staff, and students.

All visitors will be asked to practice social distancing when on campus

• Visitors will be restricted to those that are essential
• Visitors will be subject to health screenings and be asked to wear face coverings
• Off campus outings, social and community gatherings are being reimagined

Signage regarding signs and symptoms of COVID-19, proper handwashing, respiratory etiquette and how to properly wear a face covering will be placed around the campus.

Hand Sanitizer When You Can’t Use Soap and Water

Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs in most situations. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Standard Cleaning Processes

RPMS follows the national standards for cleaning, sanitizing and disinfection of prepared environments for all students, faculty and staff provided by Lake City Janitorial. It also adheres to all cleaning and sanitization best practices and has a detailed plan for each community, including staff responsibilities, in the Cleaning and Sanitization binder.

All disinfectant is approved by the CDC for fighting COVID and meets EPA standards for child safety and as a green solution. Electrostatic Spraying Technology will be used to disinfect and sanitize our environments at the end of each day. The electrostatic charge ensures that even the hard to reach places are coated evenly and effectively.

These efforts include the following:

• Staff will routinely clean, sanitize, and disinfect surfaces and objects that are frequently touched, especially materials, as detailed in the Cleaning and Sanitization binder
• Elementary and MS tables and chairs in classrooms will be wiped down with disinfecting wipes by the students at the end of each class (with teacher supervision)
• Early Childhood tables and materials will be wiped down after each use using a CDC-approved cleaning solution provided by our contract cleaning company
• High touch areas of the campus will be wiped down periodically throughout the day and deep cleaned each evening
• Bathrooms will be cleaned and disinfected regularly throughout the day, at a minimum bathrooms should be cleaned and disinfected after each grouping use
• Electrostatic Spraying Technology will be used to disinfect and sanitize our environments at the end of each day

Standard Sanitizing Procedures

All materials and supplies used in our prepared environment will be wiped down with disinfecting wipes by the students or staff at the end of each use. All disinfectant is approved by the CDC for fighting COVID and meets EPA standards for child safety and as a green solution.

• Montessori Materials or supplies that cannot be cleaned or disinfected will not be used
• Materials or supplies that children have placed in their mouths or that are otherwise contaminated by body secretions or excretions will be set aside until they are cleaned by hand by a staff member wearing gloves
• All materials will be sanitized prior to use by another
• Washable cloth materials or supplies will be used by one individual at a time and will be laundered before being used by another
• Books and portfolios, or other paper-based materials such as mail or envelopes, are not considered high risk for transmission and do not need additional cleaning or disinfection procedures but will adhere to protective protocols when touched from one individual to another