Our Upland Terrace administration and faculty have worked with Granite District guidance and input from our PTA and Community Council members to create this Reopening Plan. Our overarching goal is to minimize health risks as much as possible for students and staff while providing a high-quality educational experience for all during this continuing pandemic. We hope you find this information helpful as you make plans for your student’s school attendance in August. Parents have a choice between in-person and distance learning schedules.
You can find more information about in-person and distance learning options, along with some frequently asked questions regarding the start of school here:
Upland Terrace Elementary Condensed Reopening Plan
Communication and training
• School reopening protocol and plans will be developed including input from SCC, PTA, and the faculty and staff.
• The plan will be shared with district, community, and staff (letter, email, website).
• Jennifer Reed is point of contact person for Upland Terrace Elementary. Contact information is: Phone – (385)646-5057 or Email – jkreed@graniteschools.org
• Weekly communication to community will take place (update/changes, best practices for preventive care, positive outlook)
• Communications will be provided in English and other languages as needed
• Statements will be pre-written to be used in case of confirmed cases/outbreak
• Staff will be trained on protocols/plans during August opening meetings.
• Training videos for staff/students/families will be created or obtained.
Accommodating Individual Circumstances (e.g., High-Risk, Personal Decisions)
• Alternate learning as requested for students and families will be provided
• ‘High-risk’ employees will work with HR and the Principal to minimize risk
• Health Care Plans/IEPs/504s will be reviewed to address risk for exposure & accommodate as needed (Prior to start of school)
• Emotional/social needs of staff (stress levels, breaks) will be considered
• Emotional/social needs of students (breaks & peer interaction) will be considered
• A plan will be developed for increased cleaning and hygiene protocols for custodian, teachers, aides, students
• Faculty/staff/students/visitors will wear face coverings
• Hand sanitizer, soap, water, disinfecting solution and rags will be provided and available for use in various locations in school
• Contact tracing will be provided when required by health department
• Touch surfaces will be disinfected at least twice a day (doorknobs, desks, playground equipment, tables, etc.)
• An adequate supply of PPE supplies, sanitizer, soap, etc., will be available
• Floor markings will be used for social distancing expectation
• Individual student lanyard for lunch pin-card & face mask will be provided
• Disinfectant sprayers/solution for classroom and playground will be provided
School Schedules
Granite School District has three schedules that they are prepared to implement depending on what may be happening due to the virus. The three schedules are Regular, Modified, and Dismissal.
• With the Regular Schedule students will be allowed to attend every day using the board approved school calendar with increased safety and mitigation measures in place. We plan to use this schedule unless notified a change is required
• On a Modified Schedule, school will operate on a split A/B schedule M-Th (Half the students in a class will come on Monday/Wednesday and half on Tuesday/Thursday.) Students not receiving face to face instruction will utilize distance learning or paper-based modules. On Fridays, all students will receive distance learning. Teachers will also use Fridays for planning, small group meetings, and interventions. Students would be divided alphabetically so students in the same families can be on the same schedule. Accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis
• The third schedule would be a Dismissal. We would only utilize a dismissal for a class, grade, or school, in the event of an outbreak and in consultation with the Health Department
Monitoring Incidents
• All staff will be trained on school’s protocol for symptom monitoring during August staff meetings
• A plan will be established to assist families in conducting symptom checking at-home and communicate the plan with families in back to school information
• Staff/student symptoms and absenteeism will be monitored carefully
• Educate & promote “If you feel sick; stay home”
• Symptomatic people will not be allowed to physically return to school until they meet health department criteria or are cleared by medical provider
• Absentee policies will be more lenient • School personnel will learn protocol checking for symptoms
Containing Potential Outbreaks
• Staff will be trained on protocol for containing potential outbreaks during August staff meetings (Use guidance/protocol from district and health department)
• Local health department will be consulted for tracing a positive COVID-19 case
Transition Management Preparation
• A communication procedure for staff and students in case of reclosure (phone calling tree, text, email, etc.) will be developed
• Distance learning opportunities via technology or hard copy will be provided
• Pre-written statements will be distributed in case of confirmed cases/outbreak with impacted staff, families, etc.
Mitigating Tactics for Specific School Settings
Classrooms
• Students are required to wear face coverings when engaged in contact longer than 15 minutes or within 6 feet
• Seats will be assigned in the event contact tracing needs to be conducted
• We will maximize space between seating/desks
• Nonessential furniture and equipment will be removed from classrooms to increase distancing footprint
• Classroom cleaning bucket will be available with supplies
• Classroom containers for dirty and clean rags will be available
• Students will be allowed to use water bottles brought from home or provided by the school
• Multiple sets of sensory items multiple per classroom will be available to minimize touch and scheduled sanitation of items will take place
• Dots/markings on floor for lining up in classroom for distancing will be added where needed
• Individual student books and supplies will be kept at each desk – minimize sharing of materials
• Individual student sets of manipulatives will be made available when possible with scheduled sanitation of manipulatives after use • Outdoor classrooms will be utilized
Transitions
• Floor markings and signage will be added to direct traffic flow and provide distancing indicators
• Increased time will be added for transitions to minimize number of students in confined areas (one class dismissed at a time)
• Water fountains will not be available for use
• Doors will be propped or held open to reduce touch
• High-touch surfaces will be cleaned after transitions
• Students and staff will be required to wear face coverings during transitions
• Congregation of students during transitions will be monitored and minimized
• Recess and lunch schedules will be revised to reduce lines and congestion
Entry/Exit Points
• Entry and exit flow paths will be designated for each class/grade level, before school, before and after each recess, and after school
• Nonessential visitors and volunteers will be limited
• Protocols will be established for any non-regular staff entry in the building, including temperature checking and wearing of face coverings
• Protocols will be established for safe drop-off/pick-up of students, then communicated to families
• Hand sanitizer will be available
• Signage will be posted encouraging physical distancing
• One class will enter at a time keeping appropriate spacing
Transportation
• Protocol from the Transportation Department will be followed
• Face coverings for all passengers will be required
• Physical distancing will be maximized
Restrooms
• Signage will be posted, and student instruction will take place on proper hand washing
• Regularly scheduled cleaning for high touch areas will be scheduled (daily cleaning with at least two additional sanitizing sprays after recess and lunch times)
• Bathroom breaks will be scheduled for individual classes to reduce congestion
• The number of individuals in restroom will be minimized (hooks on wall for bathroom pass – no more than 2 allowed in bathroom at a time) during non-scheduled restroom breaks
• Floor markings will be applied to identify physical distancing while waiting
• Masks will be required while in restroom
Lunch/Cafeterias –
• Floor markings and signage will be added to designate serving line flow paths
• Self-service bars are no longer available
• Food servers will wear face coverings
• Students and staff will wash hands or use sanitizer before and after meals
• Cleaning and disinfecting of high touch surfaces will be done frequently during service, and tables will be disinfected between each class
• Outdoor areas will be used for eating when possible and social distancing will be monitored
• Seating will be assigned by class at lunch tables
• Masks or face coverings will be worn when in line
• The number of students seated at a table will be reduced, and there will be assigned seats
• Home lunch students will go directly to their assigned table to reduce congestion and group size
• Use of pin pad will be eliminated
Large Group Gatherings (e.g. assemblies, performances)
• Non-essential assemblies will be cancelled
• Assemblies will be recorded and viewed in classrooms or at home
• Virtual meetings will be held when possible
• Students and staff will wear face coverings in large groups
• Space will be maximized for social distancing in group gatherings
Unique Courses with Higher Risk of Spread
• Sanitation and cleaning will be scheduled between sessions for kindergarten classes
• PE classes will be held outdoors when weather permits
• Spots or spaces will be assigned for students during PE
• Spots or spaces will be assigned for students during BTS (dance)
Recess and Playground
• Classes will be assigned to designated outdoor spaces or areas to play such as east field, west field, playground equipment, blacktop
• Outdoor handwashing stations will be available for student use
• Face coverings will be worn when social distancing is not possible
Special Education, Related Services, or School Counseling (e.g. School Psychologist, Speech Language Pathologist, etc.)
• Classrooms will be disinfected more frequently and as needed
• Plexiglass, face shields, or auxiliary aids will be used for one-on-one close contact when a student is working with the speech therapist, the school psychologist or social worker, or with the special education teacher or paraprofessional
• Reasonable accommodations will be made for students who are unable to wear face coverings
PD/Faculty Meetings
• Virtual faculty meetings and professional development will take place when possible
• Social distancing will take place during faculty meetings and professional development if in-person sessions are necessary
• Staff will be required to wear face coverings
• Hand sanitizer will be available at meetings
• Touch surfaces will be sanitized after meetings
Before/After Student Supervision
• All students will be encouraged to arrive to school at an appropriate time
• Staff supervision of students outside will be scheduled before and after school
• Signage around building will be posted to remind patrons and students to wear face coverings and keep physically distanced
Drop Off/Pick Up Areas
• School plan for student drop-off and pick-up will be communicated to parents
• Parents will be encouraged to stay in cars when dropping off or picking up students
• Students will be encouraged to move to their entry location following social distancing and wearing face covering
• Entry and exit flow paths will be designated to minimize congestion
• Students will line up by class at a grade level designated door standing on social distancing markers (one grade level per entry way where possible)
• One class will enter at a time keeping appropriate spacing
• Non-essential visitors and volunteers will be limited
• Protocols will be established for any non-regular staff entering the building including temperature checking and wearing of face coverings
• Hand sanitizer available for use
• Signage will be posted to remind students and patrons about physical distancing
Front Office
• The number of individuals allowed in the front office area will be limited (to reduce congestion)
• Face masks or face coverings will be required
• Social distancing markers will be placed in the office and entry way
• Hand sanitizer will be available
• Inside east entry door will be propped open to minimize touch
• Additional sanitizing of touch surfaces in office will be scheduled
• Parents will be asked to wait outdoors when checking out student early from school
• Gloves will be used when handling materials delivered to the office (student work/materials, notes, donations, etc.)
• Plexiglass barriers will be installed
P/T or SEP Conferences
• Virtual meetings will be held when possible
• Face coverings will be required during in-person conferences
• Hand sanitizer will be provided
• Touch surfaces will be sanitized after each in-person conference
Safety and Fire Drills
• Develop protocol and train staff/students for exiting building during fire drills
• Schedule fire drills and inform teachers of date/time
• Scheduled drills protocol will have staff/students exiting the building in a slower, distancing, reduced congestion manner
• If the fire alarm sounds when it is not a scheduled drill, teachers/students exit building quickly (priority is fire safety vs COVID)
• Lockdown and earthquake drills will be conducted as normal
Patron Meetings
• Virtual parent meetings will be held whenever possible
• Patron meetings with staff/administration will be held by appointment only
• Social distancing will be practiced where possible
• Hand sanitizer will be provided
• Face coverings will be required
• Touch surfaces will be sanitized after each meeting
Library/Media Centers
• Librarian will make classrooms visits; students may request books from the library • District guidelines/plans for service of library will be followed • SORA digital library and Destiny online catalog will be utilized • Returned library books will be stored in bin for 4 days before being recirculated
IEP/Special Ed Meetings
• Virtual meetings will be held whenever possible • Social distancing will be practiced, and face coverings will be required • Provide hand sanitizer will be provided • Touch surfaces will be sanitized after each meeting
Multi-Purpose Room
• Maximize social distancing when using multi-purpose room • Schedule single-class use of room when available
PE/BTS classes
• District guidelines and plans for service will be followed for art and PE classes • Face coverings will be required for staff and students • Surfaces and equipment will be sanitized between classes
Hallways
• Floor stickers will be applied to designate a flow pattern and distancing in each hallway of the school
• “Single-file, face forward” will be taught and reviewed as the protocol for walking in hallways
• The number of classes in hallway at a time will be limited
• Adult supervision and monitoring of students will take place when students are moving through the hallway to new location
