• 2021-2022 JGESA Safe Learning Plan

    Updated 1/18/22

    Executive Summary: 

    JGESA in compliance with Federal government, Minnesota Rule, Local Public Health and universal business guidance requirements;

    Face coverings: 

    • It is strongly recommended that all people present in school buildings and district offices wear a face covering.
    • All people are required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) order to wear face coverings on all public transportation conveyances including school buses and vans. 

    Screening, Quarantine/Contact Tracing and Efforts to provide vaccinations to school communities

    • All members of the school community, including staff, students, families, visitors, and others should continue to be vigilant in monitoring for symptoms of illness and protect others by staying home when they are feeling ill and following COVID-19 specific exclusion and self-quarantine guidance when appropriate. It is strongly recommended that schools follow the Recommended COVID-19 Decision Tree for People in Schools, Youth, and Child Care Programs to determine who should stay home and when staff or students may return.
      • FULLY VACCINATED STAFF OR STUDENTS DO NOT NEED TO QUARANTINE -  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html
      • Staff or students may request shortened quarantine based on MDH close contact guidelines FORM 
      • Based on current levels of community spread across Minnesota, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and MDH recommend that all unvaccinated school-age children and school staff should get tested for COVID-19 at least weekly throughout the school year. Unvaccinated children involved in any extracurricular activities or sports should be tested more frequently. Vaccinated students and school staff should get tested if they are experiencing symptoms or were exposed to someone who has COVID-19. Testing should be used in addition to other prevention strategies You can visit a community testing site, order an at-home test kit, or get tested through your healthcare provider. 
      • JGESA will also be offering free take home BinaxNOW OTC At-Home Testing if a student is symtomatic. BinaxNOW Over-the-Counter (OTC) At-Home test is an individual, diagnostic, rapid antigen COVID-19 test recommended for symptomatic people that utilizes a nasal swab. Results are available within 15 minutes of processing. Each test is administered at home by the person taking the test.
        • Considerations for use  This type of test should be considered when rapid results are needed at home.  Schools order tests to be sent home with students to be used at home as needed. The test can be particularly convenient if the student is experiencing symptoms and needs to quickly determine whether or not they have COVID-19.  Even with a negative test result, a student who is experiencing symptoms should retest and should not return to school until symptoms have improved and the student has been fever free for 24 hours.  This test is packaged with two tests per box so a student can test twice within three days, with at least 36 hours between tests. By testing more frequently, known as serial testing, COVID-19 may be detected more quickly, which helps reduce the spread of infection.  BinaxNOW OTC At-Home test is recommended to be used for people who are symptomatic but may also be used for asymptomatic screening when people are being tested frequently or when confirmatory PCR tests are being used for negative results.  The self-test is recommended for children as young as 2 years old when samples are collected by an adult, and for all people 15 and older if they are collecting the sample by themselves.  When there is a positive test result, families should notify the school and schools should follow MDH and CDC quarantine guidance: Best Practice Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools for the 2021-22 School Year (www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools/schoolrecs.pdf).  When there is a negative test result and symptoms are present, a confirmatory lab-based COVID-19 test is highly recommended. BINAXNOW OTC AT - HOME TESTING INFORMATION 2 of 3  BinaxNOW OTC At-Home testing is for personal use only and doesn’t provide a documented test result that can be used when traveling.  Information on test accuracy and any risks or side effects is available in the manufacturer’s instructions: BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test (www.globalpointofcare.abbott/en/product-details/binaxnow-covid19-antigen-self-test-us.html).
        • For any questions pertaining to the use of the BinaxNOW OTC At-Home test, please contact Abbott Labs at:
          Telephone: 1-877-441-7440
        • Results  The BinaxNOW OTC At-Home test is currently only for personal use and does not provide a record of test or result. Results are visually displayed on the test 15 minutes after the test is performed. Test results should not be read beyond 30 minutes after performing the test.  When there is a positive test result, families should notify the school and schools should follow MDH and CDC quarantine guidance: Best Practice Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools for the 2021-22 School Year (www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools/schoolrecs.pdf).  When there is a negative test result, a confirmatory lab-based COVID-19 test is highly recommended if a student is experiencing symptoms. Please contact your health care provider.
          Hours: 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. (EST), Monday – Friday
    • JGESA has partnered with Wright County Public Health and local health care providers to offer and promote vaccination options to our school community. These opportunities have been communicated to families via email and social media as they become available. JGESA also has posted links to Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector.

     Mitigation Strategies

    • JGESA has the unique advantage of a 300 acre outdoor campus, whenever possible we will utilize outdoor spaces for learning. Also,  we have more than recommended square footage per student available for distancing student desk spacing.
    • JGESA will continue to follow protocols around social distancing, daily cleaning, handwashing, respiratory etiquette, and cohorting into small groups in an effort to mitigate disease spread. Note should we experience an outbreak of Covid it is possible that JGESA would shift learning models as needed. 

    Ensuring Access

    • JGESA will ensure continuity of services, including but not limited to services that address students academic, social, emotional and mental health needs in a variety of ways including access to in-person and online resources, school Counselor, Meal Finder resource, and more. Advisor, Counselor and other staff will  identify and follow-up with students experiencing lack of progress,  frequent absences or other issues such as equitable access or barriers to participating in instruction can be identified and resolved.
    • Digital Equity - JGESA will provide 1:1 chromebooks to each student. JGESA will also work with families to obtain free/low cost home internet access or provide school owned internet hotspots for use as needed. 
    • Appropriate Accommodations for Children with disabilities with respect to health and safety policies -follow MDE guidelines as to enrolled students who may be medically vulnerable or otherwise unwilling to return to in-person or flexible learning. This guidance is still being developed and is expected from MDE soon.

     

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