Health and Safety Plan

Health and Safety Plan Summary: Dauphin County Technical School
Initial Effective Date: August 11, 2021
Date of Last Review: March 19, 2022
Date of Last Revision: September 14, 2022

  1. How will the LEA, to the greatest extent practicable, support prevention and mitigation policies in line with the most up-to-date guidance from the CDC for the reopening and operation of school facilities in order to continuously and safely open and operate schools for in-person learning?
    Dauphin County Technical School (DCTS) will continue in our efforts to constantly monitor COVID-19 cases in a similar manner as the 2020-2021 school year’s approved Health & Safety Plan. Moreover, we will follow mandates as determined by the Governor, the CDC, State Department of Health, and Dauphin County Department of Health. The DCTS Health and Safety Plan will be reviewed and revised as necessary. Any revisions will be recommended to the Joint Operating Committee (JOC) for approval and changes will be communicated to families, students, and staff.
  2. How will the LEA ensure continuity of services, including but not limited to services to address the students’ academic needs, and students’ and staff members’ social, emotional, mental health, and other needs, which may include student health and food services?
    DCTS is committed to providing all students with a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Continuity of service delivery will be determined based on the individualized needs of the students and DCTS’s ability to provide services in compliance with CDC guidelines. Additionally, DCTS will continue to provide a variety of mental and emotional health supports to staff members via professional development with a focus on Suicide Awareness and Prevention, Social Emotional Learning, Equity and Inclusion, School Counselors, School Nurse, and School Social Worker.
  3. Use the table below to explain how the LEA will maintain the health and safety of students, educators, and other staff and the extent to which it has adopted policies, and a description of any such policy on each of the following safety recommendations established by the CDC.

 

 ARP ESSER Requirement Strategies, Policies, and Procedures
 a. Universal and correct wearing of masks.
  • Masks are strongly encouraged, but not required at Dauphin County Technical School.
  • DCTS Administration will monitor and review local transmission data monthly at a minimum. As local/county transmission level and guidance from the CDC and PDE change, DCTS will recommend changes for masking to the Joint Operation Committee as appropriate. It is possible that the mask optional approach set forth above may change in the future as circumstances in the building or classroom change or when the legal requirements regarding masking require a different approach.
b. Modifying facilities to allow for physical distancing

(e.g., use of cohorts/podding).

  • Students shall be socially distanced pursuant to CDC and PDE guidelines and will be spaced to the maximum extent possible.
c. Handwashing and respiratory etiquette.
  • Signage associated with handwashing and respiratory etiquette will be left in place throughout the school building.
 d. Cleaning and maintaining healthy facilities, including improving ventilation.
  • The school will follow the CDC’s Guidance for Cleaning & Disinfecting Schools.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects within the school and on buses at least daily, including door handles, sink handles, and drinking fountains.
  • Steps will be taken to limit the use of communal drinking fountains and provide safe alternatives for providing water when possible.
  • Implement and Supervise the Daily and Weekly COVID-19 Cleaning Activities as specified on the Daily and Weekly COVID-19 Job Cards.
  • Increase ventilation rates from OCC Hours only to 24/7 Operation.
  • Increase OA% from 10% to 40%.
  • Weekly use of Electrostatic Spray Disinfectant.
  • Classrooms and common areas will be ventilated with additional circulation of outdoor air when possible, using windows, doors, and/or fans.
e. Contact tracing in combinations with isolation and quarantine, in collaboration with the State and local health departments.
  • Contact tracing will not occur during any period of optional masking.
  • Students, staff, and educators who are in close contact with a positive case and are not experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 will not be subject to restriction from school or school activities, regardless of vaccination status.
  • Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 or are in close contact with a positive case and are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 will be required to isolate or quarantine as required under Commonwealth and CDC directives and per the direction of their health care provider.
f. Diagnostic and screening testing.
  • DCTS will perform diagnostic testing should it be mandated by PDE, CDC or the State Department of Health.
g. Efforts to provide vaccinations to school communities.
  • DCTS will continue to work with local healthcare agencies to offer opportunities for vaccinations.
h. Appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities with respect to health and safety policies.
  • DCTS will continue to provide any necessary accommodations for our students with disabilities as they pertain to the health and safety of all of our students.
i. Coordination with state and local health officials.
  • DCTS will continue to coordinate efforts related to COVID-19 with local health officials and work cooperatively with the Department of Health on contact tracing and other mitigation efforts.

Health and Safety Plan Governing Body Affirmation Statement:

The Board of Directors/Trustees for Dauphin County Technical School reviewed and approved the Health and Safety Plan on  September 14, 2022.