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    covid

     

    Welcome to the Alvin ISD COVID-19 Dashboard. Alvin ISD is committed to providing our families with timely and transparent information about the impact COVID-19 is having on our district.  

     

    As part of this effort, we have updated our notification processes to better serve our Alvin ISD community.  We are focused on providing timely notices to families whose children are identified as being in the same classroom or extracurricular group as an individual that has tested positive for COVID-19. We feel this more tailored service will provide useful and individualized information to our families. 

     

    Please note:

     

    • An update will be posted to Alvin ISD’s COVID-19 Dashboard each business day by 5 p.m. 

    • Only students and staff that have been on Alvin ISD campuses 48 hours prior to symptom onset or 48 hours before test date if asymptomatic are posted on this dashboard.

    • Cases will be removed from the dashboard after 5 days. 

    • If a lab-confirmed COVID-19 case is identified in a student or staff member’s classroom or extracurricular group, parents/guardians will receive a notification.
COVID-19 CASES IN ALVIN ISD by rabmoore

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    Health Plan

    Updated 2/15/22 - Subject to change

     

    General Overview

     

    Alvin ISD will follow all safety measures outlined by health authorities and state guidelines for the 2021-22 school year.  Feedback from our community continues to be essential as this plan is revised in response to the ongoing pandemic.  Alvin ISD commits to the following:

     

    1. The health and safety of our students, staff, families, and community is our top priority.
    2. Every decision made will take into consideration the latest guidance and direction from local, state, and federal authorities on operational considerations during the school day. 
    3. Alvin ISD will provide the highest quality instruction to all students.
    4. Alvin ISD will support the well-being of each student and every program.

     

    The Superintendent of Schools, the Deputy Superintendent of Operations, Associate Superintendent of Federal Programs, Chief Operations Officer, and Chief of School Safety will work together to monitor information and data from health authorities, data from internal district operations, and state and local officials in order to determine actions at school facilities in response to the community spread of COVID-19.

     

    The designated point of contact for COVID-19 related information for Alvin ISD is Rory Gesch, Deputy Superintendent of Operations, rgesch@alvinisd.net.  The campus COVID primary point of contact is the designated Campus Administrator on the Campus Emergency Response Team (ERT).

     

    The FORWARD 2021 Health Plan is designed to align with board policy and COVID protocols from the Texas Education Agency, Brazoria County Health Department, The State of Texas, and Centers for Disease Control.  The AISD Health Plan is the District’s guiding document for procedures related to COVID response.  In the case of a conflict between the AISD Health Plan and any other guidance shared with district staff, the AISD Health plan will take precedent.

     

    General Guidelines

     

    • Per the guidance of various public health officials, masks are strongly recommended for both students and staff; however, the Governor’s mandate asserts that they remain optional.
    • There is one licensed nurse assigned to every Alvin ISD school campus.
    • All staff members will be required to self-screen for symptoms consistent with COVID-19 each day prior to reporting to work.
    • Parents need to ensure they do not send a child to school if a child has COVID-19 symptoms.
    • Students and staff will maintain social distancing whenever possible.
    • Masks are highly recommended for all staff members and students.
    • The district will continue to maintain a dashboard of identified cases by campus/location.  The dashboard will be updated each business day to reflect the total number of confirmed positive cases at each location.  
    • Isolation relates to behavior after a confirmed infection. Isolation for 5 days followed by wearing a well-fitting mask will minimize the risk factors to others. 
    • Quarantine refers to the time following exposure to the virus or close contact with someone known to have COVID-19.

     

    Training Protocols

     

    Student Training

     

    Employee Health Protocols:

     

    • All employees shall know, understand, and practice methods to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 at work.
    • All employees must practice appropriate cleaning and disinfection, hand hygiene, and respiratory etiquette.
    • All employees shall regularly wash their hands when reporting to work and after using the restroom.
    • Consistent with school notification requirements for other communicable diseases, and consistent with legal confidentiality requirements, the District will notify the Brazoria County Health Department of all lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases on a weekly basis.
    • If a staff member is lab-confirmed with COVID-19, all students and staff who have been in close contact with that individual will be notified. Close contact individuals will be strongly recommended to wear a mask and self monitor for symptoms during the 10 day incubation period. 
    • If a staff member is awaiting COVID-19 test results, he or she should not report to school until test results have been obtained.
    • If a staff member has been confirmed to have COVID-19, he or she will be required to isolate for 5 days. If the staff member is asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and without fever for 24 hours, he or she may return to work after the required 5 isolation days and will be required to wear a mask for 5 days when around others to reduce risk of transmission.
    • AISD has hosted multiple opportunities for staff members to receive one of the approved COVID 19 vaccinations.

     

    Student Health Protocols: 

     

    • For all vaccinated students age 5 and older, parents are strongly recommended to submit evidence of COVID-19 vaccination to the school nurse in writing or electronically prior to the first day of school. If vaccinations occur for any age student after the start of school, evidence should be submitted as soon as possible. 
    • Students who are fully vaccinated will not be subjected to quarantines.
    • AISD has hosted multiple opportunities for eligible students to receive one of the approved COVID-19 vaccinations.
    • All students should do a self-screening daily prior to coming to school.
    • All students must practice hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
    • All students should regularly wash their hands throughout the school day.
    • If a student is symptomatic while at school, he or she will be evaluated by the school nurse and the student will be required to wear a mask while in the clinic.
    • The nurse will evaluate based on the number and severity of symptoms, known exposure, and vaccine status.
    • If the nurse determines that symptoms are consistent with a potential COVID-19 diagnosis:
      • The parent will be required to pick up the child within one hour.
      • The student will be able to report back to school as follows:
        • Symptoms are resolving AND
        • 5 days have passed since symptom onset AND
        • Fever free for 24 hours without use of fever reducing medications

     

    OR

     

    • Symptoms are resolving AND
    • Fever free for 24 hours without use of fever reducing medications AND
    • A note from a physician indicating an alternative diagnosis is submitted

     

    OR

     

    • Symptoms are resolving AND
    • Fever free for 24 hours without use of fever reducing medications AND
    • Negative COVID-19 test (rapid or PCR)
    • Contact campus nurse for a COVID testing appointment


    • If a student is awaiting COVID-19 test results, he or she should not report to school until test results have been obtained.

    • If a student is confirmed positive for COVID-19, he or she will be required to isolate for 5 days.  After the required 5 days and if the student is asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and without fever for 24 hours, the student may return to school.  The student will be required to wear a mask for the following 5 days when around others at school to minimize the risk of transmission. 

    • Consistent with school notification requirements for other communicable diseases, and consistent with legal confidentiality requirements, the District will notify the Brazoria County Health Department of all lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases on a weekly basis.

    • If a lab-confirmed COVID-19 case is identified in a student, all other students and staff who have been in close contact with that individual will be notified. Close contact individuals will be strongly recommended to wear a mask and self-monitor for symptoms during the 10-day incubation period. 

    While a student is in quarantine, educational services will continue based on an individual plan determined by the student’s teacher(s).

     

    COVID-19 Symptoms:

     

    In evaluating whether an individual has symptoms consistent with COVID-19, the District will consider the following questions:

     

    Has the individual recently begun experiencing any of the following in a way that is not normal for them?

    • Any of the following symptoms indicate a possible COVID-19 infection:
      • Temperature of 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
      • New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing (or, for students with a chronic allergic/asthmatic cough, a change in their cough from baseline)
      • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
      • Fatigue
      • Muscle or body aches
      • Headache
      • New onset loss of taste or smell
      • Sore throat
      • Congestion or runny nose
      • Nausea or vomiting
      • Diarrhea

     

    Close Contact

     

    The CDC refers to “close contact” with an individual who is lab-confirmed or probable to have COVID-19 occurring between 48 hours prior to the case’s onset and the date criteria for release from isolation are met.

     

    Close contact is defined as:

     

    • Being directly exposed to infectious secretions (e.g., being coughed on)

     

    OR

     

    • Being within 6 feet for a largely uninterrupted or sustained extended contact period throughout the course of a day for cumulatively 15 minutes or more; however, additional factors like vaccination status, use of masks, ventilation, presence of dividers and case symptomatology may affect this determination.
      • Exception: In the K-12 indoor classroom setting, the close contact definition excludes students who were within 3-6 feet of an infected student if both the infected student and the exposed student(s) correctly and consistently wore well-fitting masks the entire time.

     

    Either defines close contact if it occurred during the infectious period of the case, defined as two days prior to symptom onset to 10 days after symptom onset. In the case of asymptomatic individuals who are lab-confirmed with COVID-19, the infectious period is defined as two days prior to the confirming lab test and continuing for 10 days following the confirmation lab test.

     

    Close Contact Exposure

     

    Employees

    Employees must report to their supervisor if they have had close contact with an individual who is lab-confirmed with COVID-19.  Educators have been classified as Critical Infrastructure by the Department of Homeland Security as of August 18, 2020.  Under this definition education employees who are asymptomatic can continue to report to work after exposure to a COVID positive individual.

    • The employee should continually monitor themselves for onset of symptoms. If they begin to show symptoms they must report to their supervisor immediately and leave the workplace.
    • The employee will be strongly recommended to wear a face mask at all times while in the workplace for the 10-day incubation period.
    • The employee should maintain 3 feet separation and practice social distancing as work duties permit in the workplace.
    • The employee should ensure that all common/shared areas are cleaned and disinfected.

       

    Students

    A parent must report to the school nurse if their child has had close contact with an individual who is lab-confirmed with COVID-19.

    According to guidance issued from the Texas Education Agency on 8/19/2021, parents of students who are determined to be close contact may opt to keep their students at home during the recommended stay-at-home period. For parents who opt to send their students to school in the 10 days after exposure, the following recommendations apply:

    • Parents should monitor their child for symptoms daily. If they begin to show any symptoms, they must be kept home. 
    • The student will be strongly recommended to wear a mask for 10 days after last known exposure.
    • The student should maintain 3 feet distance in the classroom and practice social distancing as feasible throughout the school day.

     

    School Operations

     

    Health and Hygiene Practices

    • Hand sanitizer stations will be at the entrances of each facility.
    • Students and staff will be instructed in proper handwashing techniques.
    • Students and staff will be trained in proper health hygiene and disease transmission prevention measures.
    • Signage for proper hygiene practices will be posted throughout the buildings, in the restrooms, and at the entrances.
    • Building systems will be adjusted to allow as much fresh air circulation as possible.
    • All campus HVAC systems are equipped with virus destroying ultraviolet sterilization of the air in duct systems.

     

    Campus Cleaning Plan:

     

    Custodial staff hours have been adjusted so that campuses will be continuously cleaned throughout the instructional day.  Focused cleaning areas will include frequently touched surfaces, objects of student transition, and high volume common areas. District staff have been trained in the use of approved professional cleaning and disinfecting products using methods developed for safe use in the student environment.


     

    Deliveries

     

    Campus deliveries for students will be in accordance with the Alvin ISD Student Handbook. Contracted/Business deliveries will follow the established guidelines of Alvin ISD Purchasing & Distribution department.

     

    Academic and Social/Emotional Needs

    In addition to the implementation of several health and safety protocols to address student needs, Alvin ISD is also committed to addressing the academic and social/emotional needs of each student.  

    Academic Plans include: 

    • Providing additional instructional support in high school for English and math courses in order to provide more intensive support to students with learning gaps 
    • Providing tutoring/supplemental instructional support for students with learning gaps 
    • Expanding summer programming to provide more extensive support to students with learning gaps 
    • Initiating reading camps for elementary students prior to the beginning of the school year that focus on literacy 
    • Providing additional support for teachers in the area of effective use of technology with students

    Social/Emotional Plans include:

    • Provision of professional learning opportunities on social/emotional learning (SEL) and trauma-informed classrooms. 
    • Provision of in-class instructional opportunities on social/emotional learning, following specific SEL competencies (Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making).
    • Implementation of student-needs groups and other small group social/emotional learning opportunities
    • Adjusting curriculum to support digital and social milestones.
    • Developing/implementing mental health supports for students and employees. 

    Plans also include supporting coping and resilience 

    • Employees and students are encouraged to consider and care for their whole well-being through:
      • Keeping healthy sleep habits
      • Consuming foods high in nutritional value
      • Drinking plenty of water
      • Exercising and taking brain breaks from stressful events 
    • Employees and students are encouraged to listen to their minds and bodies and reach out to trusted individuals when they are in distress.
    • Crisis Text Line text HOME to 741741
    • The NAMI HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., ET.
      • 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org