COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan

(Executive Order 2020-142 District Preparedness Plan Template)

08/15/2020 Name of District: Branch Intermediate School District Address of District: 370 Morse Street, Coldwater, MI 49039 District Code Number: 13-0000 Web Address of the District: www.branch-isd.org Name of Intermediate School District: Branch Intermediate School District Name of Authorizing Body (if applicable):

1

Preparedness Plan Introduction

Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-142 “provides a structure to support all schools in Michigan as they plan for a return of pre-K-12 education in the fall. Under the order, school districts must adopt a COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan laying out how they will cope with the disease across the various phases of the Michigan Safe Start Plan. In turn, the accompanying Michigan Return to School Roadmap offers a guide to the types of safety protocols appropriate during each phase. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution: What works in Lansing may not work in Sault Sainte Marie. Districts will retain the flexibility to tailor their instruction to their particular needs and to the disease conditions present in their regions.” (EO-2020-142)

Each district (public, public school academy (PSA), nonpublic, and intermediate school district (ISD) that educates pre-K-12 students) shall submit a single completed Assurance Document and Preparedness Plan to its Board in time for approval by August 15 or seven days before the first day of school, whichever comes first. This template, when completed, serves as a single Assurance Document and Preparedness Plan. The Preparedness Plan will be collected by the Intermediate School District for public school districts, the authorizing body for public school academies, or the chief/designated school administrator for nonpublic schools for transmission to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and State Treasurer by August 17, 2020. Additionally, this Preparedness Plan must be posted on the district’s/PSA’s, or nonpublic school’s public website home page no later than August 17, 2020. A single application should be filed by the district rather than multiple applications for individual schools within a district.

2

Preparedness Plan Assurances The District agrees to meet all of the following requirements of Executive Order 2020-142

✓ The District assures that when it provides in-person instruction to its students without disabilities, the district must also provide in-person instruction to its students with disabilities, consistent with their individualized education programs (IEPs).

✓ The District assures that when schools are closed to in-person instruction, districts must strive in good faith and to the extent practicable, based upon available resources, technology, training, and curriculum, as well as the circumstances presented by COVID-19, to provide equal access to any alternative modes of instruction to students with disabilities from birth through age 26. This assurance includes the provision of auxiliary services under section 1296 of the Revised School Code, MCL 380.1296.

✓ The District assures that while any state of emergency or disaster related to the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it shall comply with guidance from the United States Department of Education, including its Office of Civil Rights and Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, and the Michigan Department of Education concerning the delivery of alternative modes of instruction to students with disabilities in light of the impact of COVID-19.

✓ The District assures that it shall, to the extent practicable and necessary, make individualized determinations whether and to what extent compensatory services may be needed for students with disabilities in light of the school closures during the 2019–2020 school year.

✓ The District assures that during Phase 1, 2, or 3 of the Michigan Safe Start Plan it will close its buildings to anyone except: (a) District employees or contractors necessary to conduct minimum basic school operations consistent with a Preparedness Plan, including those employers or contractors necessary to facilitate alternative modes of instruction, such as distributing materials and equipment or performing other necessary in-person functions. (b) Food-service workers preparing food for distribution to students or their families. (c) Licensed child-care providers and the families that they serve, if providers follow all emergency protocols identified by the state.

✓ The District assures that during Phase 1, 2, or 3 of the Michigan Safe Start Plan it will suspend athletics, after-school activities, inter-school activities, and busing.

✓ The District assures that during Phase 1, 2, or 3 of the Michigan Safe Start Plan it will provide for the continued pay of school employees while redeploying staff to provide meaningful work in the context of the Preparedness Plan, subject to any applicable requirements of a collective bargaining agreement.

✓ The District assures that in Phases 1, 2, or 3 of the Michigan Safe Start Plan it will provide for the continuation of food distribution to eligible students.

✓ The District assures that during Phase 4 of the Michigan Safe Start Plan it will prohibit indoor assemblies that bring together students from more than one classroom.

✓ The District assures cooperation with the local public health department if a confirmed case of COVID-19 is identified, and agrees to collect the contact information for any close contacts of the affected individual from two days before he or she showed symptoms to the time when he or she was last present in school.

3

Individual Service Area Plans Executive Summary of BISD Service Areas BACC Plans 3, 4, 5 with supporting documentation Branch Area Careers Center Plans for Phases 3, 4, 5 Branch Area Careers Center MI Start Plan Phases 3, 4, 5.docx BACC District Professional Development Agenda: District Provided Professional Development 2020 2021 updated.docx Phase 3 Virtual Course Syllabus: BACC Virtual Course Syllabus.docx BACC Technology Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kdJG1j10MR5frLAIafq-unFRIoiE07SQy0gYMkUb318/edit?usp=sharing Poster for Arrival and Dismissal Procedures: Create your Classroom Arrival and Dismissal Procedures (See sample) BACC Corner Store Mitigation Procedures: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D8ZskdbWe3ZBkcqAiPQ5Noc3Go2-l9kivdJLlnD0l0c/edit?usp=sharing Branch County Early College Plans for phases 3, 4, 5 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IkmHauTcF2aSIdfxqk2cOtaFc_Kx_0Bpnk3TkqlYS1k/edit?usp=sharing Branch ISD Career Development Plans for phases 3, 4, 5 https://docs.google.com/document/d/17Kxg21mmDa3fVsxF4n-DfnWKiZ6wQb_a6sXev9npp_Q/edit?usp=sharing

Waldron Learning Center Campus Plans for phases 3, 4, and 5. Waldron Learning Center Campus Plans for phases 3, 4, and 5. Early Childhood Special Education Classrooms Preparedness Plan

https://docs.google.com/document/d/12ycgweCr6ClhuK_5NnWZh74FPmUAfi0clkaIrpqP6gA/edit?ts=5f2c242d Branch ISD Early Education Services Return to Learn Plan https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KfYqibyXk4WTrlw5-dS64mip4RxcCty_/view?usp=sharing

4

Preparedness Plan Every district must develop and adopt a COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan (“Preparedness Plan”) that is informed by Michigan’s 2020-21 Return to School Roadmap (“Return to School Roadmap”) from the COVID-19 Task Force on Education and Return to School Advisory Council.

In accordance with Executive Order 2020-142 a plan must include all the following parts:

A. The policies and procedures that the District will follow when the region in which the district is located is in Phase 1, 2, or 3 of the Michigan Safe Start Plan.

1. Describe how the district will offer alternative modes of instruction other than in-person instruction and a summary of materials each student and the student’s parents or guardians will need to meaningfully access the alternative modes of instruction included in the Preparedness Plan. If the Preparedness Plan relies on electronic instruction, the Preparedness Plan must consider how the district will aid students who lack access to computers or to the internet. This is also in the Continuity of Learning and COVID-19 Response Plan submitted in April. You may want to update and link to this plan in your response below.

Branch ISD District and Building Implementation Plan- Phases 1, 2 & 3: BISD Continuity of Learning Plan, April 2020 Whereas the BISD is an Intermediate School District, not a traditional K-12 district, each one of our service areas has developed their own detailed Preparedness and Response plan and have linked those plans above in this document. Please see the Individual Service Area Plans for more specific information linked above in this document. The ISD will respond to each of the items in the template in a more general way and allow the service areas to describe their individualized, detailed plans. While in phases 1, 2 & 3, which is complete remote learning, Branch ISD will provide alternative modes of instruction for meaningful learning and engagement, including, but not limited to, paper and pencil assignments, online material delivery, person-to-person contact through email, telephone,and internet based platforms like Zoom, Google Classrooms, Google Hangouts, and Microsoft teams. Students that attend ISD programs (CTE, Special Ed, EMC, Early Education, etc.) are all general ed students first. Whereas districts provide resources for learning (school supplies, technology devices, etc.) to general ed students, all students who attend BISD programs will have access to these same resources. If there are additional resources needed, the BISD programs will provide these additional resources. Teachers/Staff will be expected to make weekly contact with students and have two-way communication. This may be done through the use of technology (i.e. virtual meeting, email,

5

Remind) or through weekly phone calls. For students with technology access, teachers will also communicate multiple times each week through the instructional platform (i.e. Google Classroom, text messaging, etc.), with an emphasis on continuing to build relationships and maintain connections. If students do not have access to technology, teachers will provide instructional packets that focus on essential content, building relationships, and maintaining connections. We will encourage relationships between students through technology (virtual meetings, email), by phone or text, or by having students write letters to classmates. For students with technology access, content will be delivered through the online platform, Google Classroom. Teachers will be accessible for synchronous instruction (virtual meetings/office hours) at least once per week and asynchronous instruction through pre-made videos/lessons multiple times per week. For those students without technology, the main mode of delivery will be through hard copy instructional packets. This will be supplemented with phone conferencing to support instruction. The instructional packets will be mailed, delivered by school personnel, during drive thru appointments or provided during the local school meal distribution. Packets will be mailed or delivered to the student if they do not participate in their local meal distribution. The plan will be communicated through our webpage, and/or phone messaging communication platform, according to the preferences our parents/guardians have chosen in that system. Parents will receive an email with the plan attached, and/or a voice message and/or text message directing them to our district website where they can access the plan and information. The plan will be posted in a prominent location on our district website, and a link will also be posted on our district and building Facebook pages. For our students in dual enrollment/Early Middle College courses we will be working with the provider to determine next steps. Along with the support of our Early College Coordinator, we will ensure that the students have the appropriate materials and support to complete these courses. For students enrolled in CTE programs the BACC will work with the local school principals and counselors to ensure students have the ability to complete these courses. When needed, BISD will ensure the student has the necessary resources. BISD will maximize the use of their entire staff to ensure that the mental health needs of all students are met. This will include (but not limited to); counselors, family advocates, social workers, psychologists, occupational/physical/speech therapists, teachers, administrators, para-professionals and all other staff. Student wellness will be monitored by all staff keeping a contact log of communication with students and families. Additional support agencies may be sought to make these connections (Pines Behavior Health, Promedica Coldwater Hospital, DHHS, Early Beginnings, etc.) The principals will hold weekly virtual meetings with teachers

6

and other key staff to identify any additional students or families in need.

B. The policies and procedures that the District will follow when the region in which the District is located is in Phase 4 of the Michigan Safe Start Plan. Those policies and procedures must, at a minimum, include:

1. Face coverings (p. 22) a. Please describe how the district will implement requirements for facial

coverings that at a minimum require the wearing of face coverings, except during meals and unless face coverings cannot be medically tolerated, for:

i) All staff and all students in grades preK-12 when on a school bus. ii) All staff and all students in grades preK-12 when in indoor hallways

and common areas. iii) All staff when in classrooms. iv) All students in grades 6 and up when in classrooms. v) All students in grades kindergarten through grade 5 unless students

remain with their classes throughout the school day and do not come into close contact with students in another class.

Face Coverings will be mandated for entry into all BISD buildings, except for those who have prior approval due to the exclusions outlined in the Executive Order (Medical Documentation, or the inability to remove their mask on their own). A note from a primary care provider, stating the reason for not being able to wear a mask will be required. Stakeholder communications prior to school starting will communicate the requirements of the executive order, as well as where families can obtain their own Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). BISD will also include information on the policies and procedures for school supplied face coverings and masks, when and how they will be used, and the reasons why. Each service area will develop lessons appropriate for their students on how to properly use masks, and what our behavior expectations are for students when wearing their masks.

i.) All staff and students will have to wear a mask prior to boarding the bus. Disposable (one time use) masks will be kept on each bus for students who forget their face covering, or for visitors who need to enter but have not brought their own mask.

ii.)Staff will ensure and monitor students in common areas for compliance, again, the school will provide disposable masks for those students who may have lost or forgot their mask, in order to keep them in school.

iii.)All staff will wear face coverings, including, but not limited to masks, face shields, or disposable masks, provided by the school.

7

iv.) Staff will ensure and monitor students in classrooms for compliance, again, the district will provide disposable masks for those students who may have lost or have forgotten their mask, in order to keep them in school. Willful non-compliance may be treated as a discipline issue, under “Insubordination”, and parents will be involved as necessary. Repeated offenses may result in the student being placed in online only instruction until the student agrees to comply with the requirements.

v.) All efforts will be made to keep Pre-K-5th grade students in a self contained cohort so as to not co-mingle cohorts. PreK-5 grade will be encouraged (Exec. Order 2020-164), but will not be required to wear a mask unless they are mixed with other classroom cohorts, in common areas of the school, or during transportation.

Posted signs, common language and lessons on proper handwashing will include the proper use of masks, and reminders will be posted throughout the district. These signs will include the exemptions for wearing a mask.

● Staff who are capable of wearing a face covering and refuse to do so will be addressed by the school administrator and could face progressive disciplinary measures up to and including termination.

● Guests to the school building (presenters, substitute teachers, etc) will be issued a disposable face covering upon signing in at the main office and will be instructed to wear the face covering at all times. Instances of non-compliance will result in the guest being escorted from the building by the building administrator.

● In instances of uncertainty about individuals not wearing face coverings, these matters will be relayed to the building administration for review and decisive action.

All staff and student exemption requests must be reviewed by the building principal, in conjunction or consultation with the Health Department Liaison. A written note from a primary health care provider, stating the reason for the exemption is required. Those who are exempted will be given a badge, sticker or other identifier to show that they are approved as having a medical exemption.

2. Hygiene Please describe how you will implement the requirements for hygiene protocols from the Return to School Roadmap (p. 22-23).

● Every classroom will either have access to a sink, a fixed handwashing station or will have access to hand sanitizer.

● Supplies (paper towels, soap, hand sanitizer, tissues, trash receptacles) will be checked

8

daily and restocked in the classroom. ● Teachers will contact the office immediately if supplies run out during the school day. ● Each classroom will have a hygiene protocol. It will include

○ Hand-washing schedule (frequently in self-contained classrooms, before and after any transition activity)

○ Room and materials cleaning schedule ● Teacher or school nurse will teach students the following (this may be done via video)

○ proper handwashing on the first day of school and reinforce weekly or more often if needed

○ how to cough and sneeze into their elbows, or to cover with a tissue and dispose of it in the trash

● Proper mitigation strategies including hand washing and sneezing will be communicated to families via newsletters, web pages, bulletin boards, etc. and in the families native language. Parents and caregivers will be asked to review and reinforce mitigation strategies with their students.

● Custodial staff will ○ Procure adequate soap, hand sanitizer, paper towels, tissues ○ Post signage related to cleaning and hygiene strategies in each room, restroom,

and throughout the hallways ○ Monitor hygiene supplies and refill as needed ○ Procure hand sanitizing stations as deemed necessary

● Sharing school supplies will be limited. A list of supplies will be generated as appropriate for each grade level and/or subject area. Supplies may vary drastically between service areas within the ISD.

3. Cleaning Please describe how you will implement the cleaning requirements for cleaning protocols from the Return to School Roadmap (p. 27).

For each service delivery area, the district leadership team will review progress on cleaning implementation and review cleaning processes. An inventory and allotment of EPA-approved cleaning supplies will be supplied for each building in the beginning of the year, and maintained as needed. Each school will designate an area for these cleaning supplies, and they will be monitored by the building administrator and/or building custodian.

Frequently touched surfaces including light switches, doors, benches, bathrooms, must undergo cleaning at least every four hours with either an EPA-approved disinfectant or

9

diluted bleach solution and disposable/paper towels, and/or washable towels.

● This will be built into each classroom routine, in each building by the teacher as appropriate ● Common areas will be added to the daily routines of janitorial day staff

Libraries, computer labs, arts, and other hands-on classrooms must undergo cleaning after every class period with either an EPA-approved disinfectant or diluted bleach solution. ● This will be built into the routine of each room's use, either by “checking out” the room for a time block, or by the supervising staff of the room. ● The janitorial staff will incorporate these areas into their daily schedule as needed, during the day

Student desks must be wiped down with either an EPA-approved disinfectant or diluted bleach solution after every class period.

● Students of appropriate age will have the ability to wipe down desks after each use, with safe and EPA approved cleaning materials ● Staff will incorporate this into their daily routine as needed for each instructional and common space.

Playground structures must continue to undergo normal cleaning, but using an EPA approved disinfectant is unnecessary.

BISD will ensure safe and correct use and storage of cleaning and disinfection products, including storing products securely away from children, and with adequate ventilation when staff use products.

● All storage and disinfection materials will be stored in upper cabinets in the elementary buildings, and in adult-only accessible cabinets and shelving in secondary schools.

Custodial staff must wear gloves, surgical mask, and face shield when performing all cleaning activities.

● All staff will be given the required PPE to complete these tasks. ● Training will be provided to all staff prior to the beginning of school.

4. Athletics

10

Please describe how you will implement the requirements for athletics protocols from the Return to School Roadmap (p. 27).

The Branch ISD does not have any athletic teams. Any Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO) or other extra-curricular events will follow all approved mitigation protocols. While in Phase 4, only local or on-line events will take place for CTSOs. All indoor assemblies that bring together students from more than one classroom are prohibited.

5. Screening Please describe how you will implement the requirements for screening protocols from the Return to School Roadmap (p. 24).

Student Screening - Parents will sign Health Screening Acknowledgement Form Before leaving for school, please make sure to adhere to the following screening. If your child has any of the following symptoms, this may indicate a possible illness that may decrease the student’s ability to learn and put them at risk for spreading illness to others.

Symptoms ☐ Temperature 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher when taken by mouth ☐ Sore throat

☐ New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing (for students with chronic allergic/asthmatic cough, a change in their cough from baseline) ☐ Diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain ☐ New onset of severe headache, especially with a fever

● Each school building will identify a remote and secluded room, no smaller than 100

square feet to serve as an isolation area. This room will be outfitted with appropriate PPE including gowns, face shields, N95 Masks, gloves, sanitizing wipes, portable two-way radios, an internet-connected computer/laptop and log sheets.

● Each building will have an identified and trained staff person to serve as the “quarantine officer”. These duties will take precedence over any other responsibilities and therefore this individual must have the flexibility to leave their regular assignment at a moment’s notice.

● From the time of identification of potential infection, the student will not be left unattended by the quarantine officer and a log sheet of activity will be maintained until the student or staff member is safely removed from the building.

● Parent communication will be made immediately with clear and concise directions on where and how to pick up the student and where to report for testing.

● A designated person (office staff) will contact the student/family each day after removal until test results are provided and verified before the student can return to school.

● During the time of quarantine, the student will be asked to self identify the location and 11

individuals they came into contact with for the past 48 hours to the best of their recollection. Priority will be placed on those individuals that they were in contact with for a sustained 15 minutes of more.

● The health department will be contacted after parents have been contacted to assist in contact tracing and notification of vulnerable individuals.

● Upon reporting to work, all school staff will be required to check in with the appropriate office staff to conduct a health safety assessment. This will include temperatures being taken and a health assessment. This will be reported daily on the Google form.

● Staff who are unable to work due to displaying COVID-19 systems will be required to report this to the school. The staff person’s supervisor will monitor the situation daily and will follow up with any symptomatic person to direct where, when, and how to get tested and to report those results back to the school as soon as available.

● Positive tests for staff members will result in a required quarantine away from school for 14 days. Days of quarantine for COVID-19 positive results may NOT count against employee sick time allocations per appropriate sick leave requirements.

● Since the COVID-19 transmission is still high at a global level, all international travelers must stay home for 14 days after returning from travel, monitor their health and practice social distancing. Students should be afforded the opportunity to participate in coursework as soon as they are able.

6. Testing Please describe how you will implement the requirements for testing protocols from the Return to School Roadmap (p. 25).

The BISD will cooperate with our local health department, BHSJ Health Department, if a confirmed case of COVID-19 is identified, and in particular, will collect the contact information for any close contacts of the affected individual from two days before he or she showed symptoms to the time when he or she was last present at the school. BHSJ Health Department will be notified immediately of any possible case of COVID-19 while maintaining confidentiality consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable federal and state privacy laws. Employees with a confirmed case of COVID-19 may only return to the workplace after they are no longer infectious. There is free testing at Promedica Coldwater Regional Hospital. Appointments are required.

7. Busing and Student Transportation Please describe how you will implement the requirements for busing and student transportation protocols from the Return to School Roadmap (p. 28).

12

● Hand Sanitizer will be placed in the front of the bus for students to apply before entering the seating area. ● The bus driver, staff, and all students in grades preK-12, if medically feasible, must wear facial coverings while on the bus. Note: there may be situations where it is not safe for the bus driver to wear a facial covering. Decisions about these situations should be made on a case-by-case basis with local public health officials. ● Additional disposable masks will be kept on each bus, so that drivers can give masks to students who try to board a bus without a mask. ● The cleaning routine will be built into each driver's schedule as needed, additional duties will include the proper cleaning of the bus after each route with EPA approved disinfectants. ● Bus policy and employee task sheets and handbooks will be changed to reflect the required cleaning protocols. ● In the case that a student refuses to wear a mask, the driver will issue a ticket, and the student will not be allowed to board the bus until the parent has signed and agreed to the bus rules. If a student continues the behavior, the issue may be turned over to the building administrator for further discipline. Students may lose the ability to ride the bus for the remainder of the year if they persist in the willful disobedience of the rule. ● If a student is sick, an emergency contact will be required to come to school to get them. ● If a bus driver is sick during the work day, staff protocols for screening and testing, as outlined above will be used. ● Cleaning protocols for drivers will include the proper times to allow disinfectants to dry on surfaces. ● When weather permits, all bus drivers will use best judgement in allowing the opening of windows for air flow, as well as for the comfort and safety of the students.

● Note: Waldron Center students are transported by Coldwater Community Schools. BISD is asking that all students be screened at home prior to leaving for schools. Coldwater Community Schools Preparedness plan requires temperature check screening prior to getting on the bus, so to align with the Coldwater plan, Waldron Center students will be having their temperature’s taken prior to getting on the bus.

C. Describe the policies and procedures that the district will follow when the region in which the district is located is in Phase 5 of the Michigan Safe Start Plan.

13

In Phase 5, BISD will continue to follow the plan as outlined in Stage 4, to the extent practicable and feasible, and will strongly recommend that face coverings still be used, and will continue with the regular handwashing lessons, handwashing and sanitization breaks.

● Each classroom will utilize spacing to the extent that is possible to increase social distancing for the students while in instruction.

● Teachers will use taped floor diagrams for students to help illustrate the proper spacing when lining up, when crossing in the halls and when occupying common spaces.

● Screening and testing protocols for students and staff who appear ill, or have a temperature, will stay in place throughout this phase.

● Students and Staff who are identified as having tested positive will remain at home until released by their physician, or have quarantined the recommended amount of time, as stated by the health department.

● Any positive cases in the school will be reported to the BHSJ Health Department and to parents, in order for them to remain vigilant in watching for symptoms.

● Food service will continue to use barrier protections such as gloves, masks and face shields.

● Custodial staff will continue to use gloves masks and face shields during cleaning activities

● While being transported, face masks will still be required, but seating arrangements may become more flexible.

1. Indicate which highly recommended protocols from the Return to School Roadmap the district will include in its Preparedness Plan when the region in which the district is located is in Phase 5 of the Michigan Safe Start Plan.

The BISD plans to continue the Stage 4 plan, to the extent feasible and practicable, and/or implement all of the highly recommended protocols indicated in phase 5 of the Return to School Roadmap, and as the BHSJ Health Department recommends. BISD believes that it will be very difficult to go back and forth between what is required in phases 4 and 5. As a result of this belief, we look to maintain what we are doing in phase 4 as well as follow all highly recommended protocols during phase 5, in order to maintain consistent expectation for students for the 20-21 school year and aid in the flattening of the curve locally.

14

2. Indicate which highly recommended protocols from the Return to School Roadmap the district will not include in its Preparedness Plan when the region in which the district is located is in Phase 5 of the Michigan Safe Start Plan.

In order to maintain consistency of expectations, all routines will stay in place, if we remain in Stage 5. We may, as a district, revisit the policies regarding the lunch process, assemblies of more than one classroom, mask wearing by all staff , and allowing more movement of students to attend to specials or interventions. The district, after reviewing recommendations, and in compliance with the local health department will make these changes under the active supervision of our administrative team.

D. After considering all the protocols that are strongly recommended in the Return to School Roadmap, please indicate if a school plans to exclude protocols that are strongly recommended for any of the categories above in Phase 4.

To the best of our ability and where feasible and practicable, the BISD does not intend to exclude protocols that are strongly recommended in Phase 4 of the Return to School Roadmap. All efforts will be made to adhere to all of the strongly recommended guidance. It is our intention to maintain strict hygiene, social distancing and safety guidelines while maintaining the highest educational services we can provide.

Final Steps for Submission Each district shall submit a single completed Assurance Document and Preparedness Plan to its Board of Education (in the case of a PSA, the Academy Board of Directors; in the case of a nonpublic school, the chief or designated school administrator ) in time for approval by August 15 or seven days before the first day of school, whichever comes first. Date of Approval by the District Board of Education, PSA Board of Directors, or nonpublic school chief/designated school administrator: August 12, 2020 Link to the Board Meeting Minutes or Signature of Board President, or signature of nonpublic school chief/designated school administrator: August 12, 2020 Board Meeting Highlights

Link to the approved Plan posted on the District/PSA/nonpublic school website: www.branch-isd.org

The Preparedness Plan will be collected by the Intermediate School District for public school districts, the authorizing body for public school academies, or the chief/designated school administrator for nonpublic schools for transmission to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and State Treasurer by August 17, 2020.

15

Additionally, this Preparedness Plan must be posted on the district’s/PSA’s, or nonpublic school’s public website home page no later than August 17, 2020. Name of District/PSA/Nonpublic Leader Submitting Plan: Kris Jenkins

Date Received by the ISD/Authorizing Body/Chief or designated School Administrator:

Date Submitted to State Superintendent and State Treasurer: August 17, 2020

16