NLPS Restart Plan – September 2020

August 26, 2020Updated: November 18, 2020

Stage 2 Restart Plan

2020-2021 School Year

Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools395 Wakesiah AvenueNanaimo, BC V9R 3K6www.sd68.bc.ca

Table of Contents

NLPS Restart Plan – September 2020

NLPS Restart Plan – September 2020 Pg 2

Health and Safety Pg 3

Learning Groups Pg 12

Students with Diverse Abilities/Disabilities Pg 14

Transportation Pg 17

Communication and Engagement Pg 15

Success for All!

We acknowledge, respect and honour that we reside on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw, Stz’uminus, and Snaw-naw-as First Nations.

Introduction

School districts were expected to use a Ministry of Education template to outline their Stage 2 Restart Plan to begin the 2020-21 school year. Districts were directed to plan using information available in B.C.’s K-12 Education Restart Plan, Expectations for Each Stage summary and the revised BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K-12 School Settings.

Stage 2 plans followed WorkSafeBC guidelines.

NLPS Restart Plan – September 2020

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SchoolCommunity

Learning groups

Screeningfor illness

Strict illnessprotocols

Handwashing& sanitizing

Physical distancing

Cleaningstandards

PPE & masks

Charlene McKay School Trustee (Board Chair)

Scott SaywellSuperintendent

“Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated as we prepare Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools for the safest return to school possible.”

NLPS COVID-19 Continuity of Learning

Framework for Teaching & Learning from Home

Cleaning and disinfecting

Schools are cleaned and disinfected in accordance with the BCCDC’s Cleaning and Disinfectants for Public Settings document. In our schools, this looks like:

Health and Safety

Students bring in and take home their own school supplies and materials daily

Enforcing ‘no sharing’ policy for food, technology, art supplies, etc.

Disabled drinking fountains

Paper towels rather than hand dryers

Each classroom will have a spray bottle of Virox5 RTU disinfectant and gloves. SDS sheets for the Virox will be posted on the safety board in staff room and emailed to all Principals and Vice-Principals

Protocols for cleaning common devices like photocopiers and student technology

Custodians on dayshift for daytime disinfecting requirements and afternoon shift for remaining cleaning duties and disinfecting

General cleaning and disinfecting of the premises, once every 24 hours including:

⁻ Items that only a single student uses, like an individual desk or chair. Lockers will be bolted closed and not used

⁻ Cleaning and disinfecting - clean and disinfect any surface that is visibly dirty daily

⁻ Empty garbage containers daily

⁻ Wear disposable gloves when cleaning blood or body fluids (e.g., runny nose, vomit, stool, urine). Wash hands before wearing and after removing gloves

Staff

The demand on custodial staff will be high. Schools are asked to minimize impact by:

Having students thoroughly wipe feet before entering the building

Ensuring students and staff clean up after themselves

Custodial use of masks is required as they may be exposed to multiple learning groups in both elementary and secondary schools.

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Frequently touched classroom surfaces may be cleaned and disinfected by the classroom staff with ready-to-use Virox5 cleaner (as required), including:

⁻ Doorknobs, light switches, keyboards, toys

⁻ Classroom staff may leave a whiteboard note for the custodian

Frequently touched common area surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected at least twice a day by custodian with disinfectant cleaner including

⁻ Doorknobs, light switches, tables, toilet handles, washrooms

Secondary schools are having students wipe their own desk, chair and devices with Virox5 RTU or disinfectant wipes.

NLPS COVID-19 Continuity of Learning

Framework for Teaching & Learning from Home

Physical distancing strategies

Each classroom is set up to allow as much physical distancing and efficient cleaning as possible.

All hallways to be cleared to enable efficient cleaning and maximum physical distancing. No tables, chairs, etc. in hallways.

To enable additional cleaning and maximum space, unnecessary items will be removed from all classrooms, such as:

Removable carpets

Couches and extra chairs

If these extra items are personal items of the teachers, they are be taken home to avoid using up storage space at schools (i.e. Gyms, Multipurpose Rooms, etc.).

Operations will work closely with Principals and Vice-Principals at each school to coordinate and assist with room setups.

Signage for traffic flow will be posted throughout all district facilities. Floor markings have been ordered for:

Traffic flow throughout the school/facilities

Direct movement within the buildings (ex: arrows on floors/walls, closed signs)

Safe work zones

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Health and Safety

Hand HygieneThe NLPS Facilities Department is currently ensuring access to sinks focusing on 1) Portables without sinks; 2) Classes without sinks; and 3) Classrooms without hot water. Hand sanitizing dispensers have been installed in all school and district facilities to supplement handwashing.

Rigorous hand washing with plain soap and water is the most effective way to reduce the spread of illness. Both students and staff can pick up and spread germs easily, from objects, surfaces, food and people. Everyone should practice diligent hand hygiene. Parents and staff can teach and reinforce these practices amongst students.

The BCCDC handwashing posters are displayed in washrooms, at classroom sinks, at school entrances and at other handwashing sites.

NLPS COVID-19 Continuity of Learning

Framework for Teaching & Learning from Home

Inside Schools

Implementing learning groups of no more than 60 people (students and staff) in elementary schools.

Implementing learning groups of no more than 120 people (students and staff) in secondary schools.

A learning group is a group of students and staff who remain together throughout the school term.

Within the learning group, minimized physical contact should be encouraged, but a two-metre physical distance does not need to be maintained.

Support elementary aged students to have minimized physical contact with one another.

Continued practice of two-metre physical distancing of those outside a learning group when interacting with a learning group.

Staff and adults should maintain two-metres of physical distance from each other unless they are part of the same learning group. This includes break times and meetings.

Use of floor marking and posters to address the flow of traffic throughout the school, including one-way hallways and staircases, designated entrances and exit doors, and designated doors for students and staff.

Installation of barriers at reception areas and places where physical distancing cannot be maintained or persons interacting with multiple learning groups.

Outside

Elementary school students can socialize with peers from other learning groups providing they minimize physical contact.

Secondary school students must maintain two metresof physical distancing when socializing with peers from different learning groups.

Hand sanitizer is available in all classrooms without a sink (as of June 2020). Main entrance points were supplied with hand sanitizer stations in June. For September, we have approved 300 hand sanitizer stations (funded from the Ministry grant), installation is ongoing based on the availability of dispensers. This would see additional high-volume entryways provided with hand sanitizer stations and would upgrade classrooms with bottles of hand sanitizer to a wall mounted hand sanitizer station. Wall mounted stations will provide more security and ease of maintenance.

Further, we have reviewed and are in the design stage of a project to add sinks to every portable which does not currently have one. We confirmed by survey that all elementary classrooms have sinks (Secondary classrooms have hand sanitizer stations).

Health and Safety

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NLPS COVID-19 Continuity of Learning

Framework for Teaching & Learning from Home

School GatheringsSchool gatherings should occur within the learning group and not exceed the maximum size.

Minimize the amount of gathering throughout the year.

Implementation of these strategies

Stagger drop off and pick up, lunch and break times

Stagger classroom transition times

Avoid close greetings (e.g., hugs, handshakes)

Remind students about keeping their “hands to yourself”

Spread people out into different areas:

⁻ Identify break out/additional spaces for overflow

⁻ Reconfigure classroom so that students are not facing each other

⁻ Use consistent seating arrangements

Minimize the number of staff who interact with students in a day

Health and Safety

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The NLPS Central Health and Safety Committee became operational on February 3, 1997

The latest Central Health and Safety Committee meeting was October 21, 2020. The next one is November 18, 2020.

Minimize hallway travel:

⁻ Where possible, use exterior classroom doors

⁻ Stagger recess, snack, lunch and class transition times

Take students outside more often:

⁻ Schedule snack time, place-based learning and unstructured time outdoors

⁻ Take movement activities, including those for physical health and education outside

⁻ Playgrounds are safe environments. Ensure appropriate hand hygiene practices

Minimize group activities:

⁻ Adapt group activities to minimize physical contact and eliminate shared items

⁻ Hold virtual assemblies to minimize large numbers gathered in one space

NLPS COVID-19 Continuity of Learning

Framework for Teaching & Learning from Home

Strategies to ensure diligent hand hygiene

Encourage hand washing with water and soap upon arrival at school.

Regularly remind staff and students about the importance of diligent hand hygiene.

Incorporate additional hand hygiene opportunities into the daily schedule. Before and after breaks, before eating, using the washroom, and using gym/playground equipment.

Custodians will ensure hand washing supplies are well stocked at all times including soap, paper towels and where appropriate, alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHR) with a minimum of 60% alcohol.

Staff should assist younger students with hand hygiene as needed.

How to practice diligent hand hygiene

Wash hands with plain soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Antibacterial soap is not needed for COVID-19.

Hand sanitizing dispensers are located in all school entries to supplement hand washing.

If hands are visibly soiled, alcohol-based hand rub may not be effective at eliminating respiratory viruses. Soap and water are preferred when hands are visibly dirty.

Post the BCCDC’s hand washing poster in washrooms and at classroom sinks

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Health and Safety

Personal protective equipmentfor students and staff

NLPS ordered 5,500 reusable adult masks, 30,000 reusable masks for students and 15,000 disposable masks. The district is also sourcing face shields and will continue to source masks in order to meet the requirements. Each secondary student and staff member has been provided with two reusable masks. Masks are available for elementary school students upon request. Disposable masks will be available for use at all district facilities.

Where physical distancing cannot be maintained, and the person is interacting with people from outside their learning group, masks should be worn.

Managing students with complex behaviours, on a delegated care plan or experiencing a health emergency may require staff to be in close physical proximity with the student. No additional personal protective equipment is required (for reducing COVID-19 transmission) beyond precautions regularly taken or previously identified for the use with a specific student.

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Health and Safety

Masks are required for all staff and all students in secondary schools when they are in high traffic areas such as school buses and hallways, or anytime they are outside of their learning group and they cannot safely distance from others.

TTOCs, EAs, specialist teachers and other staff must wear masks when working in close proximity to students across different learning groups.

Students and staff will have the option to wear a mask in the classroom.

Bus drivers are encouraged to wear a mask or face covering when they cannot physically distance in the course of their duties.

Secondary students are required to wear masks on school buses.

Elementary school students are not required to wear masks but can wear one if they decide to do so.

Staff and students will still be required to maintain physical distance from people outside of their learning group.

Exceptions will be made for students who cannot wear a mask for medical reasons.

Symptom assessment and illness policies/procedures

Any student, staff or other person within the school who has symptoms of COVID-19 OR travelled outside Canada in the last 14 days OR was identified as a close contact of a confirmed case or outbreak MUST STAY HOME AND SELF ISOLATE.

Any student, staff, or other person within the school who has a cold, influenza, or COVID-19-like symptoms should seek assessment by a health-care provider.

Students or staff may still attend school if a member of their household has a cold, influenza, or COVID19-like symptoms, provided the student/staff is asymptomatic. It is expected the symptomatic household member is seeking assessment by a health-care provider.

Students and staff who experience seasonal allergies or other COVID-19-like symptoms, which are related to an existing condition can continue to attend school when they are experiencing these symptoms as normal. If they experience any change in symptoms, they should seek assessment by a health-care provider.

Parents and caregivers must assess their child daily for symptoms of the common cold, influenza, COVID-19, or other infectious respiratory disease before sending them to school. Staff and other adults must assess themselves daily for symptoms of the common cold, influenza, or COVID-19 prior to entering the school. If a child has any symptoms, they must not go to school. If staff or any adult has any symptoms, they must not enter the school.

If a staff member or student experiences symptoms of COVID-19 while at school, staff will immediately separate the symptomatic student or staff member from others and make arrangements for that student or staff member to be picked up. The regular school custodian will wipe the affected desk and chair with Virox5.

Parents and caregivers must assess their child(ren) daily for symptoms of common cold, influenza, COVID-19 or other infectious respiratory disease before sending them to school.

Staff and other adults must assess themselves daily for symptoms of common cold, influenza, COVID-19 or other infectious respiratory disease before sending them to school. If a child has any symptoms they must not go to school. If staff or any adult has any symptoms they must not go to school.

Island Health provides the return-date for those who are self-isolating.

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Health and Safety

Improvements to school ventilation systems (if required)

The NLPS Facilities Department is currently assessing all HVAC systems to review the ability to improve ventilation and increase fresh airflow in schools. Additionally, staff will check for duct cleanliness and provide recommendation(s) and priorities for consideration of a duct cleaning program. Staff will also continue to review the filter replacement program to ensure that replacement schedules are optimal and support current health and safety goals of the users.

Other Buildings/Issues

1. Inspect air to air heat exchangers in portables to ensure operational, repair if required. GI portables that are in use and lack ventilation have been identified and approved for upgrade.

2. Two elementary schools (CilaireElementary and Ladysmith Intermediate) have classrooms with no ventilation (solution open windows, and increase the heat as required). NLPS submitted a request for an upgrade to the heating system at Claire Elementary in the 5-year capital plan and we plan to include an upgrade to Ladysmith Intermediate in next years’ capital plan submission.

Buildings equipped with ventilation systems

1. August 18 - Ventilation rate on all air handlers has been changed by SD EST; increased to a minimum of 15% (more outside air being pulled in while system is running).

2. Systematic inspection, repair, and recommissioning of systems is progressing by HVAC department. They ensure all equipment is operational, coils washed with cleaning solution, and filters are changed 3 times/year –filters will be new for school start-up. They ensure ducting is clean and will provide feedback to the Manager.

a. NLPS reviewed the use of MERV 13 filters in our existing systems with our Mechanical engineer. Our air handler systems are not designed to use the higher rated MERV filters due to increased air flow restrictions. We will install MERV 13 filters in suitable equipment on the winter break. We will monitor for performance and effectiveness.

3. We plan to extend ventilation schedule beyond the final school bell, until 5:00 pm (pull outside air in for at least 2 hours after students leave)

4. Operations department to ‘Clorox 360’ all rooms starting after 6:00 pm, ventilation off. Buildings will be ‘clean’ for school start up next day. (ventilation to start in 1 hour prior to school session).

5. School staff should leave building before Chlorox cleaning (6:00 pm).

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Health and Safety

All staff entering all NLPS buildings will participate in the School Safety COVID-19 Pandemic Orientation.

School SitesPrincipals and vice-principals will schedule in person safety orientation with small groups: CUPE September 8 and 9, NDTA September 8 or 9.

All District SitesStaff to convene an onsite Site Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee meeting on August 31 to review the site specific WorkSafeBC COVID-19 Safety Plan. Convene a second Site Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee meeting on September 3 for a final inspection prior to the arrival of students to ensure preparation for safe work is completed.

All new NLPS staff will attend an online Safety Orientation on September 3. Once a staff person has been assigned to a school or district location, a site-specific safety orientation will be provided by the Principal, Vice-Principal or Manager. TTOCs and Itinerate staff will attend an online Safety Orientation on September 8 and 9.

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Health and Safety

Some Plexiglas barriers have been placed in offices. These adjustment are considered when issues are brought to the attention of the Facilities and Learning Services Departments via the EOC (Emergency Operations Committee). The process for adjustments is:

The staff member with the concern approach their manager.

The manager either puts an operational fix in place or gets the information to the department lead.

Department lead discusses the item at EOC.

EOC is then informed, discusses and direction/support is expressed.

Once supported, facilities staff would attend site with OH&S to meet with staff and supervisor to review and confirm solution or options.

Costs of solutions checked with Finance prior to proceeding.

When funding secured project scheduled and completed.

Operational adjustments may need to be made by the responsible manager, if the above solution is not in place when required.

Elementary Schools (Grades K-7)

Outdoors:

Elementary students are expected to minimize physical contact when outdoors. All elementary students can play outside together, and we are to teach, support and encourage minimizing physical contact.

Create smaller outdoor areas that are clearly defined within the property

Assign learning groups to each of the outdoor areas

Examples:

⁻ Large elementary schools of 425 students will have 10 outdoor 'regions' with purpose at each region (if playground equip, then that is purpose, if a field -equipment will be provided).

⁻ Learning groups assigned a region and these assignments will rotate throughout the week.

⁻ These regions will be available and assigned throughout the day, in addition to recess break, so that students have more opportunities to be outside.

⁻ Small elementary schools of 195 students and very small, urban school property will employ a combination of outdoor 'regions' and staggered recess times. Classroom changes will be staggered by learning groups, such as entry at the start of day and exit at end of day.

⁻ If classrooms don't have exterior door, the closest exterior door will become the entrance/exit.

NLPS has 28 elementary schools. There will be approximately two regular classes of 30 people in a learning group of no more than 60 people; learning groups will be comprised of two classrooms in close proximity and close in grade level. During non-instructional time such as breaks, students can socialize with peers in different learning groups if they are outdoors and can minimize physical contact or if they are indoors and can maintain physical distance.

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Learning Groups

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Learning Groups

Continuity of Learning Elementary Schools

Full-time instruction for all students for the maximum instructional time possible within cohort limits.

Focus on mental health and well-being supports for students returning to school.

In-class instruction and supports

Full-time instruction for students with disabilities/diverse abilities and students requiring additional support.

Options for students with underlying complex medical needs.

Alternative methods of delivery, to be jointly determined by boards of education and First Nations, for students from First Nations that remain closed and will not be sending students back in September.

In some cases, itinerant/non-enrolling staff may be assigned to a limited number of learning groups.

We have established online platforms that are supported by the district and are the only ones being used, with accompanying training. If a student is away due to self-isolation/quarantine, we can provide at-home learning based on the components of the BC Curriculum.

All of our secondary schools are building learning groups on a Quarter, or Copernican, system. This move from a semester system will ensure that learning groups are under 120 in size. Where possible, teaching assignments are being aligned with student learning groups to reduce the number of teachers that students interact with and to allow teachers to be members of the learning group. Where that is not possible, teachers will maintain physical distancing while working with students outside of their learning group.

Secondary Schools (Grades 8-12)

NLPS has six secondary schools (Grades 8-12), one Learning Alternative school (Grades 8-12), and one Distance Learning school (K-12). One secondary school has less than 300 students, two schools have between 300-800 students, two schools have between 800-1,500 students, and one school has over 1,500 students.

NLPS COVID-19 Continuity of Learning

Framework for Teaching & Learning from Home

Full Time Instruction for Students with Diverse Abilities/Disabilities

Where appropriate, vulnerable learners will be included in classroom activities with their usual teacher, peer group and Education Assistant, as part of a learning group.

Framework is being developed to support immunocompromised students

Tier 2 and 3 Support will continue with specialists such as speech-language pathologists or other specialist teachers, following district Health and Safety guidelines.

IEPs will be created for all students with Ministry designations.

Non-enrolling specialists, classroom teachers and/or Education Assistants will provide instruction and support.

School-Based Teams will collaborate with families and outside agencies as appropriate.

Updates to health and safety guidelines include details for working with students with health needs or who are unable to maintain social distance.

Students with Diverse Abilities/Disabilities

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Mental Health Supports

District-wide focus on Compassionate Learning Communities

Counsellors and CYFSWs will provide support for students and families.

Updated mental wellness resources for staff, students, parents on the district web portal.

Communication and Engagement

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GoalTo achieve maximum engagement of the student, parent and general population for the release of the September Restart Plan.

ObjectiveTo deliver the Restart Plan to 100 percent of registered students’ families and achieve 3,750 social media impressions between Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram (represents 25 percent of total student enrolment).

Tactics

1. Website: post Restart Plan on district website on or before August 26, 2020 (if approved early).

2. Social media: Begin sharing the plan on social media on or before August 26 (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram). Schedule recurring posts.

3. Video tour: Produce brief video of a school tour. Focus on learning groups, health and safety protocols. Gives students and families an idea of what to expect when they return to school. Post to YouTube beginning August 26.

4. School Messenger: Share Restart Plan directly with families on or before August 26. Send via email to approx. 15,000 student families.

5. Email to staff: Share the Restart Plan directly with staff via district email.

Key Publics Students, their families, stakeholders and general community

A. Demographics: Approx. 15,000 enrolled students from

Kindergarten to Grade 12 Parents, guardians, extended family

members of enrolled students Nationalities may include: Canadian,

Francophone, Aboriginal, Metis, Inuit, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Syrian, German, Italian, Southeast Asian and Filipino

Ages five to 100+ Full/part-time workers or stay-at-home

parent CUPE, NDTA, DPAC Snaw Naw As, Snuneymuxw and

Stz’uminus First Nations Mid-Island Metis Tillicum Lelum

B. Relationship with organization or issue: Students spend five days a week in building Parents trust school system with their

children Community partners (stakeholders)

C. Opinion leaders: Parent council representatives District parent council representatives Indigenous partners Stakeholders Student leaders Parent advocates

D. Viable communications channels: Social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,

Instagram) School Messenger (Email, SMS text, phone) District email Staff meetings (Microsoft Teams)

StrategyCommunicate with students, their families, stakeholders and general community on the district’s Restart Plan document via communications channels we employ.

Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools will continue to collaborate with our partners and stakeholders, including Indigenous Peoples to address any concerns.

Communication and Engagement

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NLPS has procedures for sick students on a bus - if a student has or is thought to have COVID-19 and has been on a bus – that bus will be taken from service until thoroughly cleaned and misted/sprayed with appropriate misting/spraying machines and virus/bacteria killing cleaning products.

NLPS has procedures for leaving students at bus stops due to lowered capacity bus overloads - bus will wait with student(s) until family or school staff has made arrangements with the student.

NLPS will continue to encourage private vehicle use for student transportation where possible to promote physical distancing and reducing the number of passengers on our buses.

NLPS will operate all bus routes, including special needs routes and routes that provide service to First Nations Students. Routes will be adjusted as needed based on load sizes and service requirements and school bell schedules may also be adjusted or allowances made for students arriving late due to bus routes being changed or extended. The use of bus pass cards will be enforced to ensure we have an accurate ridership list, for contact reasons, in the event of an infection on the bus.

Buses will continue to be cleaned and disinfected in accordance with the BCCDC’s Cleaning and Disinfectants for Public Settings document. Buses will also receive wipe downs of high touch surfaces between passenger loads and general cleaning as was performed pre-pandemic. Each bus has been supplied with a pandemic kit which contains: gloves, disposable masks, hand sanitizer, and hand sanitizing wipes. A temporary barrier between the driver and passengers has been installed on each bus.

Transportation

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Strategies to ensure safety on buses

• Where possible, students will sit one per seat and will sit up against the window to better separate students side to side and front to back.

• If due to bus load size, students cannot sit one per seat, students will sit two per seat with attempts at seating students with siblings or cohort groups. If due to load size, students cannot sit two per seat, students will sit three per seat with attempts at seating students with siblings or cohort groups.

• Separate students side to side/front to back

• Request secondary students wear a mask while on the bus

• Bus driving staff will have the option of wearing a mask or face shield when transporting special needs students

• Disposable gloves will be supplied to bus driving staff

• Supply hand sanitizer for staff and student passengers

• Supply re-useable masks for bus driving staff

• Make disposable masks available in the event secondary students forget their mask

NLPS implemented the 2019-2020 Joint Transportation Plan as submitted. Partners will continue discussions on effectiveness of the 2019-2020 plan, given the challenges presented by the pandemic, and submit plans for 2020-21 by the October 30 deadline.

Transportation

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Student transportation on buses

The key change from June 2020 is that staff and students will be supplied with reusable masks and secondary students will be required to wear masks while riding the bus.

Stage 2 Restart Plan

2020-2021 School Year

Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools395 Wakesiah AvenueNanaimo, BC V9R 3K6www.sd68.bc.ca