2021-22 Back to School Plan

Management of ill persons

The district requires students, faculty or staff members who develop COVID-19 symptoms during the school day to report to the nurse’s office. Employees also are required to notify their supervisor. If there are several students waiting to see the school nurse, students must wait at least 3 feet apart.

The district has designated areas to separate individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 from others until they can go home or to a healthcare facility, depending on severity of illness. One area will be used to treat injuries, provide medications or nursing treatments, and the other area will be used for assessing and caring for ill students and staff. Both areas will be supervised by an adult and have easy access to a bathroom and sink with hand hygiene supplies.

PPE requirements for school health office staff caring for sick individuals include both standard and transmission-based precautions. In areas with moderate to high community transmission, eye protection (e.g., goggles or face shield) should be added. When caring for a suspected or confirmed individual with COVID-19, gloves, a gown, eye protection and a fit-tested N-95 respirator will be used, if available. If an N-95 respirator is not available, a surgical facemask and face shield will be used.

School health office cleaning will occur after each use of cots, bathrooms and health office equipment (e.g., blood pressure cuffs, otoscopes, stethoscopes). Health office equipment will be cleaned following manufacturer’s directions.

Disposable items will be used as much as possible (e.g., disposable pillow protectors, disposable thermometers, disposable thermometer sheaths or probes, disposable otoscope specula).

Symptoms of COVID-19 at school

The district requires students or staff with a temperature of 100.0°F or greater, signs of illness and/or a positive COVID-19 test to be sent directly to the building’s dedicated isolation area where students are supervised, prior to being picked up or otherwise sent home.

Students will be supervised at all times in a designated isolation area while awaiting transport home and will maintain social distancing of at least 3 feet. Students will be escorted from the isolation area to their parent or guardian. Students or employees will be referred to visit their healthcare provider and given resources on COVID-19 testing, which will be strongly encouraged.

The City School District of Albany continues to work in collaboration with our state and local health and education partners and medical professionals to review the latest COVID-19 guidance and recommendations. As new information is provided to us, we will update this document accordingly.