2020 Supplemental Reopening Plan

Remote learning is a model that brings a range of teaching methods and materials together to assure dynamic teaching and learning takes place when school buildings cannot be open.  High-quality remote learning and teaching require knowledge of the curriculum, awareness of student populations, planning, and creativity to assure that all students learn in an equitable manner, relative to the standards. 

In order to assure successful remote learning, OU BOCES has designed our implementation of this model to meet the needs of the students in our two student-facing divisions: Special Education and Career and Technical Education.  There are approximately 1,000 students enrolled in our grades K-12 Special Education Division and 1800 students in our grades 11-12 Career and Technical Education Division. 

In order to assure high-quality outcomes for all learners, our remote learning uses: 

• low tech and high tech options, 
• traditional/classic and innovative methods, as well as  
• hands-on manipulatives/materials/books/ebooks.

With the inclusion of quality virtual and actual materials, we are providing remote learning that mirrors our hybrid and full-time live, in-person instructional practice and vision.  This continuity of teaching and learning is foundational to reaching all students and assuring access and engagement for all.  At the heart of our remote learning model is a blend of synchronous and asynchronous learning experiences provided by our teachers on an ongoing basis. 

Access to technology is essential for the successful roll-out of this plan. In order to make remote learning mirror our hybrid and full-time live, in-person instructional practice and vision, we have issued students a learning device (chromebooks or laptop.)  We operate a multi-lingual technology help desk for students and their families to make sure that when learning is occurring remotely, there is support for any questions or issues they may experience.  Our student and family help desk is reachable at helpdesk@ouboces.org.  All devices are distributed with information on vendors who provide free internet access options. In the event students do not have sufficient access to devices and/or high-speed internet, OU BOCES will provide the students with alternate methods to access materials and instruction - pick up materials at school, drop off materials to students’ homes, etc. OU BOCES will also schedule opportunities to connect with families to educate them on how to use the technologies and connect to the instructional activities.

The in-person, hybrid, and remote 2020-21 curriculum will address any achievement gaps that may have occurred due to the extended school closure.  We will identify key standards and skills that students must know and be able to demonstrate understanding in order to be successful going forward.  Pacing charts and key instructional strategies will be used so that the curriculum is taught with equity at the forefront of educators’  thinking. These instructional strategies will be used during in-person learning, hybrid learning, and remote learning. 

The school schedules below have been developed to address in-person, hybrid and remote learning for Special Education and Career & Technical Education students.

Special Education

The Division of Special Education operates programs for students from 5 to 21 in center-based and satellite locations throughout Orange County. Student schedules are individualized according to their IEP and in accordance with New York State Education Department’s requirements for graduation.
The charts below represent samples of student learning schedules for an elementary self-contained program for students with multiple disabilities and for a secondary program, which serves students in a Regents track program.  

Student schedules will be created on an individual basis following all services outlined in the students’ IEP.  Following a period by period schedule, instruction will include a greater emphasis on synchronous instruction, with teachers providing live instruction and lessons to students where possible. Teachers will ensure that their students are directly engaged with them and their class peers in experiential learning on a regular basis.

In-Person and Remote Elementary Special Education Schedule

   

In-Person and Remote Secondary Special Education Schedule

Career and Technical Education

When school reopens in the fall, CTE students will be able to demonstrate mastery of learning standards through instruction offered using a blended model.  CTE technical and academic instructors will deliver synchronous and asynchronous lessons via Google Classroom as part of the remote learning experience for students. These instructional experiences will be immersed in theory and supplement the practical, hands-on experiences students may receive. Students will receive a “Week at a Glance” document each week from their instructors to help them complete assigned tasks and follow a schedule of activities.

For our remote learning sessions, students assigned in the AM session will be required to be available for online activities between 8:05-10:35 a.m. For our PM students, students will be required to be available online between 12:30-3:00 p.m.  A mandatory check-in time for AM students will be 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. for PM students using Google Forms. Students will complete a daily questionnaire using a Google Form to log in for attendance purposes. At the discretion of the teachers, students will be required to complete independent activities or engage in synchronous or asynchronous events as scheduled. Morning students will log into their Google Classrooms between 10:00-10:35 a.m. for virtual log-in sessions with their instructors or advisory personnel for critical feedback (Teaching Assistants or Occupational Aides). Afternoon students will log into their Google Classrooms between 2:30-3:00 p.m.  

Students will be required to complete tasks, projects, or independent activities during these online sessions. 

Beginning on May 3, 2021 CTE students will be invited to return to the Arden Hill and Gibson Road Campus five days per week. In the recent interim guidance from the NYSDOH, it was recommended that schools in counties with high risk of transmission maintain physical distancing of at least three feet between students in classrooms and use cohorting. Cohorting is defined as self-contained, pre-assigned groups of students with reasonable group size limits.

CTE students are currently in smaller pre-assigned groups and are already cohorted due to the half-day scheduling of students. Our classrooms and labs provide for ample space to maintain physical distance of at least three feet. In our efforts to assess our community and students’ desire to return to in-person five days per week, we surveyed over 1700 families. The responses were 75% in favor of five days per week. For those who indicated they did not want their student to return five days a week, they will continue to follow the hybrid model.

The chart below represents two scenarios for student learning in different options for re-opening.  The Blended Hybrid 50/50 Capacity Model is designed to meet and maintain the six (6) feet social distancing guidelines as required by New York State. The model reduces the attendance for students each day by 50%

Blended Hybrid Model: 50/50 Capacity Rotating Schedule

 

• Emergency Response - Employees or students with symptoms of illness must be sent to the designated isolation room where the school nurse (Registered Professional Nurse, RN) will assess individuals. Chronic conditions such as asthma and allergies or chronic gastrointestinal issues may present as symptoms of COVID-19; they are neither contagious nor pose a public health threat. Proper PPE will be required any time a nurse may be in contact with a potential COVID-19 patient.
• Isolation - Students suspected of having COVID-19, awaiting transport home by a parent/guardian, will be isolated in a designated isolation room with a supervising adult present, utilizing appropriate PPE. Multiple students suspected of COVID-19 may be in an isolation room, if they can be separated by at least six (6) feet. If they cannot be isolated in a separate room from others, face covering (e.g., cloth or surgical mask) will be provided to the student, if the ill person can tolerate wearing it and does not have difficulty breathing, to prevent the possible transmission of the virus to others while waiting for transportation home.

Orange-Ulster BOCES will continue to assist the Orange County Department of Health with contact tracing in order to expedite notification to individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 in accordance with Guidance on the Contacts of a Close or Proximate Contact of a Confirmed or Suspected Case of COVID-19 issued by the New York State Department of Health.  In order to properly identify those who are direct or proximate contacts of the infected individual, the following has been established:

• All classrooms, offices, break rooms and separate buildings (maintenance buildings, etc.) will require “signing in” of all persons who enter these spaces.  Anyone entering these spaces must sign in and out regardless of the amount of time spent in the space.  The logs for each space will be forwarded to StaySafe@ouboces.org at the end of each work day.
• Custodians, maintenance personnel, technicians and other staff who must move about because of the nature of their job responsibilities must maintain a personal log and submit to StaySafe@ouboces.org at the end of each workday.  In addition, custodial staff must maintain and submit their Daily Cleaning Log each day and submit to their supervisor at the conclusion of each day.
• BOCES staff, usually the school nurse or program principal will immediately complete the Orange County Department of Health Call Center Pre K-12 Reporting Form when notified of a positive student or staff member.  This form will be forwarded to the COVID Compliance Office to initiate reporting of the case to the DOH as well as begin pulling contact tracing sheets from the archive.  Sheets will be forwarded to the program POC who will then identify all individuals who have had direct or proximate contact of at least 10 cumulative minutes.  Based on this information, the Orange County Department of Health Close Contact Identification for Contact Tracing sheet will be completed in order to generate a list of contacts for the Orange County Department of Health.  Based on contact dates, mandatory or precautionary quarantine will be advised by BOCES and confirmed by the OC DOH.

To ensure the OU BOCES employees comply with contact tracing and disinfection requirements, we will do the following: 

• Have a plan for cleaning, disinfection, and notifying Public Health in the event of a positive case.  In the case of an employee testing positive for COVID-19, CDC guidelines will be followed regarding cleaning and disinfecting the building or facility if someone in which someone has been identified as sick. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019 ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html
• Close off areas used by the person who is sick.
• Open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in the area.
• Wait 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting. If 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible.
• Clean and disinfect all areas used by the person who is sick, such as offices, bathrooms, common areas, shared electronic equipment like tablets, touch screens, keyboards, remote controls, and copier machines.
• Vacuum the space if needed. Use a vacuum equipped with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, if available.
• Consider temporarily turning off room fans and the central HVAC system that services the room or space, so that particles that escape from vacuuming will not circulate throughout the facility.
• Workers without close contact with the person who is sick can return to work immediately after disinfection.

Working collaboratively with the Orange County Health Department, we have been provided with testing locations throughout the County.  Staff and students will be provided with this information so they may choose a location that best meets their needs and where they live.

COVID-19 Testing Information

Steven M. Neuhaus, Orange County Executive  -   Dr. Irina Gelman, Commissioner of Health

Question	COVID-19 (Swab Test)	Antibody Test (Fingerstick or Vein)
What is it testing?	Tells you if you are currently infected and/or contagious for COVID-19	Test you for previous infection. Test for immune system molecules that fight off the virus.
Will this test determine if I am currently contagious?	Yes	No
What is the test like?	Q-tip swab in the mouth or nose	Simple blood sample
When is the disease detected?	2-3 days after contracting virus	Cannot be detected for up to  10-14 days after contracting virus
How long will it take to get results?	3-4 days	1-2 days

 

COVID-19 Testing Locations

Disclaimer: Below is not a complete list of all testing facilities and is accurate as of the date of creation of this document (May 8). Please contact your primary care provider or hospital for updated testing information.

Facility	COVID-19 Testing (Standard or Rapid)	Antibody Testing (Finger Stick or Vein)
Anthony Wayne Recreation (888) 364-3065 APPOINTMENT IS REQUIRED. Individuals who would like to be tested must make an appointment by calling NYS COVID-19 Hotline 888-364-3065. NO WALK-INS allowed. All patients must remain in the vehicle.	Standard	N/A
Bon Secours (845) 858-7000	Standard	Vein
Cornerstone Healthcare (845) 563-8000	Standard	Vein
Crystal Run Healthcare (845) 703-6999	Standard	Vein
Elite Healthcare (845) 782-4000	Standard	Vein
Excel & Orange Urgent Care (845) 703-2273	Standard	Vein
Ezra Choilim (845) 782-3242	Standard	N/A
Horizon Family Medical Group (800) 859-0085	Rapid	Vein
Middletown Medical	Rapid	Vein
Orange Regional Medical Center (845) 333-1000	Standard	N/A
Rambam Care (845) 472-6226	Standard	Vein
Rite-Aid (657 Broadway Newburgh)	Standard	N/A
Rite-Aid (393 Windsor Highway, New Windsor)	Standard	N/A
St. Anthony’s (845) 986-2276	Standard	Vein

OU BOCES will take the following actions related to COVID-19 symptoms or exposure.

Schools must follow guidance from New York State Education, state and local health departments and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) for allowing a student or staff member to return to school after exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, or testing positive for COVID-19.

A health care provider’s note will be required to return to school if any member of the school (student, staff, or faculty) is not attending due to potential symptom(s) of COVID-19 or a confirmed positive/ diagnosis of COVID-19.

1. For a COVID-Related Symptom: If a student/staff/faculty member displays a COVID-19-related symptom, they must obtain a healthcare provider note to return to school. Symptoms of COVID-19 include but are NOT limited to: fever or chills (100 degrees F or greater), persistent cough, shortness of breath of difficulty breathing, extreme fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,unexplained rash, pinkeye.
2. For Pertinent Exposure: Pursuant to recent Orange County Department of Health Guidance, OUBOCES staff may request clearance to return to work from the school nurse. To request clearance please contact the school nurse. You will then be sent the “Return to School/Work Following District Ordered Quarantine Questionnaire” to be completed. *This is only for student/staff/faculty quarantined due to an exposure at OUBOCES.*

A note from a medical provider is required when returning to school/work after illness or an outside COVID exposure. Please note, this documentation from your medical provider must indicate that you are clear to return to school/work and are not suffering from any symptoms of COVID-19.

The following events would allow clearance from your school nurse prior to your return to school/work:
1. You have been exposed to someone who has tested positive to COVID-19 at OUBOCES ONLY

The following events would require a note from your medical provider prior to your return to school/work:
1. You have tested positive for COVID-19:
2. You have been exposed outside of OUBOCES to a COVID-19 positive individual (this requires a mandatory 10 day precautionary quarantine under the direction of a medical provider or a Department of Health order)

*All staff returning to work from a quarantine due to any COVID-19 exposure or positive COVID-19 test must also provide a quarantine release notice from their local Department of Health.*
- Orange County, NY residents can obtain a Department of Health Clearance with the link provided below: https://www.orangecountygov.com/1936/Coronavirus
- Staff residing outside of Orange County, NY please contact your local Department of Health 

3. Following COVID-19 Diagnosis and Subsequent Isolation Period: If a student/staff/faculty member tests positive for the virus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19, they must have a health care provider note AND the following conditions must be met:

• symptom resolution, at least 10 days have passed since the onset of symptoms for symptomatic individuals or 10 days from the collection date (test date) of the positive COVID-19 test for asymptomatic individuals;
• AND at least 24 hours have passed since the resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medication. 

A negative COVID-19 test will not be required, unless specifically requested by the Department of Health, but may be provided in addition to the health care provider’s note.

Healthcare provider notes must include AT MINIMUM the following information: 

1. The individual is cleared to return to school/work. 
2. The individual has an alternate diagnosis unrelated to COVID (for scenario number 1 above) OR the individual has no subsequent illness after completing their quarantine period (for scenario 2 above) OR the individual has successfully completed their isolation period and meet the current CDC clearance guidance (for scenario 3 above). 
3. The alternate diagnosis does not have to be listed in the note, but may need to be discussed confidentially with the school nurse and/ or the local health department.

The health care provider clearance note will assist with mitigating the potential risk of exposure to COVID-19 in a congregate school environment, as we work collectively to ensure the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and residents. 

School nurses CAN use their clinical judgment when deciding to send a child or staff/faculty member home from school or work due to suspected potential COVID-19-related illness, and or based on exposure potential. 

Please note that individuals exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 will need to quarantine for 10 days from their last date of exposure, however after day 10 is reached, individuals must continue monitoring for symptoms through day 14 and if any develop, they should immediately self-isolate and contact their local health department or their healthcare provider to report this change. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 may be released from isolation as soon as 10 days depending on symptom resolution. This is due to the incubation period of the virus, how long it may take someone
to become ill after being exposed to the virus.

Consistent with recent CDC guidance, quarantine for individuals exposed to COVID-19 can end after ten
days without a testing requirement if no symptoms have been reported during the quarantine period.

• Individuals must continue daily symptom monitoring through Day 14;
• Individuals must be counseled to continue strict adherence to all recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions, including hand hygiene and the use of face coverings, through Day 14.
• Individuals must be advised that if any symptoms develop, they should immediately self-isolate and contact the local public health authority or their healthcare provider to report this change in clinical status and determine if they should seek testing.

Consistent with recent CDC guidance, asymptomatic individuals who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 do not need to quarantine after full vaccination, if the following criteria are met:

• Are fully vaccinated (i.e., ≥2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series,  or ≥2 weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine); AND
• Have remained asymptomatic since last COVID-19 exposure.

Individuals who do not meet both of the above criteria and who have been exposed to someone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 are required to quarantine for ten days. Consistent with previous CDC guidance, there is no testing requirement to end the quarantine if no symptoms have been reported during the quarantine period. However, a test should be sought immediately if any symptoms develop during the fourteen days after exposure.

Consistent with CDC guidance from February 13, 2021, asymptomatic individuals who have previously been diagnosed with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 and have since recovered, are not required to retest and quarantine within3 months after the date of symptom onset from the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection or date of first positive diagnostic test if asymptomatic during illness.

While COVID-19 vaccines have demonstrated high efficacy at preventing severe and symptomatic COVID-19, there is currently limited information on how much the vaccines might reduce transmission, how long protection lasts, and the efficacy of vaccines against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. Additionally, some individuals who were previously infected with COVID-19 have been reinfected at a later time. Therefore, regardless of quarantine status, all individuals exposed to COVID-19 must:

• Continue daily symptom monitoring through Day 14;
• Continue strict adherence to all recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions, including hand hygiene and the use of face coverings, through Day 14 (even if fully vaccinated);
• Immediately self-isolate if any symptoms develop and contact the local public health authority or their health care provider to report this change in clinical status and determine if they should seek testing.

This supersedes the previously issued April 1, 2021 guidance for Interim Guidance for Quarantine Restrictions on Travelers Arriving in New York State Following Out of State Travel and aligns with CDC requirements and recommendations for domestic and international travel released April 2, 2021.

General Updates and Definitions

• Fully vaccinated is defined as being 2 or more weeks after the final dose (e.g., first for Janssen/Johnson & Johnson, second for Pfizer and Moderna) of the vaccine approved by the FDA or authorized by the FDA for emergency use.
  • Vaccines that are not authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use or approved by the FDA do not satisfy this definition.
• Recently recovered is defined as 1) recovered from laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 by meeting the criteria for discontinuation of isolation, 2) within the 3-month period between date of arrival in New York and either the initial onset of symptoms related to the laboratory confirmed COVID-19 infection or, if asymptomatic during the illness, the date of the laboratory confirmed test, and 3) asymptomatic after travel or new exposure.
• CDC and NYS recommend delaying international travel until the traveler is fully vaccinated.
• All travelers must complete the NYS Travel Form unless the traveler had left New York for less than 24 hours or is coming to New York from a contiguous state (i.e., Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont).

Domestic Travel

• Domestic travel is defined as travel lasting 24 hours or longer to states or US territories other than contiguous states (i.e., Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont).
• There are generally no quarantine, work furlough, or testing requirements for asymptomatic domestic travelers. Exceptions:
  • Unvaccinated health care personnel who have not recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months and who work in nursing homes, enhanced assisted living residences (EALRs) or assisted living programs (ALPs) must furlough for 14 days after arrival in New York, consistent with CDC recommendations to avoid contact with people at higher risk for severe disease for 14 days after travel.
  • All unvaccinated domestic travelers who have not recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months are recommended to get tested 3-5 days after arrival in New York, consider non-mandated self-quarantine (7 days if tested on day 3-5, otherwise 10 days), and avoid contact with people at higher risk for severe disease for 14 days, regardless of test result.

International Travel

• All international travelers must comply with all CDC requirements, which currently include proof of negative test or recent COVID recovery in order to board airplanes headed to the US.
• Currently CDC does not require quarantine, work furlough, or testing requirements for asymptomatic international travelers.
• New York follows that recommendation with the following exceptions:
  • Unvaccinated health care personnel who have not recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months and who work in nursing homes, enhanced assisted living residences (EALRs) or assisted living programs (ALPs) must furlough for 14 days after arrival in New York from international travel, consistent with CDC recommendations to avoid contact with people at higher risk for severe disease for 14 days after travel.
  • Unvaccinated health care personnel who have not recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months working in all other health care settings must furlough for 7 days with a test on day 3-5 after arrival in New York from international travel, or furlough for 10 days if not tested.
  • Fully vaccinated individuals who have not recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months are recommended to get tested 3-5 days after arrival in New York from international travel.
  • All unvaccinated international travelers who have not recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months are recommended to get tested 3-5 days after arrival in New York, consider non-mandated self-quarantine (7 days if tested on day 3-5, otherwise 10 days), and avoid contact with people at higher risk for severe disease for 14 days, regardless of test result.
• Travelers from Canada, crossing at land borders subject to the agreement between the governments of the United States and Canada, are permitted to travel in accordance with said federal agreement and need not quarantine solely due to such federally authorized travel.

Recommendations for non-mandated self-quarantine

• As noted above, in some situations quarantine may be recommended but not required.
• For situations where quarantine is recommended under this guidance, employers may develop policies for travel that either do or do not require furlough of affected staff.
• In addition, pursuant to Executive Order 202.60, as extended, any New York State resident who voluntarily travels to another state or country for travel that was not taken as part of the person’s employment nor at the direction of the person’s employer, will not be eligible for 3 benefits under New York’s COVID-19 paid sick leave law, although an employer may voluntarily provide such leave.
• Regardless of any employer furlough requirements, individuals should self-quarantine when not at work, avoiding large gatherings or exposure to individuals at high risk.

Precautions for All Travelers

Irrespective of quarantine or vaccination status, all travelers should:

• Monitor symptoms daily from day of arrival in New York through day 14;
• Continue strict adherence to all recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions, including hand hygiene and the use of face coverings, through Day 14 (even if fully vaccinated); and
• Immediately self-isolate if any symptoms develop and contact the local public health authority or their health care provider to report this change in clinical status and determine if they should seek testing

How to Quarantine

International travelers to New York who are required to quarantine must comply with the following quarantine guidance. More information on safe quarantine is available here.

• The individual must not be in public or otherwise leave the quarters that they have identified as suitable for their quarantine.
• The individual must be situated in separate quarters with a separate bathroom facility for each individual or family group. Access to a sink with soap, water, and paper towels is necessary. Cleaning supplies (e.g., household cleaning wipes, bleach) must be provided in any shared bathroom.
• The individual must have a way to self-quarantine from household members as soon as fever or other symptoms develop, in a separate room(s) with a separate door. Given that an exposed person might become ill while sleeping, the exposed person must sleep in a separate bedroom from household members.
• Food must be delivered to the person’s quarters.
• Quarters must have a supply of face masks for individuals to put on if they become symptomatic.
• Garbage must be bagged and left outside for routine pick up. Special handling is not required.
• A system for temperature and symptom monitoring must be implemented to provide assessment in-place for the quarantined persons in their separate quarters.
• Nearby medical facilities must be notified, if the individual begins to experience more than mild symptoms and may require medical assistance.
• The quarters must be secure against unauthorized access.

Travel Advisory Exemptions

NYS does not grant exemptions from the travel advisory for international travel. For more information, international travelers should consult the CDC website.

Resources

Travel restrictions will help to contain the rates of COVID-19 transmission in New York State and will work to protect others from serious illness. All New Yorkers must take these travel directives seriously. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. For further information, please visit:

• DOH COVID-19 Website
• NYS Local Health Department Directory
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Website
• World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Website

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