Updated May 4, 2020
The safety of our staff, students and community will always be our top priority. We realize that there may be times when staff or students need to be in our buildings during the school closure related to COVID-19/Coronavirus. In order to minimize the risk of contamination of our schools, and to ensure that everyone who is in these spaces remains as healthy as possible, we have created the following protocols and precautions. These are based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), New York State Health Department and Fulton County Department of Health:
- Visits/work sessions in district spaces must be prearranged. The superintendent and/or school principals will coordinate any visits to their buildings, accompany anyone other than staff members to their destination (for example, a student who has arranged for technical support at school for their Chromebook), wait with that individual and accompany them out of the building. Social distancing protocols will be followed at all times (distance of 6 feet minimum separation).
- Visits to the school buildings during this time will be limited only to essential business with administrative approval.
- Use of face coverings. Per Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order, and effective Wednesday, April 15, 2020, all essential staff working in school buildings and other parts of the Mayfield campus will be provided with face masks (cloth or disposable) to wear when interacting with the public and other staff who may also be in these workspaces. Staff who are now working remotely, but have arranged to visit or work in school buildings or other district spaces, will be required to wear face coverings during their time on campus.
- Preparing of student work packets. Teachers and other essential staff who need to work at school to prepare student learning packets during the school closure will follow the safety precautions we have put in place to ensure COVID-19 protocols are met. Based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Fulton County Department of Health, student work packets prepared by staff will be quarantined for 72 hours before distribution.
- Minimizing staff/visitor contact with buildings/surfaces. Visitor/staff “traffic flow” will be organized in order to minimize the number of spaces and surfaces people come in contact with while visiting/working. Gloves, disinfecting cleaner, paper towels and tissues will be available in each of these spaces. Surfaces and tools used to produce student work (for example workroom countertops, photocopiers, work tools such as scissors and staplers) will be wiped down before and after each use.
- Use of workspaces and tools in district buildings. Staff will be reminded to avoid using other employees’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment. If necessary, staff should clean and disinfect these spaces and tools before and after use.
- Maintaining social distance. Staff are reminded to remain at a minimum of 6 feet from each other at all times.
- Cleaning of district buildings/spaces. Additionally, visitor/staff traffic areas will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected by our maintenance staff at the conclusion of each visit/work session (view a list of products that meet the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2). This will include, but is not limited to, frequently touched objects and surfaces such as workstations, keyboards, telephones, handrails and doorknobs.
- Staff/visitors are encouraged to stay home if sick. As always, staff and visitors are reminded if they or person living in their home is sick, or is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or cold or flu-like symptoms, they should not visit school buildings. Learn what to do if you or someone in your house is sick.