By: William Leslie
Points below were extracted from two documents so you don鈥檛 have to read 168 pages of State Department of Health & State Education Department Master Guidance (Link Here:
Reference to those documents are listed below. Page numbers are listed before most points. If using a point with administration, committee, teacher, union. Read, quote and reference from the original document so you have the correct context. Hope this helps all of us.
Interim Guidance for In-Person Instruction at Pre-K to Grade 12 Schools during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
New York State Health Department Master Guidance
Prioritize courses with in person lab settings.
Prepare for intermittent school closings
Face covering training
Not sharing workstations, desks, tables other surfaces without cleaning and disinfection between uses
If cohort-grouping model is used cleaning can be preformed between groups instead of between individual students
Faculty & Staff Meetings 鈥� Video conferencing or locations that provide spacing between individuals may be maintained
Increase Ventilation
Put in place plans or measures to limit sharing of objects; tools hand hygiene before & after use
Face coverings may be homemade, quick cut bandana, cover nose & mouth
A face shield worn alone is not considered an acceptable face covering
Executive Order 202.16 requires the school to provide PPE to staff at no cost
Staff are allow to use their own acceptable use face coverings
Students must be provided acceptable face coverings at no cost if they do not have their own
Hand hygiene must be taught
Over the counter alcohol based hand sanitizers are to be permitted
Page 15 – Cleaning and disinfection are the primary responsibility of the school鈥檚 custodial staff.
Hand free dispensers if possible
Materials and tools used by employees are to be regularly cleaned
Page 16 – Material or machinery, if unable to be cleaned in between uses
Or …If cleaning presents a hazard to the machinery or equipment
Gloves are to be provided/hand-washing station available
Page 17 – Students must be taught/trained on protocols, hand hygiene, proper face coverings wearing, social distancing and respiratory hygiene
Page 18 – Mandatory health screenings, including temperature checks of students, faculty, staff and others
All individuals must have their temperature checked each day, ideally at home prior to school 鈥� before entering school a temperature greater than 100.0 the individual must be denied entry, or sent to a dedicated area to be picked up or sent home.
Page 19 – School faculty and staff reporting to school must use a daily screening questionnaire
Students must use a questionnaire periodically and may require parent/guardian assistance to complete
May be done remotely, electronically and prior to school or performed at school
It should identify students & individuals who should not attend school
Must ask:
In the past 14 days:
Been in close proximity to someone with symptoms of COVID-19
Been in close proximity to someone who has tested positive for COVID-
Tested positive for COVID-19
Experienced any symptoms of COVID-19
Has a temperature greater than 100.0
Traveled internationally
Traveled to a state with widespread community transmission of COVID-19 per NYS Travel Advisory
Any gastrointestinal tract symptoms
Any individual answering yes to any question, if screened at school must be immediately sent home with instructions to contact their health provider for assessment and testing. Students being sent home must be immediately separated and supervised until picked up. If diagnostic results are positive school must notify local and state health departments
Page 20 – Personnel performing screening must be appropriately protected & must be trained.
Page 20 – When caring for a suspected or confirmed individual gloves, gown, and fit tested n-95 respirator, surgical face mask, face shield and eye protection should be used.
Page 21 – Confidentially must be maintained of individuals testing positive
A reporting plan must be in place to notify all individuals that had close contact with someone who has tested positive
Recovering, Rebuilding, and Renewing: The Spirt of New York鈥檚 Schools Reopening Guidance
Page 7 – Maintain social distancing during emergency drills
Social distance during bus unloading times
Students and drivers must wear masks on the school bus
Page 8 – Schools must have a mechanism to report daily attendance in remote or hybrid settings
use a variety of creative methods to reach out to students and families who have not engaged in distance learning
Page 9 – Communicate instructional plans with parents/guardians
flexibility with the 180 min of Unit of study instruction requirements
Page 15 – Regular and frequent communication between schools, families, and the wider community has always been an essential element of effective family and community engagement.
Page 17 – Schools must maintain social distancing to reopen
PPE availability
Safe transportation
Local hospital capacity
Page 18 -Ensure all persons in the building must maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet whenever possible
Establish protocol for students to take mask breaks
Page 20 – Parents/guardians and staff must conduct a health check before coming to school
Page 21 – Most common symptoms:
– Fever chills 100 or greater
– Cough
– Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
– Fatigue
– Muscle or body aches
– Headache
– New loss of taste or smell
– Sore throat
– Congestion or runny nose
– Nausea or vomiting
– Diarrhea
– Staff must observe students for signs of illness:
– Flushed cheeks
– Rapid or difficulty breathing
– Fatigue
– Irritability
– Frequent bathroom use
Individuals exhibiting these signs should be sent to the nurse for assessment
Anyone with 100 or greater temperature or answering yes to an above screening question is to be sent home immediately
Page 23 – Screening questions may be answered on an app, online, via phone or on paper
Page 24 – Staff members may perform temperature screenings if trained
Staff supervising those being temperature checked must ensure social distancing of students
PPE or barriers for staff members who are conducting the screenings
Page 26 – Classrooms must have highly visible signage for hygiene practices
Page 28 – At a minimum students and staff should wash hands when entering the building and each classroom and:
– after using tools
– before and after snacks and lunch
– after using the bathroom
– after coming in from outdoors
– other examples listed
Page 28 – Tissues should be supplies in each classroom
Page 29 – Stagger arrival and dismissal
Size groups/cohorts in each classroom to maintain 6 feet social distancing
Reduce in school movement
Special area teachers may go to individuals classrooms versus brings student to a special area
Open windows to improve ventilation
Limit shared supplies, clean between cohorts of students
Page 30 – Classroom capacity calculator:
Students at high risk due to health complications may need to attend school remotely, schools will need to make accommodations
Page 31 – If parents/guardians choose not to send their children back to school, schools will need to provide instruction remotely.
Page 32 – A face mask must be used with a face shield, the shield must extend below the chin and to the ears laterally, no gaps between forehead and shield, worn by one person, cleaned between uses, wearer should wash hands after removing and before putting on
Page 33 Students are to be provided 1 disposable mask per week
Teachers are to be provided 5 disposable masks per week
Page 34 – High Intensity Contact with Students (That definition was not defined)
–Is that a Technology Teacher guiding a student on a machine??
10 pairs of disposable gloves per teacher a week
10 disposable gowns per teacher per week
2 reusable face shields total
Page 36 – Cloth face coverings must be worn when within 6 feet of someone and:
– in hallways
– in restrooms
– congregate settings
– busses
Masks are not to be worn when:
– Trouble breathing
– Unable to remove without assistance
– Impair health or mental health
– Presents a challenge, distraction, or obstruction to educational services or instruction
Page 38 – Any area used by a sick person must be closed
Wait 24 hours or as long as possible
until cleaning and disinfecting
If more than 7 days have passed since a person has tested positive or suspected, additional disinfection is not necessary, routine cleaning and disinfection would continue
Page 39 – Staff must be aware of symptoms of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children associated with COVID-19:
– Fever
– Abdominal pain
– Vomiting
– Diarrhea
– Neck pain
– Rash
– Bloodshot eyes
– Feeling extra tired
– Trouble breathing
– Pain or pressure in the chest that does not go away
– New confusion
– Inability to wake or stay awake
– Blush lips or face
– Severe abdominal pain
Schools must call 911 for emergency transport following district guidelines
Page 40 – Returning to school after an illness
No fever without fever reducing medicines and feel well for 24 hours
After another condition and a health care provider provides a not clearing them to return to school
If diagnosed with COVID-19, had COVID-19 symptoms but was not tested
Stay home for 10 days since the individual first had symptoms
At least three day since a fever without fever reducing medication
At least three days since symptoms improved, including cough and shortness of breath
Page 42 – School wide cleaning must include classrooms
Page 43 – Additional staff may need to be trained for cleaning or disinfection
Highly toughed surfaces include tables, handles鈥︹��..
If it can be done safely conduct classes outdoors
Page 46 – Conduct lockdown drills while social distancing provide overview of actual procedures
Page 48 – Doors may be fixed in the open position, only permitted on doors not equipped with door closers and doors not fire rated
Page 49 – If class size is changed 50 SF is required per student & staff in a Tech room
Page 51 – Tents may be erected for 180 day or less and comply with NYS fire code
Section 3103.2 indicates a permit
Section 3103 contains requirements
Section 3104 for permanent tents
Permanent tents are considered membrane structures and are regulated by building code 3102
Page 52 – Number of toilets and sinks may be reduced to facilitate frequent cleaning & must have minimum required by building code in operation
Page 53 – One water fountain per 100 occupants
– may be replaced with bottle fillers
– bottled water may be supplied
– disposable cups are permitted
– District may provide containers that are to be filled at home
Page 53 – Increase the fresh air ventilation rate to the extent possible to aid in maintaining a healthy indoor air quality
Page 64 – It is unrealistic to expect that students will return to instruction as they left it months ago
Page 79 – For the 2020-21 school year there are currently no statutory provisions that would allow a school district to provide fewer than 180 days of instruction over the course of the full school year.
Page 81 – Critical for schools to use a variety of creative methods to reach out to students and their families who did not engage in distance learning.
Initiating an educational neglect or Person in Need of Supervision (PINS) proceeding should be a last resort;
Schools are responsible for developing a mechanism to collect and report daily teacher/student engagement or attendance regardless of the instructional setting.
Page 84 – Educational neglect should not be considered where the parent/guardian has kept their child home because they believe it is unsafe for their child to attend school in person during the pandemic, and the child is participating in remote learning opportunities.
Page 90 – Maintain a positive mindset about student learning loss during the 2020 school closure. Allow ample time for students to re-adjust to the school setting. Before students are assessed, spend time on socialization and creating a climate of safety, comfort, and routine.
Page 102 – Consider a flipped classroom approach where students first learn about a topic at home and then come prepared to learn more about it in class
Page 137 – Technology Education falls under the CTE Career and Technical Education Definition
Page 104 – Identify content that takes precedence in the event instructional capabilities are modified and/or changed throughout the year.
Identify those activities that must take place in a classroom and those that can be completed independently
Create instructor videos demonstrating skills or teaching content for use both in and outside of the classroom.
Consider live streaming video of what is taking place inside the classroom in the event some students are home, and some are present.
Consider opportunities for instructors to operate portable video cameras during lessons. For example, when an instructor is providing a laboratory demonstration