ECPS Safe Return to School Plan

ECPS moved to Plan A on April 14, 2021

To minimize the spread of COVID-19, ECPS follows prevention strategies from the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During the summer of 2022, NCDHHS phased out the StrongSchools NC Public Health Toolkit and we are following the guidance from CDC.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) References

Reminders:

The CDC recommends staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations to prevent severe disease.
It is recommended that students and staff stay home if they are sick, not feeling well, or exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. Click here to learn more.
It is recommended that all staff, students, and visitors wear masks as a way to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
All ECPS schools continue to emphasize the importance of good hand hygiene and continue to incorporate opportunities for hand-washing throughout the school day.
All ECPS schools continue to emphasize the importance of respiratory etiquette (Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and if you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands).
We continue to maintain the same levels of cleaning and disinfecting restrooms, classrooms, buses and cafeteria tables regularly.
Soap & paper towel dispensers continue to be checked regularly and replenished.
Hand sanitizer dispensers continue to be checked and replenished.
We continue to upgrade HVAC systems in our schools to improve air quality.
For both the health and wellness of our ECPS students, our schools will continue to find opportunities to learn, eat and play outdoors.

Staying Up-to-Date on Vaccinations
The CDC recommends staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations to prevent severe disease.

Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette
Washing hands can prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to clean your hands.

To help stop the spread of germs:

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
If no tissue is available, cough or sneeze into the elbow, not the hands.
Throw used tissues in the trash.

Stay Home When Sick or Not Feeling Well
It is recommended that students and staff stay home if they are sick, not feeling well, or exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and recommend getting tested for COVID-19. People who are at risk for severe illness with COVID-19 who test positive are recommended to consult with a healthcare provider right away for possible treatment, even if their symptoms are mild.

Masks

There are no current local, state, or federal policies mandating universal masking in schools. Our district remains in contact with local public health officials about community levels of COVID-19 transmission and will continue to seek their guidance on best practice mitigation strategies.
The following are recommendations by the CDC for COVID-19 community levels. These are not requirements.

Wearing a well-fitting mask or respirator consistently and correctly reduces the risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.
Since wearing masks or respirators can prevent the spread of COVID-19, people who have a household or social contact with someone at risk of getting very sick with COVID-19 (for example, a student with a sibling who is at risk) may also choose to wear a mask at any COVID-19 Community Level.
People who have known or suspected exposure to COVID-19 are recommended to also wear a well-fitting mask or respirator around others for 10 days from their last exposure, regardless of vaccination status or history of prior infection.
The CDC recommends that after 5 days of isolation, you can remove the mask if you have 2 negative tests at least 48 hours apart.

CDC COVID-19 Community Level	Mask Recommendations
Low	Anyone who chooses to wear a mask or respirator should be supported in their decision to do so at any COVID-19 Community Level, including low.
Medium	People who are immunocompromised or at risk of getting very sick with COVID-19 are recommended to wear a mask or respirator that provides greater protection.
High	People who are immunocompromised or at risk of getting very sick with COVID-19 are recommended to wear a mask or respirator that provides greater protection. At a high COVID-19 Community Level, universal indoor masking in schools and ECE programs is recommended, as it is in the community at large.

Students and staff are recommended to wear a mask in the following situations:

Recommend wearing a mask for at least 10 days after symptoms onset or testing positive for COVID-19, unless a mask accommodation applies (5 days for quarantine and 5 days when you return).

The CDC recommends that after 5 days of isolation, you can remove the mask if you have 2 negative tests at least 48 hours apart.

Recommend wearing a mask 10 days following exposure to a person with COVID-19, unless a mask accommodation applies.
Individuals at high risk for severe disease, are unvaccinated or are not up to date on vaccines, recommend wearing a mask in indoor settings.

Testing
ECPS School Nurses can provide information about COVID-19 testing options, if necessary.

Social & Emotional/Mental Health Support

ECPS provides the following to ensure that students are supported in all ways, not just in academics:

2 mental health agencies to provide school based therapy and day treatment to EVERY student who is referred in ECPS at NO COST
Hope Squad Peer Program - First District in North Carolina to obtain the grant and adopt this program in our middle schools. This program is a peer -to-peer program designed to promote mental health awareness and prevent suicide.
24/7 Crisis Hotline and therapeutic support for our students
Trauma and Resilience training for all school employees
SEL instruction is provided to students that focuses on self-awareness, self-management, social skills, and responsible decision making.

Virtual Learning

Virtual learning options will be available for students who completed the information form indicating interest in this option.

Virtual learning will include a combination of online courses with supplemental live instruction and support being provided in the afternoon, evenings and as needed.

Returning To School After a COVID-19 Diagnosis or Other Illness

To minimize the spread of COVID-19, we follow prevention strategies from the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This summer, NCDHHS phased out the StrongSchools NC Public Health Toolkit.

COVID-19 Symptoms:

Fever or chills
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

Scenario	Recommended Action
COVID-19 Symptoms You may have COVID-19, but tested before the virus was detectable, or you may have another illness, such as the flu.	If you have symptoms, it is recommended that you stay home, go home from school or work and it is recommended to test for COVID-19. Alternate Diagnosis It is recommended to be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and have an improvement in symptoms before returning to school or work. It is recommended to provide an alternate diagnosis from a healthcare provider to your principal or supervisor. Students may have a medical plan of care prepared by a school nurse. No mask is needed when returning to school or work. Negative COVID-19 Test It is recommended to be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and have an improvement in symptoms before returning to school or work. It is recommended to wear a mask for 10 full days from onset of symptoms (unless mask accommodations apply). No COVID-19 Test Stay home for 5 days (from the onset of symptoms). It is recommended to be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and have an improvement in symptoms before returning to school or work. It is recommended to wear a mask 5 full days when returning to school or work (unless mask accommodations apply).
Positive COVID-19 test and has symptoms	Stay home for 5 days (from the onset of symptoms or positive test). It is recommended to be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and have an improvement in symptoms before returning to school or work. It is recommended to wear a mask for 5 full days when returning to school or work (unless mask accommodations apply). The CDC recommends that after 5 days of isolation, you can remove the mask if you have 2 negative tests at least 48 hours apart.
Positive COVID-19 test and has no symptoms	Stay home for 5 days (from the positive test). It is recommended to wear a mask for 5 full days when returning to school or work (unless mask accommodations apply). The CDC recommends that after 5 days of isolation, you can remove the mask if you have 2 negative tests at least 48 hours apart.

Updated 9/22/23