This plan was reviewed in May 2022 at that time no changes were made.
BERRIEN SPRINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS RETURN TO LEARN PLAN 2021-2022
In-person learning has been shown to provide the greatest benefit to students, and ensuring this can happen consistently and safely during the upcoming school year has been deemed a priority for Berrien County Schools.
The 2021-2022 Return to Learn Plan provides detailed guidance to ensure that COVID-19 prevention and mitigation measures are implemented in a way that fosters optimal learning environments while simultaneously ensuring health and safety for students and staff in Berrien County. This plan was collaboratively developed by Berrien County Superintendents with the support of the Berrien County Health Department to ensure that all Berrien County School Districts have an aligned and detailed plan for a successful return to the classroom this fall.
Please Note: This plan may change and evolve as knowledge changes surrounding current and potential variants and availability of vaccination for younger age groups.
Supporting Documents: |
Mitigation Action Scale:
Low Transmission | Moderate Transmission | Substantial Transmission | High Transmission |
0 to 9 new cases per 100,000 persons within last 7 days | 10 to 49 new cases per 100,000 persons within last 7 days | 50 to 99 new cases per 100,000 persons within last 7 days | >100 new cases per 100,000 persons within last 7 days |
<5% of RT-PCR tests that are positive during the last 7 days | 5% to < 7.9% of RT-PCR tests that are positive during the last 7 days | 8% to 9.9% of RT-PCR tests that are positive during the last 7 days | >10% of RT-PCR tests that are positive during the last 7 days |
Instructional Format | |||
In person | In person | In-person instruction - individual schools or classrooms may transition to remote instruction until transmission rates decline | In-person instruction - individual schools or classrooms may transition to remote instruction until transmission rates decline |
Athletics | |||
Athletic practices and competitions will be permitted. | Athletic practices and competitions will be permitted, while additional health and safety protocols may be required. | Competitions may be paused; practices focus on skills building with increased social distancing required. Health screening and hygiene may be required (see Student Health Screening p. 7) | Competitions may be paused; practices focus on skills building with increased social distancing required. Health screening and hygiene may be required (see Student Health Screening p. 7) |
Testing of athletes will not be required unless mandated by a local or state agency and/or a sanctioning body. | |||
Cleaning & Disinfecting | |||
The district will follow regular cleaning and disinfection procedures. | The district will follow regular cleaning and disinfection procedures. Additional cleaning and disinfecting procedures may be implemented. | The district will follow regular cleaning and disinfection procedures. Additional cleaning and disinfecting procedures will be implemented in classrooms during the school day. | The district will follow regular cleaning and disinfection procedures. Additional cleaning and disinfecting procedures will be implemented in classrooms during the school day. |
Cohorting | |||
Mixing of students will occur. | Mixing of students may be restricted in some areas, activities, classrooms, and/or buildings. | Mixing of students may be restricted in some areas, activities, classrooms, and/or buildings. | Mixing of students may be restricted in some areas, activities, classrooms, and/or buildings. |
COVID Testing | |||
COVID testing of students or staff will not be required unless mandated by a local or state agency and/or a sanctioning body. | |||
Extracurricular Activities & Field Trips | |||
Extracurricular activities may occur as scheduled.2 | Short-term dismissals and suspension of extracurricular activities and field trips may be expected.2 | Extracurricular activities and field trips may be suspended. Remote/virtual activities may continue.2 | Extracurricular activities and field trips may be suspended. Remote/virtual activities may continue.2 |
Face Covering (Masks) | |||
Staff, students, volunteers, and visitors will not be required to wear face masks. Face masks are optional.2 | Staff, students, volunteers, and visitors will not be required to wear face masks. Face masks are optional.2 | Staff, students, volunteers, and visitors may be required to wear face masks in all areas and for all activities only if mandated by local or state officials. Face masks are optional.2 | Staff, students, volunteers, and visitors will only be required to wear face masks if mandated by local or state officials with the exception of medical exemptions. Requests for religious exemption will be referred to legal counsel. Face masks are optional.2 |
Food Service | |||
Normal food service operations. | Normal food service operations. Additional health and safety protocols may be put in place. | Normal food service operations. Additional health and safety protocols will be put in place. | Normal food service operations. Additional health and safety protocols will be put in place. |
Gatherings and Facility Use | |||
No restrictions on gatherings or use of facilities. | Restrictions on gathering size and/or use of facilities may be implemented. Outside agency use of facilities may be restricted. | Restrictions on gathering size and/or use of facilities may be implemented. Outside agency use of facilities may be restricted. | Restrictions on gathering size and/or use of facilities may be implemented. Outside agency use of facilities may be restricted. |
Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette | |||
Hand Hygiene/Hand Sanitation and Respiratory Etiquette is expected.1 | Hand Hygiene/Hand Sanitation and Respiratory Etiquette are expected, and additional opportunities for proper hand washing will be available throughout the day. Hand washing/sanitizing will be encouraged when students leave or enter the classroom and other designated areas.1 | Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette are expected and additional opportunities for proper hand washing will be available throughout the day. Hand washing/sanitizing will be required when students leave or enter the classroom and other designated areas.1 | Hand Hygiene/Hand Sanitation and Respiratory Etiquette is expected, and additional opportunities for proper hand washing will be available throughout the day. Hand washing/sanitizing will be required when students leave or enter the classroom and other designated areas.1 |
Isolation and Quarantine (Staff & Students) | |||
The District will work with the BCHD & Berrien RESA to support a robust case investigation and contact tracing process. The District will provide educational support for students and families who are impacted by isolation and quarantine. Isolation and quarantine will adhere to local public health requirements and operating procedures. Close contact identification will be supported by the school for classroom and athletic-based close contact identification. Notification of quarantine is the responsibility of the Health Department3. School staff will adhere to the following process for student/staff quarantines:
| |||
Meetings and Conferences | |||
In-district/out-of-district meetings and conferences will be permitted. | In-district/out-of-district meetings and conferences will be permitted. | In-district/out-of-district meetings and conferences may be limited and possibly suspended. | In-district/out-of-district meetings and conferences may be limited and possibly suspended. |
Offices | |||
District and building offices will be open for normal school business. Visitors and guests are allowed in buildings. | District and building offices will be open for normal school business. Visitors and guests are allowed in buildings. | District and building offices will remain open. Prioritize visits to minimize office visitor traffic. Building access beyond the office may be limited. Additional health and safety protocols may be put in place. | District and building offices will remain open. Prioritize visits to minimize office visitor traffic. Building access beyond the office may be limited. Additional health and safety protocols may be put in place. |
Remote/Virtual Learning | |||
Students that the health department quarantines will have access to remote learning opportunities. The building principal may also approve access to synchronous learning support under special circumstances related to a documented medical diagnosis, medical procedure, or mental health crisis. | Students that the health department quarantines will have access to remote learning opportunities. The building principal may also approve access to synchronous learning support under special circumstances related to a documented medical diagnosis, medical procedure, or mental health crisis. | If a classroom or school is closed, all students impacted by the closure will be provided remote learning opportunities throughout the closure. Students that are quarantined by the health department will have access to remote learning opportunities. The building principal may also approve access to synchronous learning support under special circumstances related to a documented medical diagnosis, medical procedure, or mental health crisis. | If a classroom or school is closed, all students impacted by the closure will be provided remote learning opportunities throughout the closure. Students that the health department quarantines will have access to remote learning opportunities. The building principal may also approve access to synchronous learning support under special circumstances related to a documented medical diagnosis, medical procedure, or mental health crisis. |
Social Distancing | |||
Feasible social distancing measures in place. | Additional Social Distancing measures may be required. Adjustments to school procedures, schedules, activities, etc., may be made to adjust to the social distancing requirements. | Additional Social Distancing measures may be required. Adjustments to school procedures, schedules, activities, etc., may be made to adjust to the social distancing requirements. | Additional Social Distancing measures may be required. Adjustments to school procedures, schedules, activities, etc., may be made to adjust to the social distancing requirements. |
Staff Health Screening | |||
Staff members may conduct a daily wellness self-check prior to reporting to work. DO NOT REPORT TO WORK IF YOU ARE SICK. | Staff members may conduct a daily wellness self-check prior to reporting to work. DO NOT REPORT TO WORK IF YOU ARE SICK | Staff members will be required to sign an agreement to follow district safety protocols including reporting conditions to immediate supervisor. | Staff members will be required to sign an agreement to follow district safety protocols including reporting conditions to immediate supervisor. |
Student Health Screening | |||
Parents/guardians should conduct a daily student wellness check prior to sending your student to school. DO NOT SEND YOUR STUDENT TO SCHOOL IF THEY ARE SICK. See student illness section. | Parents/guardians should conduct a daily student wellness check prior to sending your student to school. DO NOT SEND YOUR STUDENT TO SCHOOL IF THEY ARE SICK. See student illness section. | Parents/guardians should conduct a daily student wellness check prior to sending your student to school. DO NOT SEND YOUR STUDENT TO SCHOOL IF THEY ARE SICK. See student illness section. | Parents/guardians should conduct a daily student wellness check prior to sending your student to school. DO NOT SEND YOUR STUDENT TO SCHOOL IF THEY ARE SICK. See student illness section. |
Student Illness | |||
Parents are not to send children to school given our communicable disease policy. Communicable Disease Board Policy CONTROL OF CASUAL-CONTACT COMMUNICABLE DISEASES | Parents are not to send children to school given our communicable disease policy. If Indicators of risk are high, additional days of isolation or symptom-free timelines may be required and extended. Attendance policies may be waived or suspended. Communicable Disease Board Policy CONTROL OF CASUAL-CONTACT COMMUNICABLE DISEASES | Parents are not to send children to school given our communicable disease policy. If Indicators of risk are high, additional days of isolation or symptom-free timelines may be required and extended. Attendance policies may be suspended. Communicable Disease Board Policy CONTROL OF CASUAL-CONTACT COMMUNICABLE DISEASES | Parents are not to send children to school given our communicable disease policy. If Indicators of risk are high, additional days of isolation or symptom-free timelines may be required and extended. Attendance policies are suspended. Communicable Disease Board Policy CONTROL OF CASUAL-CONTACT COMMUNICABLE DISEASES |
Transportation | |||
Normal Transportation Operations.2 *Adhere to CDC order for facemask requirements. | Normal Transportation Operations.2 Additional health and safety protocols will be put in place. Additional cleaning and disinfecting procedures will be implemented. *Adhere to CDC order for facemask requirements. | Normal Transportation Operations.2 Additional health and safety protocols will be put in place. Additional cleaning and disinfecting procedures will be implemented. *Adhere to CDC order for facemask requirements. | Normal Transportation Operations.2 Additional health and safety protocols will be put in place. Additional cleaning and disinfecting procedures will be implemented. May affect transportation - possibility. *Adhere to CDC order for facemask requirements. |
Vaccinations | |||
No matter which color indicator Berrien County is in, the district encourages staff and students to become vaccinated. The district is NOT requiring staff or students to be vaccinated. | |||
1 Handwashing and proper covering of the mouth/nose area when coughing/sneezing will be taught in all grades PreK - 5 at the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. Hand washing/hand sanitizing and proper covering of the mouth/nose area when coughing/sneezing will be encouraged at all times.
2 Currently, federal law requires students to wear face masks when riding on school-owned transportation.
3 Rule 5 of the Bureau of Epidemiology’s Communicable and Related Diseases Rules authorizes the local health officer, not school officials, to order students to quarantine as a disease control measure. The rule states:
In contrast, Rule 4 of the Bureau’s Rules describes the school district’s responsibility to provide relevant and necessary information to the health department so that the local health department may fulfill its legal duties. The rules states, in pertinent part:
(b) Individuals, whether ill or well, who are part of a group in which an unusual
occurrence, outbreak, or epidemic occurred.
(c) Individuals who are not known to have a designated condition but whose
medical or epidemiological information is needed for investigation into the
cause of the occurrence of the condition.
(d) Individuals who were potentially exposed to a designated condition.
(e) Individuals who may be a carrier or health threat to others…..
(f) Any other information that may be relevant to an investigation under this
rule.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ October 6, 2020 Order entitled “Reporting of Confirmed and Probable Cases of COVID-19 at Schools.” Paragraph 4 of that Order expressly states, “Public Notice does not replace the need for direct notification to persons who were, or are suspected to have been, a Close Contact of School Associated Case(s); such notice is the responsibility of the local health department.” The MDHHS Order remains in effect until rescinded.