Reopening Summary Plan

Reopening Center for Spectrum Services with Safety and Trust
Center for Spectrum Services looks forward to starting a safe and productive school year for staff and students alike.

Dates & Class Schedule: 
Wednesday, September 9th – School Starts All Remote Learning
Monday, October 5th, Blended Learning/Session A
Thursday October 8th, Blended Learning/Session B
Wednesday, October 7th, AM Remote Only, PM Staff Development
For our full School Calendar, Click Here!

Our Four Guiding Principles

1. The safety and well-being of students and staff are our primary concern.
We will do whatever we can so that everyone in our program feels safe and productive. Given the possibility of COVID-19 infection rates increasing, we need to have the flexibility to change our model and /or resume remote instruction until a vaccine can be found.

2.  Offer high-quality instruction to students, regardless of delivery model.
We will strive to deliver the best individualized instruction possible to our students whether remote or in a blended model.

3. We will remain open to revising policies as needed.
We are navigating uncharted territory in the midst of this pandemic. We will be continually monitoring our policies and procedures. It is important that we remain flexible if changes are required.

4. Responsible citizenship is essential.
We expect our families and staff to take ongoing personal responsibility for the common good as well as their own safety. That means you and your family members must consistently follow safety guidelines like wearing masks in public when a six foot distance cannot be maintained. By working together, we can reduce the possibility of contagion and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our school buildings.

Before school starts, parents will…

  • Have the opportunity to request two months of continued remote instruction instead of a blended learning model.
  • Decide whether to transport their child themselves or use the school bus.
  • Be informed of which in-school schedule their child will follow.

Blended or hybrid model of instruction

  • Center for Spectrum services does not have the physical space to reduce class size and have all students attend 5 days a week. For this reason, we have created a blended or hybrid model of instruction that allows us to divide the number of attending students by approximately half.
  • A maximum of six students will be in each class allowing for the necessary physical distancing and staffing to maintain safety.
  • On the days students are not scheduled to attend school, remote instruction will be delivered by special education staff and/or therapists.

Cohorts

  • The population of students receiving in-person instruction will be divided in 2 groups: Group A and Group B.
  • Decisions on how to divide the classes will be made based on student’s profile and transportation considerations
  • Both groups will begin in-person attendance on the second week of school.
  • Each group is called a cohort and will remain as self-contained as possible to prevent virus spread.
  • Related Services and other special instruction will be assigned by cohorts whenever possible.

Schedules

A Group attend school Mondays and Tuesdays
B Group– attend school Thursdays and Fridays
C  Group –parent requested remote instruction for a 2 month period

  • Students in A and B groups will receive remote instruction on the week days not in school.
  • School hours will be 9:00 to 2:30.
  • Bus schedules will be staggered to allow for physical distancing and daily health screening including taking temperature.

School Day

  • Classes will remain in their classrooms as much as possible.
  • Instructional opportunities will be provided outdoors whenever possible.
  • Related services will be delivered in the classroom when possible.
  • No assemblies, fieldtrips or other large school gatherings will be scheduled.
  • Students will be physically distanced during lunch time.

Attendance
Student attendance is vital for this hybrid model to be effective.

  • Student attendance will be taken daily whether the student is in school or receiving remote instruction.
  • Attendance will be reported to school districts and /or counties when students are chronically absent.

Safety Precautions 

  • We recognize the coronavirus continues to be active in New York State. We commit to following guidance from NYS Department of Health, NYS Department of Education and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to mitigate the potential spread of the virus within our school community.
  • All staff, students, visitors, vendors and contractors must pass a health screening prior to being admitted to our schools. Additional health and custodial staff will be available to meet the needs of our students and staff.
  • Our health screening questionnaire includes a question about out of state travel. Students and staff who traveled out of NYS prior to the start of school or while school is in session must follow the Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 205, issued June 25, 2020 requiring individuals traveling to NY from states with significant community spread of COVID-19 to quarantine for 14 days upon returning to NYS.
  • All staff will be trained in enhanced safety precautions.
  • Staff will wear face coverings or masks and use personal protective equipment and clothing when necessary. Appropriate physical distancing will be maintained whenever possible.
  • Students will be encourage to wear a face covering whenever possible.
  • Throughout the school day, and after school, cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing will occur in common areas, including frequently touched surfaces. Equipment and materials will be cleaned after each use.
  • Frequent handwashing and/or use of hand sanitizer will be encouraged and utilized.
  • Signage on floors will indicate flow of staff and students and encourage physical distancing.
  • All spaces will not exceed the capacity permitted in NYS guidance. Furniture will be adjusted to allow for appropriate space requirements including the use of dividers where necessary.
  • Hallway transitions will be limited.
  • Students who are ill will be separated from other students and quarantined until a parent or guardian arrives to take the student home.
  • Staff who do not pass the health screening upon arrival for work will be denied entrance to our schools and will be required to seek medical attention. A physician’s note attesting to the health of the staff member will be required prior to returning to work, A staff member who becomes ill during the work day will be required to immediately leave the school grounds.
  • Spectrum Services will follow NYS guidance to communicate with members of our community should there be a positive case or potential exposure to someone with COVID-19. The local department of health will be notified and communication procedures will follow the guidance of the health department and ensure student and staff privacy is upheld.
  • In the event of a positive case of COVID-19, decisions on the length of staff or child quarantine will be made in consultation with the local health department. Similarly, if a close contact of a child (within or outside of school) or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, the child or staff member may need to stay home for a 2-week quarantine period.
  • If virus transmission is increasing in our community or if multiple children or staff test positive for COVID-19, the school building might close.

When will we change our service delivery model?

  • Decisions to return to remote instruction will be based on COVID-19 reoccurrence guidance from Governor Cuomo, local health department officials and our consulting developmental pediatrician.
  • We will also consider returning to remote instruction if staff absentee rate impacts our ability to operate safely.
  • Decision to return to full week in-person education will be made when the incidence of COVID-19 has reduced sufficiently so that physical distancing and other protective precautions are no longer necessary.