Safe Return to In-Person Learning
2021–2022 Plan
The Ives School, Lincoln Hall, a residential Article 81 school, has developed a Safe Return to In-Person Learning Plan that fits the needs of our current student population. Our current enrollment consists of 22 students, residing in three separate cottages on campus.
School Building and Schedules
The schedule for the In-Person Learning Plan allows for the continuation of promoting the health and safety of all students and staff during school hours. Class size will be 8:1:1, allowing for maintaining the appropriate 3 feet distance required between school desks. We have returned to a full day schedule, with no modifications to class time.
Wearing masks by all students and staff while in all school buildings is announced daily during morning announcements, as well as, signs posted throughout school locations. Ample masks are kept in the school for replacement or misplaced ones. Sanitizing stations are installed throughout school building locations. Regular cleaning and weekly advanced sanitizing of all school rooms continue to be required for a safe environment. Drinking water is dispensed through individual reusable sports water bottles for all students, as well as coolers and cups for all students in primary school locations.
The Ives School will conduct mandatory fire and lockdown drills according to the existing statutory schedule. These drills will be conducted in a manner that maintains social distancing at both exit and gathering points outside of the school building, while still preparing students to respond in emergency situations.
In the event that school must close, we are prepared to return to remote learning seamlessly, with the use of Google classroom. This plan has been in place and has been successful for both our students and teaching staff since April 2020.
Face Coverings
All students, school staff, and anyone present in school buildings as well as riding on school transportation vehicles are required to wear a face covering. Face coverings are meant to protect others in case the wearer does not know they are infected. Lincoln Hall will provide face coverings and/or face shields to employees and students. Employees or staff and students may choose to wear their own face covering as long as it meets the minimum requirement which is to cover the nose and mouth completely. The face covering should also not be overly tight or restrictive and should feel comfortable to the wearer. A face covering is not meant to substitute for social distancing, but is especially important in situations when maintaining a 6-foot distance is not possible. Lincoln Hall Ives School will always keep an extra supply of face coverings for both students and staff in case they are needed.
Monitoring Health and Safety
The Health Center has implemented mandatory health screenings, including temperature checks, of students, faculty, staff, and, where applicable, contractors, vendors, and visitors, to identify any individuals who may have COVID-19 or who may have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus.
Every Lincoln Hall employee will have their temperature checked each day. All staff and visitors entering the campus are required to answer the questionnaire that determines whether the individual has: (a) knowingly been in close or proximate contact in the past 14 days with anyone who has tested positive through a diagnostic test for COVID-19 or who has or had symptoms of COVID-19; (b) tested positive through a diagnostic test for COVID-19 in the past 14 days; (c) has experienced any symptoms of COVID-19, including a temperature of greater than 100.0°F, in the past 14 days; and/or (d) has traveled internationally or from a state with widespread community transmission of COVID-19 per the New York State Travel Advisory in the past 14 days.
Daily health checks and screenings will be performed by Health Center nurses, per DOH guidance, to recognize signs and symptoms of illness in students and staff. The Health Center has developed plans to manage and isolate ill students until they can be placed in the Health Center.
Residential Living Considerations
When a resident returns to Lincoln Hall after an unsupervised home visit, he will go directly to the Health Center to be examined. Residents who had previously tested positive for COVID-19 and/or Antibodies will not need to be placed under quarantine. They will be allowed to go directly into the program. However, they will be monitored twice a day for signs and symptoms, and they will get tested for COVID-19 on the third day after their original return date.
Residents that have returned from an unsupervised home visit, and have previously tested negative for COVID-19 will be placed in isolation. They will be monitored for signs and symptoms twice a day, and they will get tested the third day after their original return date. These residents will continue to be kept in isolation until their results come back. If the results are not back in seven days, the residents will be allowed to return to the program if they are not exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms. These residents will continue to be monitored until their results come back.
Social-Emotional Well-Being
Our Treatment Service Department will ensure students receive meaningful services to maintain social-emotional learning (SEL) to support the well-being and success of our students, staff, and families. The goal of these services is to create the mental, social, and emotional space for academic learning to occur.
Budget and Fiscal
The Ives School will continue to meet existing state aid reporting requirements. The content of data submissions, such as attendance data, will remain consistent with past practice, except where modified by law, regulation or executive order.
Attendance
The Ives School has in place layers of attendance taking, including multiple daily census of all students and their location at all times. Attendance data will be reported in the student information reporting system or SIRS.
Technology and Connectivity
The Ives School provides instruction on using technology and IT support for students, teachers and families and provides professional development for teachers and leaders on designing effective online/remote learning experiences.
Teaching and Learning and Special Education
The Ives School will provide standards-based instruction, ensuring substantive daily interaction between teachers and students, and clearly communicating information about instructional plans with parents and guardians.
The Ives School will provide a Free Appropriate Public Education consistent with the need to protect the health and safety of students with disabilities and those providing special education and services; meaningful parental engagement regarding the provision of services to their child, and collaboration between the Committee on Special Education.
Coordination and Phased Reopening
The Ives School has designated the Director of Education the COVID-19 safety coordinator whose responsibilities include continuous compliance with all aspects of the school’s reopening plan, as well as any phased-in reopening activities necessary to allow for operational issues to be resolved before activities return to normal or “new normal” levels.