Posted on March 12th, 2020
CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE PLAN
HAYFIELD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019
(COVID-19)
This plan for addressing any Coronavirus incident is intended to serve the best interests of students, employees and families in the event of an incidence or threat of the Coronavirus infecting a Hayfield student, employee, volunteer or a family member of any of them.
While it is anticipated that the District would have the full support of the Minnesota Department of Health in dealing with a crisis involving a Coronavirus incident, the District has primary responsibility for the health and safety of its students and employees in school. Therefore, the District will react swiftly and decisively to assure the good health and safety of those individuals if a crisis occurs.
PRIOR TO A CONFIRMED CASE OF CORONAVIRUS INCIDENT IN THE HAYFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT
The District reminds students, staff members and volunteers to continue emphasizing the following measures to avoid contracting the Coronavirus and avoiding the spread of it:
- Washing hands frequently with soap and water for a minute each time
- Covering your coughs by coughing into their arm or tissue—not hands
- Staying home when sick
- Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
- Hand-shakes and touching of each other should be discouraged
Additional steps the District will take to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus
- Although the District already does regular cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces throughout each school on a regular basis, the level of cleaning and disinfecting has been accelerated in common spaces and classrooms of every school. In addition, we are wiping down busses and shared computers daily.
- The District will also focus specifically on cleaning our HVAC system, including the cleaning and/or replacement of air filters.
MONITORING FOR CORONAVIRUS INCIDENTS
- The Minnesota Department of Health has primary responsibility for the overall monitoring of Minnesota residents who may be exposed to the Coronavirus, and they will inform the District of steps they expect the District to implement.
- The Minnesota Department of Health will assume primary responsibility in the event of anyone in Minnesota becoming infected, and the District will cooperate fully with the Department, and other health agencies, in the steps to be taken.
Travel out of the area or travel out of the country
It is realized that families in the community travel frequently and engage with a wide range of people in their travel. With Spring Break coming up, such travel and connections will increase exponentially.
- The District would not ask anyone to alter travel plans, but we all need to realize that travel during this time will add to the risk for students, staff members and parents traveling and others whom they contact when they return to our communities.
- This activity will increase the possibility of encountering others who either have Coronavirus or have been in contact with someone else who has the virus.
CORONAVIRUS
SCHOOL CLOSING INFORMATION
HAYFIELD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
The decision to close would involve the Minnesota Departments of Education and Health, the CDC and County Public Health Officials, and the District would be responsible for implementing the closure. Their guidance will drive our decision-making process.
In case a decision to close our District has been made by the Department of Health or the District itself, instruction for students will be provided by alternative means.
IN THE EVENT OF A SCHOOL CLOSING
FOR FAMILIES
Providing Education During a District Closure
- If the situation ever occurs that our School District needs to be closed due to the threat of the Coronavirus, the District intends to provide instruction to students.
- This will require the full cooperation of students, teachers and parents to make this instruction meaningful.
- The Flex Learning Plan will be communicated with parents at the appropriate time if needed.
FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF
Working During A School Closure
- Working conditions for employees may need to be altered, and the respective employees will be informed of plans and any changes that will affect their work and attendance at work.
- Teachers will be available throughout their normal work day, including time before or after school, as assigned. In addition to the time for delivering instruction through the Flex Learning Day schedules, teachers need to expect students reaching out to them for assistance with lessons during the normal workday.
- Times for students to contact their teachers with assignment questions will be established by each principal of any schools closed.
- Teachers who need to take time off during any of the e-learning days will need to inform their principal, and alternatives for the students will be determined by the District.
- Special Education teachers will need to work with their students through assistance from the students’ parents.
- It is expected that all teachers will assure their readiness to deliver instruction through the use the Flex Learning Day schedule during a crisis due to the Coronavirus.
FOR OFFICE ASSISTANTS
- Office assistants will be expected to perform duties during days that school is not in session during an emergency closure.
PARAPROFESSIONALS
- Paraprofessionals may be assigned to assist classroom teachers, custodians, office assistants or the transportation department. This assignment will be optional and paid.
BUS DRIVERS
- Bus drivers may be assigned to assist the Transportation Department as directed by the Superintendent and Transportation Director. This assignment will be optional and paid.
FOOD SERVICE
- Food service staff should consult with Taher, Inc.
CUSTODIANS
- Custodians will be expected to perform their normal duties during school closures and they will be given special assignments as the need arises.
EMPLOYEE PAY DURING A CLOSURE
- The District will assure that employees will be paid on time during any emergency. Minnesota statutes do prohibit the District from paying employees who do not work. Several contracts with employees provide various leaves that may be used in order to receive regular pay.
DISTRICT SERVICES DURING CLOSURE
HAYFIELD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
ATHLETIC EVENTS, MUSICAL EVENTS, DRAMATIC EVENTS, AND OTHER MAJOR FUNCTIONS
- Should there be a School District closure, all School District activities and events will be canceled or postponed. Exceptions must be pre-approved by the Superintendent.
COMMUNICATIONS
- The District is committed to regular communications with parents and the community during these events.
- The following contacts are our primary sources of information. Parents who are concerned about the virus itself should contact:
CORONAVIRUS CONTACTS
Dodge County Public Health: Kaitlyn Smith (Public Health Preparedness Coordinator) 507-635-6150, Kaitlyn.smith@co.dodge.mn.us.
MDH Coronavirus Hotline: 651-201-3920 (Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
Additional MDH Contact Information: Schools.covid19@state.mn.us, 651-201-5414.
Kasson-Mantorville School Nurse: Tammy Richard, 634-1108, t.richard@komets.k12.mn.us
CORONAVIRUS WEBSITES/RESOURCES
AASA: https://www.aasa.org/coronavirus.aspx
MDH: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/index.html
MDH GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools.html
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
- Community Education programs will continue to be held as scheduled if the school district is open. If the school district is closed, at that point all community education classes will be canceled
CONGRATULATIONS to the Drama Department. Great reviews from Spotlight Education. Nathan Grav with an “Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role”. Congratulations to everyone else in the cast. Outstanding results in your first musical performance. You can read the entire review here.
We invite you all to compare the look of the school now as compared to it 5 years ago when the website photo was taken. An amazing transformation.
Congratulations to Hayfields very own Kathy Hegna-Zelinske MSBA President’s award from MSBA training programs. And 20 years of service as a school board member. We thank you for all your service Kathy!