In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection in the school district, facilities operations will be geared toward meeting social distancing requirements and cleaning frequently touched spaces regularly.
In carrying out projects or tasks supporting infection control, requirements will be met for changes associated with building spaces. Plans for changes or additions to facilities that require review by the Office of Facilities Planning (OFP) will be submitted to comply with the requirements of the 2020 New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (BC) and the State Energy Conservation Code.
The function, position and operation of stairs and corridor doors, which have closers with automatic hold opens (and are automatically released by the fire alarm system), will remain unchanged.
The school district plans to meet the deadline for submission of Building Condition Survey or Visual Inspections on time. In addition, lead in water sampling will be carried out upon the reopening of school under conditions consistent with when the building is “normally occupied.”
Upon reopening, the district plans to increase ventilation, to the greatest extent possible. Water systems will be flushed in buildings that have been unoccupied.
The school district has worked with its HVAC engineers and architects to establish additional filtration requirements that can be instituted including replacement of filters and increasing air flow into the buildings during overnight hours.
All “soft items” in classrooms are being removed, as are additional desks and furniture to allow for social distancing and appropriate egress entering and exiting. The middle school and high school will be considering student and staff traffic flow within the schools and possible adjustments. Three of the four elementary schools already have a restricted traffic pattern due to layout and the fourth and largest school will be examining its student and staff traffic flow.
The school district’s Advisory Team for Health and Safety will develop protocols and procedures for school buildings and its other facilities (transportation, buildings and grounds, and district office). Advisory teams will begin meeting the week of August 3. Advisory teams are composed of administrators, teachers, school personnel, and community members. Protocols and procedures developed by advisory teams will be appended to the school district’s plan.