This document reflects health and safety strategies based on guidance for the safe return of in-person classroom instruction. This plan is subject to change as needed, taking into account the level of community transmission and based on the recommendations released by the Arizona Department of Health Services, Cochise County Health Officials, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A copy of the plan may also be downloaded here.

MASKS

CAS highly recommends that staff and students wear masks or appropriate face coverings per CDC guidelines.  Masks may be required at the discretion of school administration. 

If worn, masks or face coverings should adhere to CDC guidelines.

FACILITY MODIFICATIONS & SOCIAL DISTANCING

For the 2021-22 school year, CAS has modified facilities and implemented procedures to limit the spread of illness in all schools. 

Social distancing guidelines remain in place for the 2021-22 school year.  Wherever space allows, classroom desks are arranged to establish three (3) feet of distance between students. 

CAS has invested in Air Purification Systems for every classroom, restroom, and cafeteria to support air circulation.  All HVAC units on school buildings are required to undergo an annual standards inspection by certified HVAC technicians. Replacement of older HVAC units is underway.

Meal service varies by school, but includes serving meals in the classroom, through staggered cafeteria schedules, and with outdoor seating options available for high school students. 

CAS high schools operate block schedules to minimize the number of students on campus on any given day.  The elementary and middle school schedules are structured around cohorts to limit intermingling between grades. 

SANITATION PROCEDURES

• High traffic and common areas will maintain regular sanitization and disinfecting schedules. 

• Classrooms will be sanitized at a minimum of twice daily.

• Students and teachers will disinfect items of use in the classroom during the day.

• CAS encourages all students to use respiratory etiquette, wash their hands regularly, and use hand sanitizer to prevent the spread of disease.

• Along with our cleaning staff, we will have Bioshield LLC provide quarterly, deep disinfecting services to our campuses.  The service will sanitize the whole building and will create a protective shield/coating on all areas that will limit the spread of Covid-19.

CONTACT TRACING AND QUARANTINE

• If a student or staff member has come in close contact with a potential exposure of COVID, they should monitor for symptoms and test if possible.

• If symptoms occur, the student or staff member should quarantine and test as soon as possible.

• CAS also recommends testing if symptoms are not present just in case a student or staff member is asymptomatic.

• If a student tests positive for COVID, they will need to quarantine for 10 days and can return to school in person when they are symptom-free with no use of fever reducing medicine. 

• Students will be allowed to work from home with a distance learning option if they feel well enough to do so.  If they are not well enough to work from home, they will be marked as excused and will be able to make up their school work when they are feeling better. 

• CAS will report any positive cases to the local health department for contact tracing and recommendations.

• CAS health office staff screen for student symptoms regularly or as needed.  Our schools in Douglas invite Acupath Laboratories to administer a COVID-19 saliva test to students and staff every week. 

• In an effort to minimize the spread of COVID, we will be updating this policy as deemed necessary.  CAS works closely with our local health department and the Arizona Department of Education to maintain up-to-date recommendations and procedures.

VACCINATIONS

Updated information is regularly provided to the school community on the availability of immunization.   

STUDENT ACCOMMODATIONS

• Assistive technology will be determined and provided by the Special Education team and added to the student’s accommodations and/or modifications at the beginning of the school year.

• IEPs and 504 meetings will be conducted via Zoom using E-IEP Pro.  A parent portal is set up through this web-based program so that parents can view IEPs and 504s online. 

• E-IEP Pro includes a teacher portal for viewing accommodations, modifications, goals, and present levels of performance.

STUDENT ACADEMIC SERVICES

All students are assigned school-issued Chromebooks allowing a seamless transition to distance learning if the situation requires.

Intervention and academic enrichment programs are provided before and after school for all students to address student learning loss and supplement the learning that occurs during the regular school day. 

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES

In order to maintain emotional and social support for our students and staff at the Center for Academic Success, we have done the following:           

Students

Students will be able to make an appointment to speak with our school counselors in person or virtually. 

The school counselor provides training to the staff on how to identify the signs and symptoms of common mental health disorders, such as depression and suicide.  A referral process is set up to ensure students are receiving the help they need. 

There is also a school counselor link on the CAS website (www.casschools.com) so that both students and parents can reach out to her when they would like help.  The school counselor page also provides links to the many community resources available.

In addition, CAS school counselors provide support services for Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) throughout the school day, to include classes and afterschool programs.

Staff

CAS school counselors have created a program to address staff social and emotional health needs throughout the school year. 

Program topics include:

• Enhance the work environment through the promotion of a stress-free daily practice.
• Create ways to promote a happy, relaxed “digital habitat” by sharing positive messages with students.
• Increase the number of steps throughout the day to have a better metabolic system.
• Celebrate a mindful week with staff and students special activities each day of the week to upgrade our level of consciousness to be more focused and aware of the present moment.

 PLAN REVIEW AND ADOPTION PROCESS

In order to continue to adequately address our school community’s changing needs, CAS has established a process to seek public input in the review and revision of this plan. 

Every six months, the committee composed of representatives from each of our schools and their stakeholders will meet to review and revise the plan as needed. 

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