On-Campus Learning: COVID-19 Mitigation Measures

Parents and Guardians of Venus ISD students: 


The break from regular classroom has been long, and we are all ready to return. Venus ISD plans to start classes on Tuesday, August 18. Registration for returning students continues through August 4. 


The most effective means of education is face-to-face instruction with the teacher. However, it is easy to understand why some parents are unsure about whether to send their children back to school. Therefore, parents may choose to register their children for On-Line (Connected) Learning.  Either way offers parents the flexibility to choose what is best for their family situation. Students will have the ability to have their classroom setting changed at the Six Weeks grading period. 
Every effort is being made to safeguard the health of our students and staff members. Throughout the school year, we will continue providing teachers with opportunities to work and learn while mitigating risks to COVID-19.


We want to make sure that you are well informed about the measures we will be taking to keep your children safe and your families healthy.  Please see the list below for detailed information on the variety of measures that will be in place for On-Campus learning:


Parents:
Screening

• Parents will screen students for fever, among other symptoms, and for potential exposure to COVID-19 at home, before they travel to school
  
• Parents must ensure they do not send a child to school on campus if the child has COVID-19 symptoms or is lab-confirmed with COVID-19
  
• Click here for a COVID-19 screening guide 
  
• Students will also be screened each day for fever with touchless thermometer when entering school. 
  

Reporting: Parents should call their child’s school if...

• Their child has been diagnosed with COVID-19
  
• Their child has been in close contact to someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 (TEA SY 20-21 Public Health Planning Guidance, page 8)
  
• The child has a fever or is exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms
  
• If a child is diagnosed with an illness other than COVID-19, documentation should be provided to the school nurse, and the nurse will provide guidance on when the student may return to school
  

Buses & Transportation

• Bus Drivers will be trained on cleaning/sanitizing the buses
  
• Buses will be thoroughly cleaned after each bus trip, focusing on high-touch surfaces 
  
• During cleaning, windows will be opened to allow for additional ventilation and air flow
  
• Hand Sanitizer will be provided and use of it is required upon boarding the bus
  
• When possible, bus windows will be open to allow outside air to circulate in the bus
  
• Face masks are required to be worn by all students while riding the bus
  
• Families may elect to drop students off, carpool, or walk with their student to school
  

On-Campus Screening
Teachers & Staff

• Teachers and staff are required to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms before coming onto campus each day, to include temperature screening
  
• Teachers and staff must report to their immediate supervisor if they find themselves to have COVID-19 symptoms, are lab-confirmed with COVID-19, or have been in close contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19.  Also, they must remain off campus until they meet the criteria for re-entry (Response to Employee Exhibiting Symptoms or Diagnosis of COVID‐19 Flowchart & Response to Employee Exposure to COVID-19 Flowchart)
  

Visitors

• Visitors are not allowed on campus
  
• Parents/family members picking up students may come to campus, and:
  
  • Should call ahead so the school can be prepared
    
  • Will be required to wear a mask at all times while on campus
    
  • Will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms, including temperature check
    

Students

• All students will have their temperature checked upon entering the campus.  Those with temperatures at or above 100F will be sent home (HHSC Communicable Disease Chart)
  

Classrooms

•  Students will be physically distanced to the greatest extent possible while in the classroom
  
• Teachers and students will be required to wear masks at all times, unless they can consistently maintain an appropriate physical distance (TEA SY 20-21 Public Health Planning Guidance, page 6 & EO-GA-29)
  
• Hand sanitizer will be available in every classroom and students will be required to use it as they enter the classroom
  
• Surfaces and high-touch areas will be routinely cleaned and disinfected, and all instructional areas will be deep-cleaned regularly 
  

Passing Periods

• Students will wear masks anytime they are in the hallway
  
• Passing periods will be strictly monitored to enforce proper use of PPE and to minimize potential exposure
  

Cafeterias

• Students will need to remove masks for meals, so cafeteria spaces will be expanded (example: using gyms, outdoor spaces, or classrooms) as necessary on each campus to enable students to maintain appropriate distancing
  
• Hand sanitizer will be available in cafeterias, and students will be encouraged to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer prior to eating
  

Infection/Exposure Management
Any individuals who themselves either: (a) are lab-confirmed to have COVID-19; or (b) experience the symptoms of COVID-19 (listed below) must stay at home throughout the infection period, and cannot return to campus until the school system screens the individual to determine any of the below conditions for campus re-entry have been met:

• In the case of an individual who was diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual may return to school when all three of the following criteria are met: 
  
  • at least one day (24 hours) has passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications); 
    
  • the individual has improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and 
    
  • at least ten days have passed since symptoms first appeared. 
    
• In the case of an individual who has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and who is not evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19, such individual is assumed to have COVID-19, and the individual may not return to the campus until the individual has completed the same three-step set of criteria listed above. 
  
• If the individual has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and wants to return to school before completing the above stay at home period, the individual must either (a) obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for return based on an alternative diagnosis or (b) receive two separate confirmations at least 24 hours apart that they are free of COVID via acute infection tests at an approved COVID-19 testing location found at https://tdem.texas.gov/covid-19/. (TEA SY 20-21 Public Health Planning Guidance, page 4).​
  

 
Circumstances involving COVID-19 change almost daily. Therefore, state and local mandates as well as local interests are almost certain to change. Please be assured that we will change and adjust accordingly.  Our goal is to partner with you to provide your child with the best learning experience, in spite of COVID-19.  As our partner, please let us know if there is something we can do that will increase your comfort level with sending your child to On-Campus learning by emailing us at covid19@venusisd.net.
 
Sincerely,
 
James Hopper
Superintendent, Venus Independent School District