Good Afternoon MERSD Community,

I hope you are all enjoying the final weeks of summer vacation!  As the new school year quickly approaches and the back-to-school ads flood all of our media, I am writing to update you on our COVID procedures for the beginning of the school year.

Last night the School Committee voted (6-1) to support the recommendation that we align to the CDC guidelines and begin the year with masking for all when indoors. The indoor masking requirements will take effect on August 23rd, and we will revisit the plan monthly making adjustments as needed.  Below is the full set of COVID procedures, which includes the continuation of Medbot and the implementation of the DESE “test and stay” program.  We are discontinuing pool testing. Overall, we will be returning to our normal procedures and full program operations, with the added precautions of masking and three-foot distancing.   

Sincerely,

Pamela Beaudoin
Superintendent
Manchester Essex Regional Schools

 

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COVID Procedures – Fall 2021 (Link to Slide Deck from 8.171.21 SC Meeting)

Priority Goals:

• Student and Staff Health & Safety
• Open in and sustain full in-person instruction
• Minimize staff and student absences

Recommendation:

• Follow the CDC Prevention Strategies & Recommendations for Masking and Distancing
• Implement Layered Mitigation

Effective:  August 23, 2021

CDC Prevention Strategies

• Promoting vaccination
• Consistent and correct mask use
• Physical distancing
• Screening testing to promptly identify cases, clusters, and outbreaks
• Ventilation
• Handwashing and respiratory etiquette
• Staying home when sick and getting tested
• Contact tracing, in combination with isolation and quarantine
• Cleaning and disinfection

CDC recommends universal indoor masking, physical distancing to the extent possible, and additional prevention strategies to protect students, teachers, and staff. Schools should not exclude students from in-person learning to keep a minimum distance requirement; layering multiple prevention strategies is essential when physical distancing of at least 3 feet is not possible at all times.

MERSD Application of Consistent and correct mask use & Physical distancing

• Masks required for all staff and students indoor activities and on buses (except for medical exemption)
• Maintain three feet distancing guidelines when organizing physical space (classrooms/cafes)
• Single desk seating at lunches
• Public admittance to buildings by appointment only / masks required
• No Restrictions Outdoors

MERSD Application of Screening testing to promptly identify cases, clusters, and outbreaks, Screening testing to promptly identify cases, clusters, and outbreaks, Staying home when sick and getting tested, Contact tracing, in combination with isolation and quarantine

• Continue with MedBot Daily Screener
• Implement the DESE Diagnostic Testing Program
• Symptomatic Testing:(for when individuals present symptoms while at school; individuals should not go to school if experiencing symptoms while at home): Shallow nasal swab samples are collected at school using the BinaxNOW rapid antigen test or another approved diagnostic test.
• "Test and Stay" (close contact testing): Shallow nasal swab samples are collected at school using the BinaxNOW rapid antigen test or another approved diagnostic test. Tests are administered daily from the first day of exposure for at least five (5) days.

MERSD Application of Ventilation and  Cleaning and disinfection

• Standards and practices remain in place from 2020-2021
• MERSD Facilities Cleaning Protocol
• HVAC Report 

MERSD Application Handwashing and respiratory etiquette

• Continue Hygiene stations and routines established Spring 21