SANFORD — School District Schools reopened for student attendance Aug. 24 and while many of their COVID-19 precautions seem like those in other districts, others are very different.

Student extracurricular and co-curricular activities such as athletics have resumed summer workouts with safety plans approved by administration, along with county health officials, and shared with stakeholders.

The Sanford Schools Administration, school board and faculty pride themselves in already having a wide variety of educational options for the students and say now is no different, though in-person, face-to-face is strongly recommended.

“We are sure that whatever your student or family may be facing; we have a solution for them. As with all best-laid plans, this plan is subject to change in this ever-changing pandemic environment.”

Partnering with parents
As partners in each child’s education, we share a great responsibility to keep each other safe during this COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to keep school in session without numerous breaks for cleaning or quarantine, it is vital that parents keep their children home if they have any COVID-19 symptoms.

You should check your child for symptoms before sending them to the bus stop or before dropping them off at school. The Sanford district’s goal is to continue to instruct students in person. The only way this can effectively happen is if we keep COVID-19 out of our building.

General classroom arrangements
• To the degree practicable, all student desks and tables will be arranged to allow for maximum student-to-student distancing.
• All students will face the same direction rather than sitting in groups or facing each other.
• In shops, gyms, etc. staff will consider taking attendance and providing instruction in larger spaces or outdoors rather than classroom seating.
• Large band, choir, etc. classes may want to arrange for larger spaces or outdoor practice when possible.
• Disinfecting supplies, hand sanitizer, and classroom plans for cleaning between classes will be in place.
• Ensure equipment cleaning and disinfecting practices by students and staff in gyms, labs and shops are followed. No “loaner” materials such as PE clothes should be allowed.
• Classrooms will be free of any additional or unnecessary furniture or clutter that may get in the way of distancing or disinfecting practices.
• As students transition from one classroom to another, each desk and chair will be sanitized, and each student will sanitize their hands before exiting the classroom. This ensures that the desks and chairs are clean before students enter the room and are seated.

Sanford’s plan and timeline to reopen aligns with other districts in our region and most of the state of Colorado. It will be reviewed by the Conejos County Health Officer to provide feedback on recommended safety measures and protocols to help slow and reduce the spread of COVID-19 during the continuing pandemic.

Staff and administration are confident that the plans and procedures will allow students to return safely and receive the education they deserve.

This plan not only covers the safety measures in place for our campus but also the supports in place, should a student become ill or live in a household with an infected family member and need to have an extended absence.

Outside guests will be limited to individuals or agencies providing direct services to our students.

• Parents and guardians will be limited to waiting areas in offices unless they have an appointment on campus with an individual.

• All guests must wear face coverings until the guidance rules say otherwise. Guests will go through the check-in process if they are interacting with students and staff.

In situations in which a student may become ill and need to stay home for an extended period of time or if a family member is ill and the student is asked to stay home until they are cleared to return, it will be critical that simple access to classwork be available.

In addition, in a worst-case scenario in which the school would be forced to close for a period of time, instruction needs to remain as seamless as possible.
Using Google Classroom/blended learning platform extensively with elementary students can aid in this case.

Grades 3-6 will be familiar with and using the Google Classroom/Zoom during regular instruction.

• Students and parents must ensure that student devices are readily accessible and able to connect to Wi-Fi and check both Gmail and Google Classroom daily.

• Reinforce student use of Google Suite apps, particularly Google Docs to align with Google Class-room usage

• Reinforce the use of student email as the common means of student communication.

Older students
The precautions and requirements are much the same as for younger students. In a worst-case scenario in which the school would be forced to close for a period of time, instruction needs to remain as seamless as possible. Using Google Classroom/blended learning platform extensively can aid in this case. To that end, students and teachers shall ensure that grades 7-12 are familiar and using the Google Classroom/Zoom during regular instruction.

• Reinforce the use of student email as the common means of student communication. “We share this great responsibility to keep others safe.” “Please keep in mind that our plan must meet specific guidelines as set by the CDC, CDE, CDPHE and CCPH. While our first goal is to get students back in school, we must follow specific protocols to keep our doors open for in-person instruction.”