We are so excited to welcome back our Summer STEM Camp students this year!
As education providers, one of the most important functions of our job is to ensure the health and safety of our students, families, and staff. As we navigate the world with COVID-19, modifications, and the development of best practices are needed to mitigate the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus and other infectious diseases. Each of our policies is designed to assist agency staff, children, and families in following COVID-19 prevention activities and in designing and implementing daily documented audits of the COVID-19 prevention activities. Children and families must adhere to each of the policies outlined in order to participate.
Social Distancing
Children
We recognize how difficult it is in early education settings to maintain a safe social distance between children. For optimal development, it is important for children to explore their environments and interact with friends. Understanding the challenges social distancing presents for children in the way we think about it for adults, it is not required for children to remain 6 feet apart. However, the following child social distancing practices should be implemented in programs:
- Adhere to reduced staff to child ratios and maximum group size limitations, following those set by the State of Ohio at all times.
- One staff member per nine preschool children (1:9) with no more than nine children in the room. Allowing up to one teacher with nine children.
- When dividing rooms, set precautions in place to ensure that groups do not mix.
- Use temporary 6 foot high dividers to separate classrooms.
- To the extent possible, we will use separate sinks for each group of students. Measures to disinfect will be taken between each use.
- To the extent possible, we will use different bathrooms for each group of students. Measures to disinfect will be taken between each use.
- In creating classroom rosters, the same group of children will be together each day, and the same teacher and education support staff should remain with the same group of children each day to help minimize the spread of infection.
- We will utilize an alternative drop off and pick up procedures. We will alter drop off and pick up to limit direct contact between parents and administrative, teacher, and education support staff members and adhere to social distancing recommendations.
- Restrict the use of the playground to only allow one group of children at a time. We will follow the CDC cleaning guidelines (Disinfection and Cleaning) on how to clean the playground between each group of children.
- Limit the use of any communal indoor space, such as the gym, and common area bathrooms. Measures to disinfect will be taken between each use.
- Cancel all special events such as field trips, excursions, and large-group events, festivals, holiday events, and special performances.
Staff
Administrative, teacher and education support staff members must maintain at least a 6-foot distance between one another at all times to minimize potential COVID-19 exposure. This distance must be maintained while walking into work, clocking in, working in the classroom, during all breaks, etc. (note this is not an all-inclusive list). In some areas directional signage, taped lines, and marks on the floor will be utilized to help administrative, teacher and education support staff members maintain these 6-foot distances. While all staff are responsible for maintaining a 6-foot distance from one another, administrators will be helping to remind teacher and education support staff members if they notice any deviation from the requirement. The following precautions will be made to help maintain social distancing of staff:
- In some classrooms, only one teacher will be in a classroom with children at a time. When two teachers are in a room, 6 feet should remain between staff at all times.
- Breaks should be staggered to have no more than 3 staff utilizing the break or restrooms whenever possible.
- We will utilize the dining room as our break room and will remove half of the chairs in the break room to ensure staff remains 6 feet apart while on breaks.
Visitors, Volunteers and Special Activities
To help protect the health and safety of our children, their families, and our administrative, teacher and education support staff members, activities planned with visitors, volunteers, and outside organizations will be suspended.
Program Space Policy
In order to meet the best practices laid out for social distancing of children, room modifications may be required. In modifying rooms, the following procedures will be in place:
- Use of temporary walls to divide a room into smaller spaces to serve multiple groups, under limited circumstances. Spaces that use dividers will follow the “Using Dividers to Create Separate Spaces in Child Care Centers” guidance from ODJFS to ensure the safety of the children and to comply with fire and licensing regulations.
- Divided classroom should contain at least 35 square feet of space per child.
- The divider should be at least six feet in height.
- The divider should be made from nonporous material or other material that can be sanitized.
- The divider should meet any requirements set by the Department of Commerce, local building department, state fire marshal, or local fire safety inspector
- Each program space shall have 1 staff person and no more than 9 children. In the event that a second adult is present, all social distancing guidelines of 6 feet will be followed.
- In order to be permitted into the building, each child must have their temperature take at the entrance. Once the child is in the building, he/ she will follow our entrance handwashing procedures. If a child has a fever of 100 degree or higher, they will not be permitted into the building.
Handwashing Procedures
Children, as well as administrative, teacher and education support staff members, are required to frequently wash hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Administrative, teacher and education support staff members are to avoid touching their face with bare or gloved hands. Teachers and educational support staff must follow rigorous handwashing procedures as detailed in Appendix B of Ohio Administrative Code 5101:2-12-13.
- Upon arrival for the day, after breaks and upon returning from outside.
- After using the restroom.
- After contact with bodily fluids or cleaning up spills or objects contaminated with bodily fluids.
- After cleaning or sanitizing or using any chemical products.
- After handling pets, pet cages or other pet objects that have come in contact with the pet.
- Before eating, serving or preparing food.
- Before and after completing a medical procedure or administering medication.
- When visibly soiled (must use soap and water).
- Prior to departure.
Cleaning Policy
Disinfection and Cleaning
NOTE: Only cleaning and disinfecting products provided by the program and approved by state and local licensing and compliance entities are to be used. For more information see Appendix A to Rule 5101:2-12-13.
Responsibilities
Teachers
Teachers are responsible for frequently cleaning and disinfecting children’s work areas throughout the day, and provide a thorough disinfecting before drop off and after pick up. Teachers should remove toys from their classroom after each use and place them in a tub to be sanitized outside of their room. Toys made of fabric/cloth and dress up materials must be removed from the classroom permanently.
Administrative Staff
Administrative staff members are responsible for frequently cleaning and disinfecting areas in which they work and that are commonly touched. Examples of these commonly touched areas include desks/workstation surfaces, keyboards, phones, printers and copiers. This is not an all-inclusive list.
Housekeeping Services/Facilities Management
Housekeeping Services/Facilities Management will clean and disinfect common areas like the break rooms, bathrooms, stairs and railings.
Educational Support Staff
In order to meet best practices for cleaning and sanitizing, educational support staff (i.e., those normally assigned as educational support staff and those teachers temporarily moved to this role) will assist teachers in keeping classrooms safe and clean. Educational support staff will collect learning materials removed from outside the classroom (ensuring not to go in) and sanitize these items before returning them. Learning materials made of fabric/cloth materials that cannot be sanitized will be removed from the classroom permanently.
Cleaning Procedures
Adapted from the CDC’s “How to Clean and Disinfect” resource page.
Clean
- Wear disposable gloves to clean and disinfect.
- Clean surfaces using soap and water, then use disinfectant.
- Cleaning with soap and water reduces the number of germs, dirt and impurities on the surface. Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces.
- Wash the surface or item with a detergent solution or other appropriate commercial product used for cleaning purposes. Questions about products must be directed to the manufacturer of the product. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions exactly.
- Practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces.
- Tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc.
Disinfect
NOTE: Only cleaning and disinfecting products provided by the program and approved by state and local licensing and compliance entities are to be used. For more information see Appendix A to Rule 5101:2-12-13.
- We will use a commercial product registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) as a sanitizer that has directions for use that are appropriate for the surface or item you are sanitizing. We will follow manufacturer’s instructions exactly when using any product to sanitize. Many products recommend:
- Keeping surface wet for a period of time (see product label).
- Precautions, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.
- Diluted household bleach solutions may also be used if appropriate for the surface.
- Bleach solutions will be effective for disinfection up to 24 hours.
- Alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol may also be used.
Soft Surfaces
For soft surfaces such as carpeted floor, rugs, and drapes:
- Clean the surface using soap and water or with cleaners appropriate for use on these surfaces.
- Launder items (if possible) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Use the warmest appropriate water setting and dry items completely.
OR
- Disinfect with use of EPA-registered household disinfectant.
- Vacuum as usual.
Electronics
For electronics, such as tablets, touch screens, keyboards, and remote controls:
- Consider putting a wipeable cover on electronics.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and disinfecting.
- If no guidance, use alcohol-based wipes or sprays containing at least 70% alcohol. Dry surface thoroughly.
Cleaning and Disinfecting Outdoor Areas and Playgrounds
- Outdoor areas, like playgrounds, generally require normal routine cleaning, but do not require disinfection.
- Do not spray disinfectant on outdoor playgrounds as it is not an efficient use of supplies and is not proven to reduce risk of COVID-19 to the public.
- High touch surfaces made of plastic or metal, such as grab bars and railings should be cleaned routinely.
- Cleaning and disinfection of wooden surfaces (play structures, benches, tables) or groundcovers (mulch, sand) is not recommended.
- Sidewalks and roads should not be disinfected.
Cleaning and Disinfecting Common Spaces
- Regular cleaning staff can clean and disinfect community spaces.
- Ensure they are trained on appropriate use of cleaning and disinfection chemicals.
- Wear disposable gloves for all tasks in the cleaning process, including handling trash.
- Gloves should be removed carefully to avoid contamination of the wearer and the surrounding area.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.
- Always wash immediately after removing gloves and after contact with a person who is sick.
- Hand sanitizer: If soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 70% alcohol may be used. However, if hands are visibly dirty, always wash hands with soap and water.
Cleaning and Disinfecting Building or Facility if Someone is Sick
- Close off areas used by the person who is sick.
- Open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in the area. If possible, use fans to vent air outside of the room.
- Wait 24 hours before you clean or disinfect. If 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible.
- Clean and disinfect all areas used by the person who is sick, such as offices, bathrooms, common areas, shared electronic equipment like tablets, touch screens, keyboards, and remote controls.
- Vacuum the space if needed. Use a vacuum equipped with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, if available.
- Do not vacuum a room or space that has people in it. Wait until the room or space is empty to vacuum, such as at night for common spaces, or during the day for private rooms.
- Consider temporarily turning off room fans and the central HVAC system that services the room or space, so that particles that escape from vacuuming will not circulate throughout the facility.
- Once an area has been appropriately disinfected, it can be opened for use.
- If more than 7 days since the person who is sick visited or used the facility, additional cleaning and disinfection is not necessary.