CREC Schools
Safe Return to In-Person Instruction
and Continuity of Services
Capitol Region Education Council
111 Charter Oak Ave
Hartford, CT 06106
Updated December 21, 2021
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Introduction
The CREC Magnet Schools developed its plan for reopening its schools for the 2020-21 school year with a focus on the following four core principles:
We are now turning our attention to the 2021-22 school year and the return to full in-person learning, unless health metrics and guidance from the Connecticut State Departments of Public Health and Education advise us otherwise.
Federal grant monies have been made available to the CREC Magnet Schools to assist with overcoming this year of learning during a pandemic. A prerequisite for receiving this funding is posting our plan for returning to school in the fall of 2021. This plan has been updated as of December 21, 2021.
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Health and Safety Strategies
The table below highlights several mitigation strategies employed during the 2021-22 school year.
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Mitigation Strategy
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CREC’s Response
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Universal and correct wearing of masks
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CREC Magnet School students and staff wear masks while on school property, with the exception of lunch and snack periods, and outdoor recess and physical education classes.
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Physical distancing (e.g., including use of cohorts/podding).
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During the 2021-22 school year the CREC Magnet Schools continues to maximize the amount of space between student work stations, with three feet (per CDC guidelines) as the standard. The CREC Magnet Schools will continue to adhere to guidance from the CDC and the Departments of Education and Public Health.
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Handwashing and respiratory etiquette
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The CREC Magnet Schools continue to encourage and enforce healthy habits to reduce the risk of any infection. Students continue to have frequent opportunities to wash their hands and hand sanitizer will be available in all classrooms and common areas.
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Cleaning and maintaining healthy facilities, including improving ventilation
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The CREC Magnet Schools continues to follow best practices dictated by the CDC and the Department of Public Health. The schools are thoroughly cleaned at the end of each day, and restrooms are cleaned throughout the day. Classrooms continue to have cleaning supplies available to wipe down student work stations. Upgrades to the HVAC system continue in order to allow for maximum fresh air to circulate through school buildings without compromising the heating or cooling functions.
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Contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine, in collaboration with the State, local, territorial, or Tribal health departments
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Each time there is a positive Covid-19 case in the CREC Magnet Schools extensive contact tracing occurs in collaboration with CREC’s Director of Health Services and the local Department of Public Health. CREC Magnet Schools adopted the Governor’s ‘screen and stay’ program to allow students who qualify to continue with in-person learning.
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Diagnostic screening and testing
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All school personnel were trained to identify potential symptoms of Covid-19 and refer students and staff to the school nurse if needed. The school nurse in consultation with the CREC Director of Health Services advises families and staff if they should seek a Covid-19 test.
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Efforts to provide vaccinations to educators, other staff, and students, if eligible
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CREC in conjunction with community partners hosted a series of vaccination clinics for all CREC staff and students. In addition, during the weekly Covid-19 update emailed to staff and families, CREC provides information about the various locations throughout Connecticut that were offering the vaccine. CREC offers weekly testing clinics for those non-vaccinated employees required to submit a negative test each week.
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Appropriate accommodations for children with disabilities with respect to the health and safety policies
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To the extent possible and with the cooperation of the appropriate LEA; PPT and 504 meetings are conducted virtually, as requested by parents. This strategy has significantly raised parent participation and has eased the burden for many of our families of having to decide between staying at work and attending the meeting. CREC remains ready to provide instruction and related services in a virtual environment should the need arise for our most vulnerable students OR to cooperate with SDE in assuming responsibility for service provision of said students.
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Continuity of Services
The CREC Magnet Schools continues to welcome students into its school buildings to learn. It is the intention, barring any change to health metrics or state and federal guidance, that all students and staff will continue to be in-person with the following in mind:
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There is the potential of significant academic impact for some students as a result of learning during the pandemic. The CREC Magnet Schools are prepared with additional curricular materials and academic personnel to provide targeted instruction and intervention to those who need it the most.
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Students may have experienced trauma during school closures, ranging from losing a loved one, living in an unsafe or unstable home, or to more basic challenges of feeling loneliness from being isolated from their peers or enduring greater stress than usual. Also, students and staff may be apprehensive to return to full in-person learning in the fall. The CREC Magnet Schools is committed to providing additional social and emotional support through additional staffing and programming to ensure a smooth transition for all who are reentering.
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Public Comment
The Superintendent of the CREC Magnet Schools meets monthly with student, staff, and parent senates. Through these constituent groups, the district receives feedback and suggestions about the CREC Magnet Schools operations.
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Understandable and Uniform Format
Federal regulations require that this plan be in an understandable format and written in a language that parents can understand and access. The CREC Magnet Schools will offer this plan in Spanish, and will have alternative formats made available upon request.
CREC Schools Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services - PDF