Masks will be optional in Danbury Schools as of today. The Danbury Board of Education Policy Committee held a special meeting last night, followed by a meeting of the full Board of Ed. Members voted unanimously to suspend its mask policy and two other pandemic-related policies.
Danbury Health Director Kara Prunty told the Board that updated federal and state guidelines, coupled with the new low transmission rates and relatively high vaccine rates among kids led to the recommendation. Danbury has a case rate of 8.3 cases per 100,000 residents and a positivity rate of 4.2 percent. The CDC also announced Friday that masks are no longer required on school buses.
School Nurse Kathy O'Dowd says there are still a few times when masks will be required. One is when students or staff who tested positive return from quarantine on day 6. Masks will be required on days six through 10 of COVID infection.
At the regular Board of Ed meeting last week members said they wouldn't be making a decision until their March 23rd meeting, the day after kids going to the last pediatric vaccine clinic would be considered fully vaccinated.
Board chair Rachel Chaleski thanked members for doing their due diligence waiting for all of the guidance that they said they were going to receive. She acknowledged that they were all under a lot of pressure to take action. An online petition calling for masks to be optional gained more than 500 signatures in recent days.
Superintendent Kevin Walston met with principals yesterday regarding the possible changes and will circulate a letter to families urging support for those who continue wearing masks.
Other policies are:
Temporary Restrictions on Nonessential Visitors to School Facilities
Nonessential visitors will not be allowed access to school facilities before, during, or after the school day when school is in session. This restriction will not apply to visitors or employees who need to access the school systems central office in order to process paperwork, to attend meetings with school officials. These temporary restrictions shall remain in effect until repealed by the school board.
Policy adopted: September 23, 2020
Physical Distancing
Students, staff, volunteers, and visitors will attempt to maintain a six-foot distance between themselves and their colleagues and peers throughout the school day inside any school building and on school property before and after school. The District shall strive to maintain the recommended social distancing to the maximum extent possible under the circumstances presented. Staff members will arrange classrooms and restructure instruction, and food service to meet this standard, to the extent possible.
Recess will continue as scheduled in accordance with physical distancing guidance.
Drop off and pick up of students will be completed in a manner that limits direct contact between parents/guardians and staff members and adheres to social distancing expectations around the exterior of the school building while on school property.
Cleaning and Disinfecting
Designated school district personnel will routinely both clean by removing germs, dirt and impurities and disinfect by using chemicals to kill germs on all surfaces and objects in any school building and on school property that are frequently touched. This process shall include cleaning objects/surfaces not ordinarily cleaned daily.
Designated personnel will clean with the cleaners typically used and will use all cleaning products according to the directions on the label. Personnel will disinfect with common EPA registered household disinfectants. A list of products that are EPA-approved for use against the virus that causes COVID-19 is available from the administration. Personnel will follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products used by the District.
The District will provide EPA-registered disposable wipes to teachers, staff, and secondary students so that commonly used surfaces (e.g., keyboards, desks, remote controls) can be wiped down before use. Teacher or administrators are required to ensure adequate supplies to support cleaning and disinfection practices are available.
Student Arrival
Hand hygiene stations will be available at the entrance of any school building, so that children can clean their hands before they enter. If a sink with soap and water is not available, the District will provide hand sanitizer with at least 70% alcohol. Hand sanitizer will be kept out of elementary students’ reach and such student use will be supervised by staff.
A District employee will greet children outside the school as they arrive to ensure orderly compliance with the provisions of this policy.
Temperature Screening
A school nurse or designated School District staff are authorized to test, when necessary, the temperature of students with an approved non-contact or touchless temperature reader. Students who have a fever or are exhibiting other signs of illness must be isolated in the designated isolation room, and/or waiting outside under the supervision of a staff member until parents, guardians or caregivers arrive at the school to retrieve the student. All surfaces and areas should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected once the student has vacated the area by designated staff utilizing safety measures in accordance with state and/or local health standards as applicable.
When administering a temperature check on a possibly ill student, the nurse or designated staff member will utilize available physical barriers and personal protective equipment to eliminate or minimize exposures due to close contact to a child who has symptoms during screening.
