The purpose of this document is to share information and procedures related to Pilchuck Learning Center’s COVID-19 response plan in order to maximize in-person instruction and minimize COVID-19 transmission. Our goal is to provide clarity on decisions and considerations required to support PLC’s operations as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Key decisions outlined were guided by the Snohomish County Health Department, Washington State Health Department and the CDC, and then made by the PLC Board of Trustees. As members of the Stanwood Camano School District (“SCSD”) service area, a great number of our decisions match the policy of the district or tend to be more conservative. We anticipate response efforts may change as we work through the 2021-2022 school year and this information will be periodically updated.

The individual health and safety of our staff and students are critical. The most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to get vaccinated, wear a mask, clean your hands frequently, cover your cough with the bend of an elbow or tissue, maintain physical distance from others when possible, and stay home if you are sick with flu-like symptoms until you have received a negative COVID-19 test. Other layering mitigation strategies include proper ventilation, cleaning, and contact tracing in combination with quarantine and isolation.

If your child is positively diagnosed with COVID-19 or is a close contact of someone positively diagnosed with COVID-19 please follow guidance in this document then contact Robyn Dalberg, PLC’s President and Preschool Director: dalberg.littlered@gmail.com 360-629-2560. She can answer questions you have related to PLC’s COVID-19 Response Plan.

EFFECTIVE PROTECTION

Vaccination

Vaccination is the most effective prevention strategy available for allowing schools to conduct full-time in-person instruction. Since those we serve are not able to be vaccinated at this point in time, staff and any volunteers are required to be fully vaccinated by October 18, 2021 in an effort to safeguard the health of our entire community.

Mask Protocol

Everyone on PLC’s campus will wear a mask while indoors. Masks may be removed at snack time and outdoors while some distancing will be encouraged. Unvaccinated adults on campus will wear a mask at all times.

A cloth face covering is anything that completely covers the mouth and nose and fits securely on the sides of the face and under the chin. It should be made of two or more layers of tightly woven fabric with ties or straps that go around a person’s head or behind their ears. To align with SCSD Policy, gaiters are not an acceptable face covering for preschool.

Fully vaccinated staff who are alone in their own office or classroom not easily accessible to the public, or meeting with other fully vaccinated staff in an office or classroom not easily accessible to the public do not have to wear a face covering when students are not present, 6 feet of distance is still recommended. If a 6-foot distance cannot be maintained outdoors, masks are required for unvaccinated adults and recommended for vaccinated individuals.

PLC supports students and staff who choose to wear a mask in all situations.

What are the approved exceptions to mask wearing? The Washington State Secretary of Health’s Mask Order clarifies that face coverings are not required by: ● Those under 2 years of age. ● People with a medical condition, mental health condition, developmental or cognitive condition, or disability that prevents wearing a face covering. This includes, but is not limited to, people with a medical condition for whom wearing a face covering could obstruct breathing or who are unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance. ● Those who are deaf or hard of hearing, and those who provide their instruction and use facial and mouth movements as part of communication. ● In rare circumstances when a cloth face covering cannot be worn, students and staff may use a clear face covering or a face shield with a drape or wrap as an alternative to a cloth face covering. If used, face shields should extend below the chin, wrap around to the ears, and have no gap at the forehead. ● Younger students age 2 to 4 years old must be supervised when wearing a face covering which is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. These students may need help with their masks and getting used to wearing them.

Personal Hygiene

Adults will support students in using good personal hygiene while on campus.

Wash hands for 20 seconds frequently using soap and water or use a hand sanitizing solution of at least 70% alcohol, rubbing all areas of hands until dry. NOTE: Washing hands with soap and water is preferred and should be used wherever possible.

Students will be encouraged to wash (or at least sanitize) hands when

entering either building

prior to and after eating and/or after adjusting their mask

before and after using shared toys and outside play

Personal Hygiene supplies, including hand sanitizer, wipes, etc., will be available to all staff and students to use throughout the day.

Staff and students should cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and immediately wash their hands after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing.

Physical Distancing

The Department of Health Guidelines state that physical distancing requirements should not prevent a school from offering full-time in-person learning to students this Autumn. As such, we will encourage 3–6-foot physical distance amongst students as often as possible; during snack time we will seat students as far apart from each other as possible while unmasked.

Generally, a close contact is someone who was within six feet of a person with COVID-19 for at least 15 cumulative minutes over a 24-hour period during the period of time when the person with COVID-19 was infectious.

In an indoor classroom, the close contact definition excludes students who were at least three feet away from an infected student when (a) both students were wearing face coverings/masks and (b) other prevention strategies were in place. This exception does not apply to teachers, staff, or other adults in the indoor classroom setting.

The ultimate determination of close contact is made by the local health jurisdiction during its investigation; it may delegate this determination if appropriate.

Illness

Staying home when sick with COVID-19 is essential to keep COVID-19 infections out of the preschool and prevent spread to others. Students and staff who have symptoms of infectious illness, such as influenza (flu) or COVID-19, should stay home and seek medical evaluation, which may include testing for COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.

Students and staff with symptoms that only last LESS THAN 24 hours may return to school symptom free. If symptoms continue for MORE THAN 24 hours, it will be necessary to have a doctor diagnose a reason other than COVID for the symptoms or 14-day quarantine will be required before return to school.

When a person with symptoms is identified we will be in contact with the Public Health Department for advice on who will be quarantined, contact tracing assistance and return to school timeline. Individuals will be contacted as needed with quarantining info and any testing recommendations. Timelines will vary based on diagnosis versus exposure and weather the staff or students are able to actually isolate or quarantine fully.

Further guidance can be found both on the Snohomish County Health Department website or the Washington State Department of Health website.

LAYERED MITIGATION STRATEGIES

Use of Shared Items

To the extent possible we will be limiting the use of shared items, removing items that are difficult to clean or disinfect, keeping student’s belongings away from others. Each student will have their own tool kits and playdoh tubs. Other toys that may be shared will only be used after students wash their hands; the toys will be cleaned and sanitized after each group use. Outdoor recess is proven to be safe; masks can be removed outdoors; we will encourage social distance maintenance. Playground staff will remind unmasked groups to keep their spacing. Students are expected to wash hands before and after recess.

Building Ventilation

New heap air filters are available in both classroom spaces to improve ventilation

Screens are installed on all windows to allow windows to remain open and continue fresh air circulation. Windows and doors will be left open for at least 30 minutes prior to and following class sessions and while cleaning each day.

Restroom exhaust fans will be left on during the school day

Filters will be changed as scheduled according to manufacturer directions.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

In alignment with public health recommendations, PLC is taking measures to prevent community spread of COVID-19, which includes undertaking enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedures. These are basic cleaning definitions:

*Cleaning removes germs, dirt, food, body fluids, and other material.

*Sanitizing reduces germs on surfaces to safe levels.

*Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces of a clean object.

We have hired additional classroom support to assist in our efforts to increase the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting, focusing on high-touch surfaces, such as classrooms, bathrooms, hallways, common spaces, handrails, tables, faucets, and doorknobs. Increased frequency of cleaning and disinfecting with attention to these areas helps remove bacteria and viruses, including the novel coronavirus.

Classrooms and bathrooms will be cleaned and disinfected as needed and at the end of each class period in preparation for the following session by teachers, or as needed throughout class time by an assistant.

Contact Tracing, Quarantining and Isolation

To prepare for the potential of students or staff infected with COVID-19 while at our preschool, PLC’s response and communication plan includes communication with staff, families, and our local health jurisdiction.

To quarantine means when someone who has been exposed to COVID-19 stays home and away from others for the recommended period of time in case they were infected and are contagious. People who may be exempt from quarantine:

Close contacts who are fully vaccinated and do not have symptoms, do not need to quarantine but should watch for symptoms and get tested if symptoms develop.

Close contact who had confirmed COVID-19 in the past 3 months, have recovered and do not have symptoms, do not need to quarantine but should watch for symptoms and get tested if symptoms develop.

If a close contact is neither fully vaccinated nor recovered from confirmed COVID-19 in the past three months and does not have symptoms, the close contact must be quarantined.

Again, the ultimate determination of close contact is made by the local health jurisdiction during its investigation; it may delegate this determination if appropriate.

Visitors

Visitors will not be allowed on campus at this time unless they arrive to pick up a sick child, with that we still advise you call upon arrival and a teacher will bring your child to the car. 360-629-2530. All visitors must wear a mask before entering the building and leave it on while inside.

Volunteers who work with students in any capacity need to be fully vaccinated and masked.

Exposures and Test Results

If a person with COVID-19 symptoms tests negative for SARS-CoV-2 with a molecular test, they may return to school following existing school illness management policies so long as they are not a close contact of someone with COVID-19 and subject to quarantine. If a person with COVID-19 symptoms tests negative for SARS-CoV-2 with an antigen test, per CDC antigen testing guidance, a confirmatory lab-based molecular test is recommended. An alternative to confirmatory NAAT testing is serial antigen testing performed every 3–7 days for 14 days.

If a person with COVID-19 symptoms does not get tested or see a healthcare provider and given an alternative diagnosis, they should follow the same isolation guidance as persons who test positive. This is irrespective of vaccination status.

Student Illness during School Day

If a student becomes ill during the school day, the teacher should call an administrator and a designee will come to the classroom to escort the student outside to a covered area in the parking lot until the parent/guardian can pick him up. A school designee (teacher or assistant) will have supervision of the student during this time.

Testing

Timely testing of symptomatic students and staff helps reduce days of in-person instruction lost. Symptomatic individuals with negative COVID-19 test results may be able to return to school earlier.

Responding to Cases of COVID-19

PLC is following the Department of Public Health Snohomish County Response guidance for COVID-19. We will follow the Department of Public Health flowchart, which outlines when students and staff can and cannot attend school as it relates to COVID-19. See Page 6.

Staff and Student COVID-19 Reporting

If staff or students tests positive for COVID-19 or have been in close proximity to someone with COVID-19, contact Robyn Dalberg at 360-629-2530 and/or dalberg.littlered@gmail.com so the case can be triaged according to the procedures below. Mrs. Dalberg will manage each report per Snohomish County Department of Health and ensure the following steps are completed.

Gather facts about the individual reporting the diagnosis such as onset of symptoms, assessment of onsite exposure and identification of close contacts 48 hours before symptoms started.

Receive close contact list from Snohomish County investigator, if available.

Provide phone notification to individual affected and all known close contacts.

Contact the Snohomish County Department of Health to report the individual with a COVID-19 diagnosis.

Follow-Up with Affected Individuals

For people who have reported their COVID-19 status to us, we will check-in with them to get updates periodically. The objectives of this are:

Help ensure they are getting the support they need from Little Red

Determine whether they have recovered from their symptoms

Find out if they have been admitted to the hospital and track them while in the hospital

Get updates on pending tests.

Quarantine

Is when someone who has been exposed to COVID-19 stays home and away from others for the recommended period of time in case they were infected and are contagious. People who may be exempt from quarantine:

Close contacts who are fully vaccinated and do not have symptoms, do not need to quarantine but should watch for symptoms and get tested if symptoms develop.

Close contact who had confirmed COVID-19 in the past three months, have recovered and do not have symptoms, do not need to quarantine but should watch for symptoms and get tested if symptoms develop.

If a close contact is neither fully vaccinated nor recovered from confirmed COVID-19 in the past three months and does not have symptoms, the close contact must be quarantined.

Isolation

If a person tests positive for COVID-19, they can return to school when the following criteria are met:

10 days since symptom onset, or since positive test specimen collection date if no symptoms are present (up to 20 days for those for those who are severely ill or severely immunocompromised), AND

24 hours after fever resolves without use of fever-reducing medications, AND

Symptoms have improved

This isolation guidance applies regardless of vaccination status. PLC wished to apologize if any of these statements appear harsh, contradictory or overbearing. As a small independent nonprofit that has only last month won 2 Certificate of Occupancies in Snohomish County, we believe we have to match and/or exceed the County and Stanwood Camano School District Policies.

Department of Public Health Flow Chart

If a person with COVID-19 symptoms tests negative for SARS-CoV-2 with a molecular test, they may return to school following existing school illness management policies so long as they are not a close contact of someone with COVID-19 and subject to quarantine.

If a person with COVID-19 symptoms tests negative for SARS-CoV-2 with an antigen test, per CDC antigen testing guidance, a confirmatory lab-based molecular test is recommended. An alternative to confirmatory NAAT testing is serial antigen testing performed every 3–7 days for 14 days.

If a person with COVID-19 symptoms does not get tested for SARS-CoV-2 or see a healthcare provider and is given an alternative diagnosis, they should follow the same isolation guidance as persons who test positive for SARS-CoV-2. This is irrespective of vaccination status.

Thank you,

Robyn Dalberg                                             David Thomsen​​

____________________________                                                                              ______________________________

Robyn Dalberg, Preschool Director                                                                David Thomsen, PhD, Chair

Pilchuck Learning Center President, Trustee                                               Pilchuck Learning Center Trustee

Pilchuck Learning Center (“PLC”) a WA State nonprofit,

UBI 602180466, IRS TEE 47-0849914, WA State REG# 1128409

2420 300th Street NW

Stanwood, Washington 98292