COVID-19 Resources and Protocols
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The health, safety, and welfare of students, staff, and the community remains the highest priority for the Brandywine School District. As a district, we are implementing protocols, safety measures, and expectations to ensure the safety of all who enter our buildings.
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Revised Protocols for Student Isolation and Quarantine - March 2022
BSD has revised its guidance on isolation and quarantine based on recommendations by the CDC and the lifting of the universal mask mandate for P-12 public and private schools by Governor Carney effective 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1st.
HERE for the guidance document.
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COVID Testing
The Brandywine School District is taking advantage of the Delaware Division of Public Health's (DPH) offer to provide weekly COVID testing for students and staff. The State has contracted with the Quidel Corporation, a diagnostic healthcare company, to provide this service free of charge as yet another layered mitigation strategy to keep students, staff, and families safe. Parents must complete the consent form to enroll their child(ren) for testing. No student will be tested without the consent of the parent(s) or legal guardian(s).
Quidel COVID-19 Testing
- Parents will complete a one-time registration for their child to be tested weekly at school for the 2021-2022 school year. Register your child at this website.
- The nurse and the school administration will be given the list of names of students who have registered through the website.
- Each school will be assigned a day of the week and a block of time to complete the testing.
- A Quidel nurse will come to the school on the designated day and time to perform the testing only on those students whose parents have completed the online registration and permission.
- Each school will determine whether testing will be done in the nurse’s office or outside the classroom. We want to limit time out of the classroom so education is not interrupted.
- A shallow nasal swab will be performed by the Quidel nurse in each nostril with a cotton-tipped swab. The sample will then be placed in the reagent and labeled with the child’s information.
- The student can immediately return to class.
- After all testing at the school has been completed the properly labeled samples will be transported to the Quidel Lab for results. Results will be completed by 5 PM on the testing date.
- If a positive result is entered, an email will go out to the point of contact provided at registration. (parents/guardian)
- The person at the testing hub will call the school nurse to inform them of positive result. If the student is still at school, that student will isolated in the Nurse’s Office and the parent/guardian will be notified to pick student up from school. The Quidel nurse will return to the school to do a second swab for PCR testing. A courier will pick up the swab from school to send to DPH lab
- The remaining students will be placed in another location while the room is being cleaned and sanitized.
- Contact tracing and procedures will be conducted.
- You will only receive a phone call on the day of testing if your child tests positive.
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Hand Hygiene
Clean hands save lives! Germs are everywhere. They can get onto hands and items we touch during daily activities and make us sick. Cleaning hands at key times with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropyl alcohol content if soap and water is not readily available is one of the most important steps a person can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to those around you. Cleansing hands helps prevent a variety of infections because:
- People frequently touch their eyes, nose, and mouth without even realizing it. Germs can get into the body through the mouth, nose, and eyes and make us sick.
- Germs from unwashed hands can be transferred to other objects, like handrails, tabletops, or keyboards, and then be transferred to another person’s hands.
- Removing germs through handwashing therefore helps prevent diarrhea and respiratory infections and may even help prevent skin and eye infections.
In the Brandywine School District, we will establish a culture of hand hygiene by:
- Daily hand washing routines, especially at key times such as bathroom breaks or after playing outside.
- All students will wash their hands prior to eating lunch or snacks.
- All classrooms and offices will be supplied with hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol (per CDC recommendation). Hand sanitizers may be placed near frequently touched surfaces (e.g. doors, shared equipment) and areas where soap and water are not readily available (e.g. cafeterias, classrooms, gym).
- Students at the elementary level will have adult-supervised access and use of the hand sanitizer.
- Staff are to wash hands or use hand sanitizer every time a new group of students enters their room.
Hand Sanitizer Opt-Out
If your child is unable to use hand sanitizer for any reason, please complete this form and return it to your child's school nurse. En español
Additional Information
- ​Children are more apt to develop healthy hygiene habits and routines when the routines at school and at home are similar. Click here to access a video demonstrating the hand washing routine taught and used in BSD elementary classrooms.
- ​The BSD Facilities Department purchased and installed 750 battery operated, motion-activated soap dispensers. We have a stock of 375 cases of soap on hand.
- In addition, the Facilities Department purchased and installed an additional 250 paper towel dispensers.
Resources
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Self-Screening Tools
To assist in keeping all students and staff as healthy and safe as possible, all parents are responsible for screening their child(ren) using the two-part health screener below before sending them off to school.
All staff are also required to complete the same two-part health screening before arriving at work and entering their assigned building. Any employee who begins to feel ill or develops symptoms associated with COVID-19 while at work must immediately contact their immediate supervisor and the school nurse, isolate themselves, and await further instructions.
Additional Resources:
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Arts
The Arts
Masks for singing and playing instruments, as well as bell covers, are optional for students in class, rehearsals, and performances.
The District will continue its use of the following mitigation strategies:
- Outdoor rehearsals are still encouraged, when possible
- HVAC controls are set to meet or exceed the recommended six (6) full room exchanges of fresh air per hour
- Singers, musicians, and teachers are to maintain three (3) feet of social distancing at all times
Instrumental Music
- Elementary recorder lessons are cancelled for the 2021.22 school year
- Instrumental lessons and rehearsals are permitted provided students are at least three (3) or more feet of social distance is used between musicians
- Students may not share mouthpieces of any instrument
- Students must follow the safety precautions of the teacher when clearing spit valves to eliminate the possibility of contact with others and to allow proper disposal thereof
- Students are required to follow the manufacturer's instructions and thoroughly clean their instruments between uses
- Bell covers for brass and woodwind instruments are optional
- Musicians are encouraged to wash their hands before and after each lesson, rehearsal, and performance
Vocal Music
- Vocal rehearsals are permitted indoors provided students are at least three (3) or more feet of social distance exists between performers and performers are all facing the same direction
- Where possible, teachers should arrange singers to maximize distance between individuals with the goal of six (6) or more feet between singers
Visual Arts
- Students are to maintain a minimum of three (3) feet of social distancing at all times
- Arts are encouraged to wash their hands before and after the use of any shared materials
Dance
- Students are to maintain a minimum of three (3) feet of social distancing at all times
- Dancer should avoid physical contact as much as possible.
- Dancers are encouraged to wash their hands before and after lessons, rehearsals, and performances
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Classrooms
Classroom Set-Up and Configuration
- The size of classrooms (square footage) and configuration (built in features) vary not only across buildings, but also within the same building. Students will be separated in the classroom to the greatest extent possible, with the target distance between students being three (3) or more feet.
- To ensure proper social distancing, most classrooms will continue the use of individual desks or tables that allow 3 feet of distance between students.
- Space permitting, work tables may still be made available; however, students must be seated on the same side of the work table and must adhere to the three (3) foot social distancing target.
- All desks will be arranged all facing the same direction, when possible.
- Classes without desks (e.g. physical education, music, art, etc.) must ensure the three (3) foot social distancing target is used in the design of their classroom spaces and seating charts.
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Cleaning
Sanitation, Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols
The following cleaning routines will be adhered to in all BSD schools:
- BSD uses RMC's Enviro Care Neutral Disinfectant as its primary disinfectant
- This product is listed on the EPA's List N as an approved COVID-19 disinfectant
- All student desks will be cleaned and disinfected on a daily basis
- To assist in disinfecting of hard to reach or clean areas, the District has purchased a number of Victory cordless electro-static disinfecting sprayers
- These sprayers emit a fine mist of disinfectant that is electrically charged to better adhere and reach around objects as they are disinfected
- Custodial teams will continue to receive specialized training and adjusted routines to ensure that BSD is in compliance with all DoE, DPH, and CDC cleaning guidance and best practices
You can read our comprehensive BSD Cleaning Protocols booklet here.
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Common Areas
Expectations and Protocols for Common Areas
- Common areas are defined as areas of the school or campus other than classrooms that can be occupied by multiple individuals
- Examples of common areas include, but are not limited to, cafeteria, hallways, bathrooms, main office, nurse's office, auditorium, library, computer labs, playground, nature trails, sidewalks, and bus stops
- Social distancing of three (3) feet or more should be maintained between students should be maintained in common areas
- Should conditions warrant, staggered class dismissal systems will be used to ensure that three (3) feet of social distancing is maintained
- In some schools breakfast meals will be delivered to students' classrooms
- In the event the number of students allows for social distancing during lunch periods, the cafeteria will be used
- After each group, the cafeteria table and seats will be disinfected
- If the number of students exceeds the capacity of the cafeteria, students will eat in other designated areas of the school that are appropriately supervised by staff
- School-sponsored before and after school clubs, groups, and team activities are approved for the 2021-22 school year
- All such meetings must receive prior approval from the building principal and must ensure capacity limits and social distancing requirements of three (3) feet or greater are met
- All in-person student and parent night events are permitted at this time (e.g. concerts, PTA/PTO meetings, booster clubs, etc.)
- Staff and student points of entry and exit will be minimized by the building principals to reduce the need for frequent disinfecting
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Social Distancing
Social Distancing Protocols
- All individuals on Brandywine School District premises must maintain proper social distancing.
Proper social distancing is defined as a three (3) foot separation between individuals when possible. - In-person gatherings must be able to accommodate a minimum of three (3) feet of social distancing between individuals. Larger events in which the anticipated audience size exceeds the ability to safely socially distance attendees should include a virtual option to reduce the number of in-person attendees
- All individuals on Brandywine School District premises must maintain proper social distancing.
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Sports
Sports Protocols
Elementary Schools
- Masks are optional for student-athletes, coaches, and spectators
- Athletes are not permitted to share water bottles
Secondary Schools
The Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) is the ruling body governing competitive high school sports. The Brandywine School District endorses the following DIAA recommendations for student athletes and competitions.
- Vaccination is strongly encouraged for student-athletes and coaches
- Masks are optional for student-athletes, coaches, and spectators
- Sports teams and coaches will follow all Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines in determining quarantine and isolation of student-athletes and their return to athletic play
- Appropriate sports hygiene will be followed (e.g. not sharing water bottles, avoid spitting, frequent handwashing, availability of hand sanitizer, etc.).
- Social distancing will be encouraged whenever possible, including at practices and when traveling on buses
- No handshakes before or after games to eliminate unnecessary contact between players
Additional information on the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association can be found here.
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Technology
District Issued Devices
District-provided laptops/devices will be available for all students. Device distribution and signing of loan agreement will be handled at the school level.
- 3rd grade through 12th grade will be issued Chromebooks
- Kindergarten through 2nd grade will be issued touch-screen Chromebooks
- Preschoolers will be issued iPads
Note: Kindergarten students will be issued a device after teachers have had the opportunity to teach students about the use and care of devices during the first few weeks of school.
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Ventilation
Air Quality and Air Exchange
Outdoor Air
- We are increasing the percentage of outside air by using our building automated control systems. All BSD schools' HVAC systems are capable of meeting or exceeding the recommended six full air exchanges per hour requirements.
HVAC Units- All HVAC filters are replaced on a regular and consistent routine basis. The established filter replacement cycle exceeds the recommended replacement timelines.
Suspending Efficiency Measures- We are running our HVAC systems in off hours when occupants are not present in order to continue the fresh air exchanges and to improve filtration to maximize air flow.
Air Purification Systems- Air purification systems are being installed in all Nurse's Offices, Wellness Centers, and Main Offices. These systems provide the necessary filtration cycles recommended by CDC.
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Visitors
School Visitation
- Office personnel and building administrators are to restrict access to the school beyond the main office to only authorized personnel and essential vendors
- All Visitors must answer the screening questionnaire prior to entering the building beyond the front door
- Approved visitors will only be granted access to identified meeting rooms and offices
- In all cases, building administrators make the final decision as to whether a visitor will be provided access to any part of the building
