COVID-19 Addendum To Handbooks
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August 18, 2020
Dear Bluejay Families,
As you know, the 2020-2021 school year will be different than previous school years and we will be redefining what a “normal” school day looks like. Returning to school in the fall of 2020 poses many new challenges for Bondurant-Farrar Community Schools, including implementing mitigation measures (e.g., social distancing, requiring the use of face coverings, increased cleaning and disinfection regimens, increased education on health hygiene practices, etc.), addressing social, emotional, and mental health needs of both students and staff, preparing for the probability of COVID-19 cases in the school community, just to name a few. As always, our main goal is to protect the health, safety, and well-being of our students and staff as we prepare to educate students this fall. As said many times, this is a fluid and flexible situation that can change at any point. We will continue to take direction from the CDC, Iowa Department of Public Health, Iowa Department of Education, and our local public health agencies.
Bondurant-Farrar Community Schools will be adding an addendum to our 2020-2021 Student Handbook related to our new COVID-19 guidelines/procedures. This will be coming out in the next couple of weeks.
Below are a few changes we wanted to make you aware of as far as the health offices are concerned:
- Medications should be given at home whenever possible, especially once a day medications. Please refer to BFCSD Medication Administration Policy (502.7). Meds will need to be brought to the school by a parent/guardian as before. Appointments may need to be made to meet with a school nurse in person.
- Due to nebulizer treatments being considered an aerosol-generating procedure, and it being uncertain at this time whether aerosols generated by this treatment are potentially infectious, nebulizer treatments needed to deliver asthma medication will need to be switched to a metered dose inhaler or dry powder inhaler. All inhalers to be used at school will be recommended to have a spacer.
- There will be limited use of acetaminophen and ibuprofen administered at school due to the fact that they can “mask” symptoms that can be Covid-19 related.
- As per the amendment issued by Governor Reynolds, all pre-participation physicals signed on or after July 1, 2019, are good through December of 2020. If your student’s last year’s physical was done before the July 1, 2019 date, your student will need a new one for this coming school year. This must be done before your student can participate in any practices/games/meets, etc.
- There are currently no exemptions or extensions (other than religious and medical) for required immunizations. These need to be done before the first day of school.
- Students who are ill should not attend school in person. Monitor your student each morning for signs of illness. Please refer to the Student Health and Illness Guidelines on our school website as well as the chart from the Iowa Department of Public Health from 7-30-2020 regarding Covid19 and returning to school (Evaluating Sick Students and Staff).
- To ensure the health and safety of our staff and students, our secretaries will be asking a few questions about your student’s illness when you call to report them absent in the morning.
- Per the CDC, Iowa Department of Public Health, Iowa Department of Education and Polk County Health Department guidelines, any student who exhibits Covid-like signs/symptoms will be immediately isolated. Due to the wide range of signs and symptoms of Covid-19, and for the safety of all, many students will be sent home. Ill students can return after following school policy and/or having met guidelines recommended by Polk County Health Department (When to Stay Home or Return due to Covid-19). Ill students are encouraged to talk with their primary care provider or public health for medical advice.
- Bondurant-Farrar Community Schools will follow guidelines from the CDC and Polk County Public Health Department regarding students who have possible or confirmed Covid-19, possible Covid-19 exposure or is a close contact to a positive Covid-19 case while maintaining confidentiality.
- Upon returning to school after Covid-19, you and your student will need to check in with the building school nurse prior to re-entry to ensure that CDC/Polk County Health Department guidelines have been met.
- Please have several emergency contacts on file for your student and have an emergency contact who is able to pick up your student within 30 minutes if you are not able.
- If your student has any increased health risk factors or is considered immunocompromised please contact the building nurse before school starts to discuss and review your student’s medical condition and to determine if a Individual Health Plan is required. It is important for you to discuss your student’s medical concerns with their primary care provider before starting school.
Please feel free to contact your students building nurse if you have any questions. As stated, this is a fluid situation and expectations, guidelines, requirements, etc. can change from day to day.
Please remember that we will continue to keep your student as safe as we possibly can, but there is no scenario where we can guarantee 100% that your student will not get ill. We ask that you talk to your student about precautions they can take at school to help keep them healthy (e.g. washing and sanitizing their hands, wearing a cloth face covering, socially distancing themselves from others, etc). We have attached some information for you to use with your student. Children model what they see and you are their biggest role model!
Sincerely,
Bondurant-Farrar Nursing Staff
- Joyce Higgins RN, High School higginsj@bfschools.org
- Lori Mathis RN, Middle School mathisl@bfschools.org
- Jacy Porter RN, Anderson Elementary porterj@bfschools.org
- Dori Williamson RN, Morris Elementary williamsond@bfschools.org
Related Resources
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- Symptoms of Coronavirus Disease
- How to Protect Yourself and Others
- 10 things you can do to manage your COVID-19 symptoms at home
- Cover Your Sneezes
- What You Need to Know About Handwashing.
- Hooray for Handwashing -hand washing hygiene for preschoolers
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wear-cloth-face-coverings.html
- How to Safely Wear and Take Off a Cloth Face Covering
- https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/coronavirus-masks.html- helping kids get used to masks
- https://youtu.be/dYChl3jaVzA- kids video about wearing a mask
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLXzw6j9JVw&feature=youtu.be- CDC information
- cov/need-extra-precautions/evidence-table.html- CDC health risk categories