ESSER III Plan

Ladue Schools Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan (SRCSP) 2021-22 School Year

created Aug. 23, 2021

American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) Funds

Ladue School District will receive a one-time allocation of COVID-relief money from the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) funds. To receive funds allocated under the ARP, school districts must publish information on their website that addresses mitigation and prevention strategies, continuity of services during interruptions to in-person learning, and periodic review and revision of the district’s plan.

This year’s Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan (SRCSP), referred to last year as the Return to Learn Plan as many of the health and safety protocols in place last year will continue this fall.

The Ladue School District worked to create a “Return to Learn Plan” that would not prevent disruption to instruction, which included a Tier system to allow the district to move between instructional tiers as the pandemic evolved and as recommended/guided by the CDC and local health agencies.

The district created a Medical Task Force, composed of local doctors and other medical experts, who provided invaluable advice and helped us navigate through the pandemic. In addition, we received public input through stakeholder surveys from both staff and families. COVID-19 updates were also included in the Board of Education meetings. School Health information was provided to the community through weekly updates on the district’s website under the COVID Data Dashboard.

Our plan will continue to be reviewed and adjusted throughout the school year based on current trends, data, federal and local health recommendations/guidelines as well as staff and community input. In addition, district administrators continue to meet with our Medical Task Force and work with the St. Louis County Department of Public Health throughout the school year to ensure our students and staff are in a safe environment. As adjustments are made to the original plan, we will communicate to our parents and staff through emails, newsletter and video messages, and social media.

The Ladue School District will begin the 2021-22 school year with in-person instruction on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, following updated recommendations/guidance and mitigation strategies as outlined by the CDC, St. Louis County Department of Public Health, American Academy of Pediatrics, and our Medical Task Force Team.

MITIGATION AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES

Universal and Correct Wearing of Masks:

  • We continue to require masking indoors for all students and staff working with students following universal recommendations/guidelines from the CDC, St. Louis County Department of Public Health, American Academy of Pediatrics, and our Medical Task Force Team. In fact, 450 local doctors wrote a letter to parents with their recommendations/guidelines on how to return to school and keep our children safe.
  • Masks will be provided for all students and staff when needed.
  • If there is a medical reason your child(ren) cannot wear a face covering, you will need to contact the building nurse for additional guidance.

Physical Distancing, Exclusion & Isolating:

Social distancing protocols (3 feet) for all building spaces have been developed, including the use of floor decals to indicate appropriate distances.

Handwashing & Respiratory Etiquette:

Building principals will continue to work with their staff to facilitate:

  •  Schedules to allow for increased handwashing opportunities.
    • Age-appropriate posters will be displayed throughout school buildings to reinforce the CDC’s recommendations/guidelines for best-practice handwashing.
  • The district has purchased 40 mobile handwashing stations which are dispersed throughout our early childhood center and K-8 schools to help reduce congestion around the restrooms and allow opportunities for our students to wash their hands more frequently.
  • Plexiglass barriers have been placed in areas where frequent face-to-face interaction occurs. We will have 50 permanently-placed units and 50 portable units which can be moved as needs change.
  • There are 41 freestanding portable hand sanitizing stations placed at key locations throughout the district.
  • Building HVAC rates have been increased to introduce additional outside air for improved dilution ventilation.
  • HVAC filter changeout and maintenance intervals have been increased to provide better protection and filtering of airborne contaminants.

Universal Cleaning and Maintaining Healthy Facilities:

  • Continued efforts to increase sanitization practices consistent with CDC recommendations/guidelines.
  • Touchless bottle filling water fountains will remain available for use by students and staff, with increased cleaning and disinfecting measures in place.
    • Water fountains are now approved for use in accordance with CDC recommendations/guidelines.

Contact Tracing:

The district’s implementation of health and safety recommendations/guidelines from the CDC will mitigate the risk of spread and exposure. However, the district and community should recognize that we will have the potential for students to be exposed to and possibly contract COVID-19. In light of this reality, we will continue to have various employees throughout the district, including all building nurses and administrators, who are certified through Johns Hopkins University as COVID-19 Contact Tracers to assist in reducing further spread and exposure, when/if needed.

Diagnostic and Screening Testing:

The Ladue School District does not provide diagnostic or surveillance testing due to the widespread availability of testing in our community.  We do have a community partnership that allows us to rapidly access testing in the event a staff member or student requires it.

Self Monitor and Hygiene Practices:

  • Ask staff, students and families to perform a daily symptoms checklist. If an individual is sick or demonstrating symptoms they will be asked to stay home.
  • Continued education and practice of good hygiene and frequent hand washing consistent with CDC recommendations/guidelines.
  • Hand santizer, hand washing stations and other supplies will be provided to staff and students.

Vaccination Efforts:

  • Ladue Schools has held a total of 16 vaccination events that have provided opportunities for our staff and eligible students to access all three EUA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson). Approximately 85% of our staff are vaccinated and approximately 50% of our eligible students are vaccinated.

Special Accommodations:

  • If there is a medical reason your child(ren) cannot wear a face covering, you will need to contact the building nurse for additional guidance. Appropriate accommodations will be made for children with disabilities with respect to health and safety.

Continuity of Educational Services:

  • For students who are required to isolate or be on exclusion, should work with their teacher and building principal to develop a plan for their child.
  • For families that would prefer a virtual option, the district will assist families to help them understand the options available.
  • Accommodations as necessary or as mandated by an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
  • To ensure there is no interruption of learning in the event COVID transmission rates increase and the community is mandated to stay at home, the district will use the Tiered learning approach as oulined in the 2020-21 Return to Learn Plan.

Ladue Schools made students’ social, emotional, and mental health needs during the 2020-21 school year a priority by launching Learning Centers to offer additional emotional and academic support to students who were in the virtual environment, teaching positive coping skills and referring students to our counseling team as necessary. Technology resources such as Launch and the Canvas learning management system, Google Classroom were utilized to provide continuity of learning during exclusions. Many teachers provided links for students in exclusion to participate in classroom instruction, and students were able to access lessons and assignments via their grade-level learning management system. Ladue Schools provided weekly meal pick-up and delivery every Monday for virtual students and students on exclusion, as well as for students in the community who were in need of meal services. The district will provide similar supports and services for the 2021-22 school year.

Student’s Social, Emotional, and Mental Health:

The Ladue School District recognizes the importance of effectively addressing the mental health and emotional well-being of students and staff at all times. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the district has placed a heightened emphasis on these areas, as our community continues to experience an array of emotional responses related to this unprecedented time. 

Periodic Revision:

The SRCSP plans and procedures listed above will be periodically reviewed and revised (at least every 6 months or as necessary). The district will solicit community engagement to review processes and procedures as outlined in this plan: for example, through Parent District Council meetings, CURE meetings, Superintendent Student Advisory Committee, surveys, teachers, support staff, principals, district leaders, and via other communications channels.

Public Input for Future SRCSP Plans:

The recommendations/guidelines provided by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) states that return-to-school plans adopted as part of a public board meeting satisfy the ARP’s initial public input requirement. The Ladue School District successfully offered both in-person and virtual learning for the 2020-21 school year. The district’s Return to School plan can be found on the district website. The district continues to hear from patrons at monthly Board meetings and through other communication channels regarding face masks and other COVID mitigation measures for the 2021-22 school year.

Translations:

As our district is a diverse community, translation services are available if needed (email input@ladueschools.net).