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Last updated - 9/11/20

Table of Contents

Most common symptoms of COVID-19 and Testing Requirements
Sanitation Plan
Student Arrival and Departure Plan
Lunch Distribution Plan
Hallway Use and Procedure
Student Discipline
Student Attendance
Restroom Protocol
Procedure for Contacting the Nurse in the Event of a Sick Child
Emergency Response Plan (x7777)
Protocols for Responding to COVID-19 Scenarios
Protocols for potential school closure (partial or full) or district closure
Testing Locations
Contact Tracing

September 1, 2020

Dear Diman Family,

As the Assistant Superintendent-Principal and on behalf of the School Board and Administration, I am honored to welcome Diman staff to the start of the 2020-2021 school year. We are set to embark on the most important school reopening in history. Never has resilience, preparation, empathy and patience been more important.

The COVID era of education has forced us to pivot, think differently, innovate and recreate. It does not come without anxiety, stress, and uncertainty. It is a complete shift from our traditional educational practices. We must work together, stick together, and together, we will prevail. I, along with our Administration, am committed to providing the tools to empower our educators to continue to provide what this community has come to expect from Diman, a world-class education for students. No matter the location or learning model, we will not waver from this commitment and standard of excellence.

Throughout the summer, Diman educators, parents and community members served on our Reopening School Task Force. I commend this group’s hard work as we prepared for our reopening and envisioned what a safe return to our building could look like. Our reopening plan leverages the best thinking of the task force and the most up-to-date health data, as well as feedback we have received from across the community - including survey responses from over 700 families, staff members and students.

We recognize this preliminary report does not answer every question about reopening school. Please know that more details will be provided over our planned educator preparation days. Diman will continue working with medical experts to ensure the health and safety of students and staff throughout the year. We will continue to follow strict health guidelines - wearing masks, socially distancing and keeping our building clean.

I look forward to navigating the next several months together. We are committed to making sure that every child and staff member is fully supported, engaged, and safe as we embark on 2020-2021. I remain honored and humbled to serve as your Assistant Superintendent-Principal.

Andrew D. Rebello
Assistant Superintendent-Principal

Most common symptoms of COVID-19 and testing requirements

The single most important thing to do if any of the following symptoms are present is to STAY HOME. Our collective health relies, in part, on individual attention and responsibility.

Below is the full list of symptoms for which caregivers should monitor their children, and staff should monitor themselves:

• Fever (100.4° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills
• Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Headache when in combination with other symptoms
• Muscle aches or body aches
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarhea
• Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
• Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms

If staff or students have any of these symptoms, they must get a test for active COVID-19 infection prior to returning to school.

Please view the response protocol’s found at the end of this document if you are experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms. COVID-19 testing sites can be found here:
https://memamaps.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=eba3f0395451430b9f631cb095febf13

Sanitation Plan

In an effort to help prevent the spread of potential contagions, Diman has adopted the following sanitation processes and procedures.  All Diman stakeholders should refer to this plan when preparing classroom routines and practices.

Student Sanitation Between Classes

• Hand sanitizer will be available in every classroom at Diman.
• Students will be prompted to use hand sanitizer when entering and exiting the classroom.
•  Each classroom will be equipped with a spray bottle and cloth wipes for each student.  Students are expected to wipe down their desk areas upon arrival to the classroom and then again prior to departure from the classroom. 

Teacher Sanitation Between Classes

• Teachers will be expected to use hand sanitizer upon entering and exiting the classroom.
• Each teacher desk will be equipped with cloth wipes and spray bottles.  Teachers will be expected to wipe down desk areas at the start and end of each class.

Expectations for Vocational Teachers at Diman

• Vocational teachers should establish sanitation standards for equipment use.  These standards should be approved by the Assistant Principal of Technical Affairs prior to September 16, 2020.
• Hand sanitizer will be available in every classroom at Diman.
• Students will be prompted to use hand sanitizer when entering and exiting the classroom.
• Each shop related classroom will be equipped with a spray bottle and cloth wipes each student.  Students are expected to wipe down their desk area upon arrival to the classroom and then again prior to departure. 

Hand Washing/Hand Hygiene

• At a minimum, all students and faculty are expected to wash their hands/hand sanitize before and after eating or drinking, after using the restroom, and prior to moving into a new learning space (ex: new classroom or desk).

Cleaning Specifics

Our custodial staff will continue deploying additional disinfecting treatments in our buildings daily. Custodial staff will be utilizing electrostatic foggers, microfiber cloths and wiping gel daily to clean all areas of the building including classrooms and vocational areas.

The chart below provides details as to how often high touch surfaces (like door handles) will be cleaned, in addition to furniture and other items found throughout the building.

Air Quality and HVAC

Diman maintenance staff will regularly change all air filters throughout the school. UV technology will be utilized for auditing classrooms air quality in high priority areas (no windows). Educators will open windows/overhead-doors in classrooms and shops throughout the school. Diman has purchased secure gates for shop overhead doors to ensure safety in all areas of the building.

Student Arrival and Departure Plan

Student Arrival from Buses

Student arrival from buses will occur at the Door 41 drop off location.  All buses will dismiss students at the bus stop sign.  Upon exiting buses, students will proceed to their assigned morning location.  Students assigned to the gymnasium will enter the building via Door 41.  Students assigned to the auditorium will enter the building via Door 39.

Student Arrival from Parent Drop Off/Student Parking Lot

Student arrival from parent drop off will occur through the students parking lot location only.  Student drivers will enter the student parking lot as normal.  Student parking will only occur on the north side of the student parking lot.  Diman staff members will be available each morning to help with this procedure. 

Upon exiting the vehicle, all students will proceed to their assigned morning location.  Student congregation will not be allowed in any of these spots. Upon entering the building, students assigned to the gymnasium will enter the building via Door 41.  Students assigned to the auditorium will enter the building via Door 39.

Student Breakfast

Student breakfast will be available daily in the auditorium and gymnasium starting at 7:00 a.m.  Student breakfast will occur as follows in each of the identified locations:

• Auditorium
  • Students will enter the auditorium through the foyer.  They will proceed to the stage, collect their breakfast, and pay.  Students will then proceed to their program’s marked sections/rows. During the breakfast process, students must follow all one way traffic signs and adhere to the social distancing spaces as marked on the auditorium floor.
• Gymnasium
  • Students will enter the gymnasium through the main gymnasium entrance.  They will proceed to the identified breakfast location, collect their breakfast, and pay.  Students will then proceed to their program’s marked sections/rows. During the breakfast process, students must follow all one way traffic signs and adhere to the social distancing spaces as marked on the gymnasium floor.

Upon dismissal, students will collect their belongings and all breakfast trash.  Trash will be disposed of upon exiting the morning location with a teacher.  Trash bins will be located directly outside of each morning location.

Student Cohorts in the Auditorium

Students in grades 10 and 12 will report to the auditorium upon arrival to school.  Students will sit according to their program section/row.  Students will not be allowed to sit with alternate programs.  They must follow their first period schedule when sitting.

Student Cohorts in Gymnasium

Students in grades 9 and 11 will report to the gymnasium upon arrival to school.  Students will sit according to their program section/row.  Students will not be allowed to sit with alternate programs.  They must follow their first period schedule when sitting.

Student Dismissal from Morning Locations

By 7:35 a.m. Diman educators with first period in person rosters will report to the gymnasium (grades 9 and 11) and auditorium (grades 10 and 12) in order to escort their respective students to first period classes.  Starting at 7:45 a.m. dismissal from morning locations will occur by program area.

Students and educators will be dismissed by administration in three minute intervals, one grade level and row at a time.  Diman educators traveling to the D wing area should use the west door exit when returning to class.  Security personnel will be located in the D wing entrance to allow for access.  First period will begin by 8:00 a.m.

Social Distancing

Social distancing will be maintained during all transition periods and in all classrooms and hallways.  All hallway transition will occur on the right side of the hallway.  Students in violation of the social distancing practice will be subject to disciplinary action.

End of day dismissal

Students will be dismissed from their shop or classroom by bus number. Students must wait for an announcement of their bus prior to exiting their shop or classroom.

Lunch Distribution Plan

Students will utilize an online process for ordering lunch.  Lunches may be ordered on a daily or weekly basis.  Payment will be taken upon delivery of lunch.

Hallway Use and Procedures

Student hallway use should be kept to a minimum during the 2021 school year.  Student hallway passage should occur only for the following reasons: restroom use, nurse visit, guidance visit, arrival, and departure.  When using the hallway, it is expected that all students will have a paper hallway pass.  Diman educators will be provided with these paper passes at the start of the academic year.

Social Distancing

Social distancing will be maintained during all transition periods and in all classrooms and hallways.  All hallway transition will occur on the right side of the hallway.  Students in violation of the social distancing practice will be subject to disciplinary action.

Student Discipline

The District’s Code of Conduct will continue to be in full effect. In person Saturday School sessions will be held for any student discipline or credit recovery. All assigned detentions will be served on the scheduled Saturday sessions for the time period of a detention. Students who have opted for fully remote will be issued assignments to complete in place of attending the Saturday session in person. All detentions, Saturday school detentions, credit recovery sessions and assignments must be completed prior to receiving course credit/grades.

Student Attendance

Whether learning remote or in person, student attendance will be taken daily. All District attendance polices will apply, including reporting student attendance to the Department of Education. Credit Recovery sessions will still be in effect and must be completed prior to receiving credit/grades for courses. Detailed information regarding attendance will be sent separately.

Restroom Protocol

All Diman students will be required to bring a paper pass during hallway passage.  Upon arrival at the restroom, students will be granted access one person at a time.  This access will be monitored by a Diman security guard.  Prior to leaving the restroom, Diman students will need to follow proper handwashing procedure.  This will include washing both hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Procedure for Contacting the Nurse in the Event of a Sick Child

During the 2021 school year, Diman educators may need to contact the School Nurse (x1770 or x1771) to report a student illness.  When calling the School Nurse, educators should explain the symptoms the student is exhibiting.  No student should be sent to the School Nurse without prior School Nurse approval.  In the event that the School Nurse extension is busy, educators should call Mrs. Bosse at x1320.

Emergency Response Plan (x7777)

The following Emergency Response Plan has been taken from Diman’s current Medical Emergency Response Plan.  Educators interested in reading this plan in full should visit the Diman website.  Diman’s current Emergency Medical Response Plan can be found under the Staff tab.

All classroom and instructional areas have both intercom and internal phone systems for rapid communication. A 7777 telephone code activates an alarm and protocols for the rapid response of a school nurse and at least two administrators to the site of an emergency. Upon receipt of the 7777 alert, internal response time to all locations within the school building is under two minutes. Upon arrival, one administrator takes charge of the site while the other administrator is available to direct and assist emergency personnel. All school administrators have two-way radios. All school doors are numbered on the outside of the building for easy identification.

In case of a medical incident, school staff will immediately follow the 7777 protocol outlined above. The school’s medical response protocol is as follows:

• The nurse will assess the condition of the person(s) to determine the category of injury, illness, or condition:
  1. Life-threatening or potentially disabling: Because these medical conditions can cause death or disability within minutes, they require immediate intervention, medical care, and, usually, hospitalization. Examples of this category include airway and breathing difficulties, cardiac arrest, chest pain, and/or cyanosis.
  2. Serious or potentially life-threatening or potentially disabling: Burns, major multiple fractures, and insect bites are examples of this category. These occurrences may result in a life-threatening situation or may produce permanent damage, so they must be treated as soon as possible. iii. Non-life-threatening: These are defined as any injury or illness that may affect the general health of a person (e.g., mild or moderate fever, stomachache, headache, seizures, fractures, cuts). The school nurse will evaluate the incident and make decisions regarding further treatment. The school nurse may notify the parent/guardian and recommend follow-up medical evaluation or treatment.
• When an injury, illness, or condition is determined to be potentially life-threatening or disabling, the school nurse will inform Administration. Administration will:
• • call EMS (911) and provide the location of the injured or ill person and available rescue equipment.
  • activate the medical emergency contact list to use designated school staff in their respective roles.
  • direct designated school personnel to remain stationed at the specific location on campus where the medical incident occurred and greet emergency responders upon arrival, providing updates on the situation. EMS response time to the school is estimated at 7 minutes barring unforeseen delays.
  • notify the parent and/or guardian of the student or the emergency contact for faculty/ staff and inform him or her that the person is ill or has been injured and is being transported to a medical facility if the information is known at the time of the call. If the school nurse is not in the building at the time of the medical incident, Administration will assess the situation and direct personnel to place the 911 call in the event of a potentially life-threatening or potentially disabling injury, illness, or condition. Other steps will be taken as described above. If the injury, illness, or condition is later determined by the school nurse or other trained personnel to be minor, the EMS call will be canceled or EMS units will clear the scene. If the school nurse or other medically trained individual determines that the injury, illness, or condition is nonlife-threatening, first aid and or medical services will be provided onsite. Administration will notify the involved student’s parent and/or guardian.
• All faculty and staff must adhere to the following during all medical incidents:
  • Standard precautions must be followed at all times.
  • Avoid moving the ill or injured person, unless there is more danger if left there.
  • Remain with the person until assistance arrives and remain calm.
  • Direct other staff to manage bystanders. 6 Updated September 2018 Faculty and staff who are involved in school-related activities outside of regular school hours have been trained in the medical emergency response protocols and keep a copy of the protocols with them during all school sponsored activities and events. The protocols identify who is to be contacted during activities outside of the regular school hours.

Protocols for Responding to COVID-19 Scenarios

The following scenarios and procedures have been established by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  For further information, please visit http://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/

Protocol: Student or staff tests positive for COVID-19

1. The student or staff member must remain at home (except to get medical care), monitor their symptoms, notify the school, notify personal close contacts, assist the school in contact tracing efforts, and answer the call from local board of health or Massachusetts Community Tracing Collaborative. For most people who have relatively mild illness, they will need to stay in self-isolation for at least 10 days and until at least 3 days have passed with no fever and improvement in other symptoms.
2. The student’s parent/caregiver or the staff member informs the proper school official (e.g. a designated person that is the COVID-19 school lead) that the individual has tested positive for COVID-19. The designated COVID-19 school lead in turn notifies others as pre-determined by the school (e.g., school leadership, school nurse or school medical point of contact, building management, maintenance).
3. Determine whether the student or staff member was on the premises during the time frame that started two days prior to symptom onset (or testing positive if not symptomatic) until the time of isolation.
   1. If so, promptly close off areas visited by the COVID-19 positive individual until such areas can be cleaned and disinfected, if they have not been cleaned and disinfected already.
   2. Promptly clean and disinfect the student’s or staff member’s classroom and any other facilities (e.g., extracurricular facilities) visited by the individual, if that has not been done already.
   3. Promptly clean and disinfect the bus(es) the student or staff member was on, if any, and if not already done.

Protocol: Student is symptomatic at home

1. Family should monitor students at home each morning for the most common symptoms of COVID-19 (see list above).
   1. IF NO SYMPTOMS:
      1. Send student to school.
   2. IF ANY SYMPTOM:
      1. Do not send the student to school.
      2. Call the school’s COVID-19 point of contact and inform them student is staying home due to symptoms.
      3. Current Massachusetts DPH guidance is that all symptomatic individuals in Massachusetts, even those with mild symptoms, should be tested. An individual who does not wish to be tested should instead isolate for 14 days and until asymptomatic.
      4. The student should get tested at one of Massachusetts’s test sites.14 Sites may require pre-screening, a referral, and/or an appointment.
      5. Isolate at home until test results are returned.
      6. Proceed as follows according to test results:
         1. IF NEGATIVE: Student stays home until asymptomatic for 24 hours.
         2. IF POSITIVE: Student should remain at home (except to get medical care), monitor their symptoms, notify the school, notify personal close contacts, assist the school in contact tracing efforts, and answer the call from local board of health or Massachusetts Community Tracing Collaborative. Most people who have relatively mild illness will need to stay in self-isolation for at least 10 days and until at least 3 days have passed with no fever and improvement in other symptoms. FOLLOW STEPS UNDER: “Protocol: Student / staff tests positive for COVID-19.”

Protocol: Student is symptomatic on the bus

1. Although families are the most important first line of defense for monitoring symptoms, bus drivers and bus monitors also play an important role in flagging possible symptomatic students. Note: This will require training for bus drivers (and bus monitors, if applicable).
2. If symptoms are noticed as the student is getting on the bus and if there is a caregiver present, do not allow student to board the bus. Caregiver should then FOLLOW: “Protocol: Student is symptomatic at home.”
3. If student is already on the bus, ensure student is masked and keeps mask on. Ensure other students keep their masks on. Ensure student keeps required physical distance from other students.
4. Bus driver/monitor should call ahead to the bus service dispatch. The bus service dispatch should be equipped with appropriate cell phone numbers for school and district personnel (nurse or other medical personnel). The dispatch should contact the school to inform the school nurse (or school medical point of contact) of a possible symptomatic child.
5. School nurse (or school medical point of contact) should meet the bus as it arrives, wearing a mask. As practical, student with possible symptoms should exit the bus first.
6. Bus should be cleaned / disinfected.
7. Nurse (or school medical point of contact) should evaluate the student for symptoms (see list above: “Most common symptoms of COVID-19”).
   1. IF ANY SYMPTOM:
      1. Place the student in the designated medical waiting room. There is no specific capacity limit for the medical waiting room, but all students in the medical waiting room must be as far apart as possible, and no less than 6 feet. Strict mask wearing covering the nose and mouth at all times for every person in the room must be enforced. Students can work on individual schoolwork or other activities while in the medical waiting room.
      2. Contact caregiver for pick-up.
         1. IF CAREGIVER CAN PICK UP DURING THE DAY: Student waits to be picked up in the medical waiting room. Caregivers must wear a mask/face covering when picking up their student. Students should not ride the school bus to get home. Caregivers and students should wash their hands upon arriving at home and change their clothes, as a precaution.
         2. IF CAREGIVER CANNOT PICK UP DURING THE DAY: The student should wait in the medical waiting room until the end of the day to be picked up by caregiver. The student should not go home on a school bus with other students. CDC protocols may be released in the coming weeks and this guidance may be updated accordingly.
      3. Current Massachusetts DPH guidance is that all symptomatic individuals in Massachusetts, even those with mild symptoms, should be tested. An individual who does not wish to be tested should instead isolate for 14 days and until asymptomatic. iv. Student should get tested at one of Massachusetts’s test sites.18 Sites may require pre-screening, a referral, and/or an appointment. v. Isolate at home until test results are returned.
      4. Proceed as follows according to test results:
         1. IF NEGATIVE: If the student does not have COVID-19, the student may return to school based upon guidance from their clinician and necessary management of another diagnosis. Student stays home until asymptomatic for 24 hours.
         2. IF POSITIVE: Student should remain at home (except to get medical care), monitor their symptoms, notify the school, notify personal close contacts, assist the school in contact tracing efforts, and answer the call from local board of health or Massachusetts Community Tracing Collaborative. Most people who have relatively mild illness will need to stay in self-isolation for at least 10 days and until at least 3 days have passed with no fever and improvement in other symptoms. FOLLOW STEPS UNDER: “Protocol: Student/staff tests positive for COVID-19.”
   2. IF NO SYMPTOMS:
      1. If the evaluation shows the student does not have symptoms, send the student to class. 

Protocol: Student is symptomatic at school

1. Although families are the most important first line of defense for monitoring symptoms, teachers will play an important role in referring possible symptomatic students to the school nurse or other medical point of contact. (Note: This will require training for teachers.)
2. Teacher ensures the student is wearing a mask that fully covers nose and mouth at all times.
3. Teacher calls the nurse or school medical point of contact to inform them that they have a possible case. Nurse or school medical point of contact comes to get the student from class.
4. Nurse (or school medical point of contact) should evaluate the student for symptoms (see list above: “Most common symptoms of COVID-19”).
   1. IF ANY SYMPTOM:
      1. Place the student in the designated medical waiting room. There is no specific capacity limit for the medical waiting room, but all students in the COVID-19 waiting room must be as far apart as possible, and no less than 6 feet. Strict mask wearing covering the nose and mouth at all times for every person in the room must be enforced. Students can work on individual schoolwork or other activities while in the medical waiting room.
      2. Contact caregiver for pick-up.
         1. IF CAREGIVER CAN PICK UP DURING THE DAY: Student waits to be picked up in the medical waiting room. Caregivers must wear a mask/face covering when picking up their student. Students should not ride the school bus to get home. Caregivers and students should wash their hands upon arriving at home and change their clothes as a precaution.
         2. IF CAREGIVER CANNOT PICK UP DURING THE DAY: The student should wait in the medical waiting room until the end of the day to be picked up by caregiver. The student should not go home on a school bus with other students.
      3. Current Massachusetts DPH guidance is that all symptomatic individuals in Massachusetts, even those with mild symptoms, should be tested.20 An individual who does not wish to be tested should instead isolate for 14 days21 and until asymptomatic.
      4. Student should get tested at one of Massachusetts’s test sites.22 Sites may require pre-screening, a referral, and/or appointment.
      5. Isolate at home until test results are returned.
      6. Proceed as follows according to test results:
         1. IF NEGATIVE: If the student does not have COVID-19, the student may return to school based upon guidance from their clinician and necessary management of another diagnosis. Student stays home until asymptomatic for 24 hours.
         2. IF POSITIVE: Student remain at home (except to get medical care), monitor their symptoms, notify the school, notify personal close contacts, assist the school in contact tracing efforts, and answer the call from local board of health or Massachusetts Community Tracing Collaborative. Most people who have relatively mild illness will need to stay in self-isolation for at least 10 days and until at least 3 days have passed with no fever and improvement in other symptoms. FOLLOW STEPS UNDER: “Protocol: Student or staff tests positive for COVID-19.”
   2. IF NO SYMPTOMS:
      1. If the evaluation shows the student does not have symptoms, send the student back to class.

Protocol: Staff is symptomatic at home

1. Staff should monitor themselves at home each morning for the most common symptoms of COVID-19 (see list above: “Most common symptoms of COVID-19”).
   1. IF NO SYMPTOMS:
      1. Come to work.
   2. IF ANY SYMPTOM:
      1. Do not come to work.
      2. Contact the COVID-19 point of contact and/or other absence reporting mechanism established by the school.
      3. Current Massachusetts DPH guidance is that all symptomatic individuals in Massachusetts, even those with mild symptoms, should be tested. An individual who does not wish to be tested should instead isolate for 14 days25 and until asymptomatic.
      4. The staff member should get tested at one of Massachusetts’ test sites.26 Sites may require pre-screening, a referral, and/or an appointment. v. Isolate at home until test results are returned. vi. Proceed as follows according to test results:
         1. IF NEGATIVE: If the staff member does not have COVID-19, they may return to school based upon guidance from their clinician and necessary management of another diagnosis. Staff member stays home until asymptomatic for 24 hours.
         2. IF POSITIVE: Staff member should remain at home (except to get medical care), monitor their symptoms, notify the school, notify personal close contacts, assist the school in contact tracing efforts, and answer the call from local board of health or Massachusetts Community Tracing Collaborative. Most people who have relatively mild illness will need to stay in self-isolation for at least 10 days and until at least 3 days have passed with no fever and improvement in other symptoms. FOLLOW STEPS UNDER: “Protocol: Student/staff tests positive for COVID-19”.

Protocol: Staff is symptomatic at school

1. As noted above, staff should be encouraged not to come to school if they are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19.
2. If a staff member suspects any symptoms during the day, they should follow the school’s protocols for getting another adult to cover their class mid-day, if needed, and see the school nurse (or school medical point of contact) to be evaluated for symptoms.
   1. IF NO SYMPTOMS: The staff member should follow the school’s standard protocols for being excused due to illness.
   2. IF ANY SYMPTOM:
      1. Current Massachusetts DPH guidance is that all symptomatic individuals in Massachusetts, even those with mild symptoms, should be tested. An individual who does not wish to be tested should instead isolate for 14 days and until asymptomatic.
      2. The staff member should get tested at one of Massachusetts’s test sites.30 Sites may require pre-screening, a referral, and/or appointment.
      3. Isolate at home until test results are returned.
      4. Proceed as follows according to test results:
         1. IF NEGATIVE: Staff member stays home until asymptomatic for 24 hours.
         2. IF POSITIVE: Staff member should remain at home (except to get medical care), monitor their symptoms, notify the school, notify personal close contacts, assist the school in contact tracing efforts, and answer the call from local board of health or Massachusetts Community Tracing Collaborative. Most people who have relatively mild illness will need to stay in self-isolation for at least 10 days and until at least 3 days have passed with no fever and improvement in other symptoms. FOLLOW STEPS UNDER: “Protocol: Student/staff tests positive for COVID-19”.

Section 2: Protocols for potential school closure (partial or full) or district closure

Protocol: Presence of multiple cases in the school or district

1. If there is more than one confirmed COVID-19 case (students or staff) in the school at one time, or if there is a series of single cases in a short time span, school leaders and the superintendent should work with the local board of health to determine if it is likely that there is transmission happening in school.
2. For each individual case, FOLLOW STEPS UNDER: “Protocol: Student or staff tests positive for COVID-19.” Note that when there is one isolated case, the student’s close contacts will need to stay home and be tested, not the whole school.
3. When there is suspected in-school transmission beyond one cohort or a small number of cohorts, school and district leaders must consult with the local board of health as to proposed next steps. These steps could include, for example, making a decision to a) close part of the school or the entire school for a short time (e.g. 1-3 days) for an extensive cleaning or other facility mitigation, or b) close the school partially or fully for the longer duration of a 14-day quarantine period. 
4. Should there be circumstances where there are multiple cases in multiple schools, school and district leaders must consult with the local board of health as to proposed next steps. These steps could include, for example, making a decision to a) shut down the district for a short time (e.g. 1-3 days) for an extensive cleaning or other facility mitigation, or b) shut down the district for the longer duration of a 14-day quarantine period.
5. Before a final decision is made on a school or district closure, the superintendent must consult with DESE for further guidance.
   Contacts:
   Russell Johnston, Senior Associate Commissioner, Russell.Johnston@mass.gov, 781- 605-4958.
   Erin McMahon, Senior Advisor to the Commissioner - Fall Reopening Implementation Lead, Erin.K.Mcmahon@mass.gov, 781-873-9023.
6. If the decision is made to close for some number of days, the school and/or district should send clear information and instructions to families and staff:
   1. Informing them that it is possible COVID-19 is being transmitted in the school and/or district 
   2. Noting that there may be more potential cases that are not yet symptomatic
   3. Recommending students quarantine and not have contact with others
   4. Reminding families of the importance of not having contact with higher-risk individuals (e.g., grandparents)
   5. Reminding families of the list of COVID-19 symptoms for which to monitor f. Ensuring that remote learning is immediately provided to all students

Testing Locations

Please visit the following website for COVID-19 testing locations: https://memamaps.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=eba3f0395451430b9f631 cb095febf13

Contact Tracing

If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, their close contacts will be defined as only those who have been within 6 feet of distance of the individual for at least fifteen minutes, while the person was infectious. The infectious period begins 2 days prior to symptom onset. If someone is asymptomatic, the infectious period is considered to begin 2 days prior to the collection of their positive test.

All test results, both positive and negative, are reported to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH). When a person has a positive COVID-19 test, it is the local board of health or the Massachusetts Community Tracing Collaborative that will reach out to provide support so that these individuals can remain safely in medical isolation. They will also ask for help to identify close contacts. These organizations will then reach out to the individual’s close contacts to provide important information that is aimed to stop the spread of the virus, including how to safely isolate/quarantine. While these organizations will provide support, to further assist with contact tracing the student/family and staff are asked to reach out to their personal contacts and notify the school.