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| FCPS Superintendent Scott Brabrand and school board chair Karen Corbett-Sanders speak in a video about their plans for dealing with coronavirus. |
There are four coronavirus cases in Virginia so far, and more than 500 across the nation. Public health officials, however, say the risk to the general public remains low.
FCPS has created a coronavirus webpage with fact sheets, a video message from Superintendent Scott Brabrand and school board chair Karen Corbett-Sanders, links to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other resources.
In a March 9 letter to FCPS families and staff, Brabrand says FCPS “has developed a COVID response team led by the district’s chief operating officer to formulate an overall crisis response strategy for schools and departments.”
The team is meeting regularly to review updates from the Fairfax County Health Department, develop communication protocols, and implement the FCPS Pandemic Influenza Response Plan.
“The plan addresses the specific activities necessary to keep schools open and operating while providing a clean and safe environment during an outbreak and the essential functions that must be performed by FCPS, if schools are closed,” Brabrand states.
The plan describes two scenarios:
Under Planning Scenario 1, “a large percentage of the division’s schools are in session but a single school or a small group of schools may have dismissed students from classes to limit/restrict social contact and slow the transmission of the influenza virus.”
In this case, “the superintendent may authorize the dismissal of students from class based on recommendations from the local health department director.” Instructional and administrative support services could be limited because of high absenteeism or the redeployment of staff.
Under Planning Scenario 2, all schools are closed. Students have been dismissed from school either by order of the state health commissioner to limit social contact and slow the transmission of the virus or by order of the superintendent or the school board due to falling class attendance or rising staff absenteeism. FCPS facilities could remain open to faculty and staff to support the continuity of learning.
Brabrand says there are snow days built into the FCPS school calendar that could be used if schools need to be closed.
“As families make plans for spring break, we strongly encourage you to keep travel issues and potential challenges in mind,” Brabrand tells parents.
FCPS implemented a travel history questionnaire March 9. In accordance with CDC guidance, students who have traveled to the countries most affected by coronavirus – China, Iran, South Korea, and Italy – will not be able to return to school for 14 days after returning to the United States. For students who have been advised to self-quarantine, schools have been directed to follow existing procedures to provide instructional materials to students during short-term absences.
All FCPS-sponsored international field trips and short-term international visitations have been suspended through June 30.
Currently, there are no travel restrictions for locations within the U.S., the letter states, although that could change as a result of CDC and Health Department recommendations.
FCPS has a team working on a tiered plan to address instruction if there are school closures. “We recognize that some of our families lack access to computers and internet access at home and we will make available through local schools loaner laptops and mobile hotspot devices (MiFi), if needed,” the letter states.
FCPS is considering scheduling a teacher training day/student holiday in the near future to provide distance learning training to all instructional personnel.
The Health Department is conducting investigations to identify people who had been in contact with the individuals who tested positive for COVID-19. Any parents or staff who had been exposed to the illness should notify school staff.
Brabrand recognizes the importance of free and reduced-price meals to students and families, and says the planning scenarios address how those programs could be maintained if schools are closed.
“Our existing school cleaning protocols utilize hospital-grade cleaning products that can kill the COVID-19 virus and we have a six-month supply of these products available today,” he adds.
“We recognize that uncertainty creates anxiety,” Brabrand says. “We want to remind our community that coronavirus doesn’t recognize race, nationality, or ethnicity. Having Asian ancestry – or any other ancestry – does not make a person more vulnerable to this illness. We can fight stigma and support others by sharing accurate information and staying informed through reputable, trusted sources.”