North Florida School of Special Education’s COVID-19 Protocols - North Florida School of Special Education

Covid Protocols updated February 4, 2022

When students returned to school in January, it was determined that administration, along with the nursing staff, would re-evaluate the mask policy in February. The nurses and administration have decided that, in order to support student learning, we will implement a mask optional policy, effective Monday, February 7^th. This means that both staff and students have the option to choose whether they will wear a mask within the school facility. We do reserve the right, per CDC guidelines, to require any staff or student who has been determined to have had a close exposure or is returning after a five day quarantine, to re-implement mask wearing at all times for the remainder of the CDC recommended time frame. If the family chooses not to return and wear a mask, the student must continue to quarantine for the full 10 day period. Any parent who wishes for their student to continue to wear masks within the classroom has the right to do so and we ask that all staff support this decision and encourage the student to comply with the parent request. As always, thank you for your support of NFSSE administration as they strive to make decisions for the benefit of all students and staff.

Covid Protocols updated January 3, 2022

We are looking forward to seeing everyone back on campus Tuesday ready for the new semester. To that end, we have continued to monitor the effects of the Omicron variant on the Jacksonville community. With the surge of the Omicron variant of Coronavirus, we will keep our pre-break mask requirements in place. All students must wear a mask entering the school, in common areas (such as hallways), departing from school and on vans. Teachers, staff and adults must wear a face covering to enter the school. Additionally, all staff are being asked to wear KN95 or surgical masks at all times around students. We realize this is a change from our expected course of action, but as the COVID-19 virus mutates, we as a community must follow CDC guidance to protect our students, staff and families. Please keep a watchful eye on your family for any Covid symptoms and keep your child home if they are sick and focus on getting well so they can return to class when feeling better. Notify the nurses at nurse@northfloridaschool.org if your student or a family member tests positive for COVID-19. We ask that you do not assume any cold-like symptom is not COVID, and keep your student home until you are able to test and/or they are symptom free. The nurses will help to determine quarantine length based on exposure and symptoms.
Should you have questions about the use of masks, please visit the CDC’s updated guidance at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/masking-science-sars-cov2.html.
The health and safety of our students and faculty and staff are of utmost importance to us. We remain committed to continuing to monitor the current situation and will send any updates should something change.

Covid Protocols updated August 1, 2021

As we get ready to kick off the year, the health and safety of our students and staff remains our highest
priority. A great deal of thought and research has gone into reviewing our ongoing COVID-19 protocol. With
the new guidance provided by the CDC, and now knowing the impact of the Delta Variant, NFSSE
administration and nurses have decided on implementing the following protocol for returning to school on our
campus effective August 1, 2021:

• Wearing masks indoors will be required for all staff and visitors regardless of vaccination status.
• Teachers and Admin will strongly encourage students and postgrads to wear masks indoors,
regardless of vaccination status.
• Due to decreased risk of transmission of COVID-19 in an outdoor setting, masks are not required for
outdoor activities.
• Vaccinations are strongly encouraged but remain optional. Please consider having your student
vaccinated. Pfizer does allow vaccination of individuals 12 years and up. Please be vigilant regarding
guidelines which impact COVID vaccination age requirements. Search under www.floridahealth.gov to
locate vaccination sites near you.
• Our students learn best when personal differentiated instruction occurs. We will return to exclusively
on-campus learning and no longer offer at-home learning as an option. State scholarship funds may
not be utilized in the case of virtual instruction.
• We will continue to base our contact tracing protocols and procedures on local and state health
departments.
• We will continue to evaluate appropriate sizes for gatherings on campus.
• Wearing masks on NFSSE transportation for all individuals is required regardless of vaccination
status.
• Cafeteria service will be open for lunch. We will adhere to social distancing guidelines for seating.

We will be implementing good handwashing and hand sanitizing techniques as well as continued cleaning
protocols in the school.

We will be monitoring the CDC guidelines as well as positivity rates in Florida and protocols are subject to
change.

While we will no longer implement temperature screening at carline or upon entrance. If your student exhibits
any signs of illness, school protocol requires that they remain at home. This may include, but is not limited to,
runny nose, cough, and/or fever. NFSSE nurses will contact all students who are absent. The health and
safety of our community remains of utmost importance, and we will continue to monitor it closely as we have
done this entire year.

We will follow CDC and health department guidelines regarding Covid exposures and positive Covid tests.

• If an exposure occurs, unvaccinated students will be asked to quarantine and test as directed through
the recommendations of NFSSE nurses and the Health Dept.
• If an exposure occurs, vaccinated students who are asymptomatic, will be asked to mask for 14 days
in addition to receiving a negative COVID test result.

Thank you for your patience and support as we navigate through this challenging times. As always, feel free to
reach out with any questions you may have. We look forward to welcoming you back for the 2021-2022 school
year.