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Adapt, Advance, Achieve: Connecticut’s Plan to Learn and Grow Together
• Maximize other safety precautions where cohorts may have contact, such as more closely
monitored use of facial coverings, hand washing and sanitizing between cohorts.
• When assessing the best approach to restriction of mixing teams, consider eating
periods, open periods, and study halls.
• Where schools have different entrances, assign cohorts a specific entry and exit that
remains consistent day-to-day. Consider similar design for assignment of restrooms,
classrooms, and outside space where it is possible to restrict primary use to a single
cohort, or consistent group of cohorts.
Foot Traffic, Hallways, and Shared Areas
Guidance
• Limit face-to-face encounters by designating foot-traffic patterns — such as one-way
hallways and staircases — and by designating entrance-only and exit-only doors,
when feasible.
• Install markings on floors to illustrate foot-traffic expectations.
• Consider staggering passing in hall by changing schedules around periods to ensure
students change rooms, if necessary, at different times.
• Keep traffic moving in stairways and halls.
Outside Time and Playgrounds
Guidance
• Schools should assess ways to minimize exposure from playground and fitness equipment
use, including but not limited to ensuring only the team cohort uses it at the same
time, hand washing before and after use or use of hand sanitizer, and disinfecting fitness
equipment or other smaller outside equipment after each group of students’ use.
• Consider staggering recess times for each class/cohort.
• Plan increased supervision to monitor social distancing, as appropriate.
Other Individuals Entering the School Building
Requirements
• Develop consistent policies to address when clubs, before- and after-school
programs, or other voluntary groups may be allowed to use school space. Include
ways to safely allow access for before- and after-school and childcare programs.
Guidance
• Consider limiting or restricting nonessential volunteers and visitors, and activities
held in the school such as assemblies or larger gatherings. Have a clear policy
defining essential building access for parents, such as for PPT meetings, or consider
virtual meetings when possible.
• Assess how parent access to buildings can be structured to facilitate compliance with
CDC and other public health recommendations.
• Plan effective ways to communicate cleaning and hygiene protocols as
recommended by the CDC.
• In addition to full cleaning and disinfection, plan to spot-disinfect high-touch surfaces
throughout the day. These surfaces include soap and paper towel dispensers, doors
within toilet stalls, and toilet handles.
• Consider delaying cleaning when school is not in session such as over the weekend,
when possible and particularly if there is a suspected case, to allow for passive
decontamination. For example, schedule deep cleanings on weekends for Sunday,
not on Friday afternoon immediately after students and staff leave.