Safely reopening schools during the pandemic

Communicating about Covid-19

Communicating about your district’s Return to Learn plan is crucial to reopening schools during the Covid 19 pandemic. Below are several samples of what districts are communicating to their students, families, and communities. Please contact Beth Strike, Central Rivers AEA Director Creative Services & Communications (bstrike@centralriversaea.org) for assistance with your district’s communication plan.

• Information Sharing on COVID-19 Cases for Schools and Local Public Health
• ISPRA Return to Learn Communication Plan – templates available regarding positive test/exposure, see last two pages.
• Example to Reference – customize for your needs.
• Communicating Positive Test/Exposure – Forest City CSD
• Return to Learn Staff FAQs – Cedar Falls CSD
• Return to Learn Public FAQs – Hudson CSD

Helpful information for reopening safely

• An independent website to track Covid-19 in Iowa is available to those wanting more detailed information.
• Central Rivers AEA Special Ed Return to Learn plan  This document outlines the safety protocols put in place for CRAEA staff delivering services to students.
• Update on fall sports from IHSAA and IGHSAU. August 25, 2020
• Safely reopening a school after a pandemic, is it possible?  
• Video of a school in China – reopening protocols
• Sample Return-to-School surveys:
  • Teacher
  • Staff
  • Families
• Return to School Roadmap
• A Blueprint for Back to School. This article is a blueprint for reopening schools and is a collaborative effort to help think through what needs to happen between now and that moment when public health officials deem it safe for schools to reopen.

Signage for school buildings

• Covid-19 Return to Learn posters, clings and signage
  • To order, go to: https://ordering.centralriversaea.org/craea/products

Families First Coronavirus Response Act

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) requires certain employers to provide employees with paid sick leave and expanded family & medical leave for specified reasons related to Covid-19. These provisions apply through December 2020. The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Program allows states to issue Food Assistance benefits to households with children in Pre K-12th grade who have temporarily lost access to free or reduced-price school meals due to pandemic-related school closures.

An email template is available to help district leaders notify their staff of the FFCRA and the Family and Medical Leave Act.