For the 2021-22 school year, the Fonda-Fultonville Central School District is planning for a full return to school on Wednesday, September 8. As of today, the district continues to partner with the Montgomery County Public Health Department as we plan the district’s reopening efforts based on the recommended guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and the Department of Public Health Commissioner’s Determination on indoor masking (10 NYCCR2.61). That information can be accessed here.
FFCS is planning for a 100% in-person return to school in September, providing a full academic program and a wide range of extracurricular and athletic offerings for all students. Our priority is to have all students attend in-person instruction for the 2021-22 school year. The district will employ a layered mitigation approach, including strategies ranging from masking and social distancing, to facilities cleaning and hygiene, to contact tracing and quarantining, to HVAC (ventilation) and the provision of food services, to surveillance testing and vaccination access. As a public institution, we must consider everyone in the community and minimize the risk for our students and staff. By individually doing our part to keep everyone safe and healthy, we will ensure academic, social, and emotional growth of our students.
Over the past year, we have learned how to manage the virus effectively by using layers of mitigation aimed to prevent infection and transmission in our schools. It is important to understand that this is a fluid document and whenever possible and appropriate, adjustments to mitigation strategies will be made according to the most current data available and in coordination with DOH.
These are challenging times and we are all similarly focused on the best interest of our students, staff, and families.
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Communication and Notifications
The Fonda-Fultonville Central School District will continue to keep our community updated on items related to COVID-19 news, health information and guidance from New York State. Beginning September 8, our daily COVID-19 communication updates will be shared on a COVID-19 notification page.
Remote Only Learning Model Not Offered
The district will not be offering a remote only option. If families do not want to send their children to
school for in-person learning, their option is to home instruct their children. For more information
on home instruction visit the following link.
The following links can be accessed to review county transmission rates.
CDC County Covid Tracker
Percentage Positive Results By County Dashboard
The chart below describes the mitigation protocols we will utilize in each area of focus. This layered mitigation strategy is fluid and may be adjusted as conditions warrant.
Printer-friendly version of this document can be found here.
| Mitigation Protocol The FFCSD will use CDC County Transmission Levels in addition to local data to determine our level of mitigation protocol. All data being used to make these determinations will be shared on the district webpage. |
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| Mitigation Strategy – Area of Focus | Low Transmission | Moderate Transmission | Substantial Transmission | High Transmission |
| COVID-19 Vaccinations | Encourage all eligible to consider – not mandated. | Encourage all eligible to consider – not mandated. | Encourage all eligible to consider – not mandated. | Encourage all eligible to consider – not mandated. |
| Indicator of Transmission |
Total new cases totaling 100,000 persons in past ten days (0 – 9.99) Testing results that are positive for the past 7 days (0-4.99%) |
Total new cases totaling 100,000 persons in past ten days (10 – 49.99) Testing results that are positive for the past 7 days (5 – 7.99%) |
Total new cases totaling 100,000 persons in past ten days (50 – 99.99) Testing results that are positive for the past 7 days (8 – 9.99%) |
Total new cases totaling 100,000 persons in past ten days (greater than 100) Testing results that are positive for the past 7 days (greater than 10%) |
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Mask wearing (Indoors) |
Masks optional. | |||
| Transportation | Masks optional. | |||
| Staying Home when sick & return to school procedures after COVID-19 positive (staff and students) |
Students, teachers, and staff should stay home when they have signs of any illness (cough, fever, loss of taste and smell, cold/flu symptoms, etc) and contact their healthcare provider if symptoms do not resolve after 48 hours. A person may be asked to provide a doctor’s note to return to school. Return to school after being diagnosed COVID-19 Positive: Individual must satisfy isolation protocols and have improving symptoms. Must be fever free for 24 hours without using fever reducing medication (per NYSDOH). |
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| Hygiene: Hand Washing/Hand Sanitizer and Respiratory Etiquette | Expected and Encouraged | Expected and Encouraged | Expected and Encouraged | Expected and Encouraged |
| Cleaning and Disinfection (All surfaces district wide will receive public health & NYSED approved microbial disinfectant spray every 75 days) | Daily routine cleaning | Daily routine cleaning. Enhanced disinfection of high-touch surfaces (school buildings and buses). | Daily routine cleaning. Enhanced disinfection of high-touch surfaces (school buildings and buses). | Daily routine cleaning. Enhanced disinfection of high-touch surfaces (school buildings and buses). |
| Ventilation and Air Quality | Increased fresh air circulation (mechanical, open windows, open doors) | Increased fresh air circulation (mechanical, open windows, open doors) | Increased fresh air circulation (mechanical, open windows, open doors) | Increased fresh air circulation (mechanical, open windows, open doors) |
| COVID-19 positive individuals in isolation. |
The district will follow guidelines released by Montgomery County Health Department. FFCS will work closely with the county health department when a student tests positive for COVID-19 and is required to isolate. For the most up-to-date guidelines, please visit the Montgomery County Public Health Department website. Synchronous learning will be provided to students that are COVID positive in isolation. |
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| School Use of Facilities | Compliance with applicable school protocols | Compliance with applicable school protocols | Limited use of facilities allowed. All groups ensure compliance with applicable school protocols. | Limited use of facilities allowed. All groups ensure compliance with applicable school protocols. |
| Visitors to buildings during the school day. | Sign in, screening and masks are required. Visitors will be admitted by appointment only. Ex. meeting with: teacher, principal, counselor, facilities repair, outside providers/vendors, etc. | |||
COVID-19 testing:
COVID-19 testing requirements: All FFCSD unvaccinated staff will be tested on a weekly basis beginning Tuesday, October 12.
FFCSD has COVID-19 test kits available for all families upon request.
Diagnostic Testing for COVID-19 is available on-site and through referral.
Indoor/Outdoor Athletics:
Indoor/Outdoor Athletics
- bring your own water bottle (water will be available but community use of water will not be permitted) -clearly label all water bottles and other personal items
- students should wear their own appropriate workout clothing (do not share clothing)
- individual clothing/towels should be washed and cleaned after every workout immediately upon returning home
- frequent hand washing is highly encouraged
Locker Rooms
- limited number of athletes in the locker rooms at one time
- frequent hand washing is highly encouraged