Frequent and regular cleaning and disinfecting will remain a vital part of our operations. FSA has a contract with a third-party cleaning company to clean and disinfect our campus every night in detail using EPA-approved products that are effective for Covid-19. That service will continue with further attention to the cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces by students such as doorknobs, student desks, and chairs. 

Touchless hand sanitizers with 60% alcohol rate will be available in areas which are used by middle and high school students for its effectiveness with Covid-19. Elementary students are discouraged to use these hand sanitizers as it may not be healthy for their skin. Instead, elementary school students are encouraged to use soap and water. Accordingly, air dryers in restrooms are replaced with more powerful models to allow students to easily dry their hands after using soap and water. 

In addition, we are reducing areas requiring frequent touch. All water fountains are touchless only. Therefore, students are encouraged to bring their own water bottle to refill throughout the day. Also, vending machines will not be in use. Instead, students are encouraged to bring their own snacks each day (please adhere to the school’s NO NUT policy). 

Anyone on campus will still be required to wear masks. Signs providing reminders of safety procedures will be displayed throughout the building. Reminders will be added to morning announcements as well as Mustang News so that students can become familiar with our guidelines and comfortable in their use while on campus. 

To ensure safe travel in the building, traffic flow patterns will be visible and students will be instructed to adhere to these guidelines. Additionally, safe space guidelines will be expected at all times (water fountains, front desk, etc.). Students will also be expected to maintain safe space in the restrooms; therefore, only a few students will be permitted at any given time. Frequent planned breaks will be scheduled into the day and students rotated. 

Students in Elementary and Middle grades will be served lunch in the cafeteria utilizing safe spacing and routine disinfecting between rotations. High School students will have lunch in the HS Hangout area while also utilizing safe spacing and area disinfection. 

For recess, ES and MS students will have opportunities to play outside in open air areas, and safe space distancing will be encouraged. In accordance with CDC guidelines, masks will not be required while outside in the recess areas or during physical education classes. 

To continue to limit the number of visitors on campus, we encourage virtual parent meetings. However, we will also accommodate requests for in-person meetings when necessary. 

The School’s COVID-19 Pandemic Response Plan is based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Georgia Department of Health (DPH) federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), including standards related to COVID-19; and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s executive orders, https://gov.georgia.gov/executive-action/executive-orders, as they pertain to COVID-19. 

This plan addresses the Clinical Health and Safety procedures that FSA has implemented and the responsibilities of FSA and its community members, including: 

● Health Screenings and Symptom Assessment 

● Procedures for Anyone Experiencing Symptoms 

● Procedures for Anyone Tested Positive for COVID-19 

● Procedures for Anyone in Contact with Someone who is Positive for COVID-19 

● Procedures for Anyone Experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms at School 

● On-Campus Periodic Screening Process 

● Protecting Yourself and Others 

Health Screenings and Symptom Assessment 

We are asking parents/guardians, and all members of the community, to do a self-assessment of themselves and their children, including a temperature check, before leaving home each morning. Please use the self-assessment website below provided by CDC: 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html 

Individuals with COVID-19 may have any of the following symptoms, which may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus: 

● Cough 

● Shortness of breath 

● Difficulty breathing 

● Fever and/or chills 

● Muscle or body aches 

● Congestion or runny nose 

● New loss of taste or smell 

● Persistent pain or pressure in the chest 

● New confusion 

● Inability to wake or stay awake 

● Bluish lips or face 

● Nausea or vomiting 

● Diarrhea 

According to the CDC, this list of symptoms does not include all possible symptoms. Please contact your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you. 

Procedures for Anyone Experiencing Symptoms 

Anyone who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should isolate at home, contact their doctor for medical guidance, and inform the school nurse immediately. If a test is deemed necessary by the physician and a positive result is received, please follow the guidelines outlined by your physician and our Procedures for Anyone Tested Positive for COVID-19 outlined below. If a negative test result is received, please follow the guidelines outlined by your physician and provide proper documentation before being allowed to return to campus. If a test is deemed unnecessary by the physician, a written physician’s release will be required to return to campus along with meeting the following requirements: 

● Fever and fever-medication-free for at least 72 hours, AND 

● Other symptoms have improved 

Procedures for Anyone Testing Positive for COVID-19 

Anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 should isolate for a minimum of 10 days, inform the school nurse immediately, and follow the CDC guidelines below. 

The ill individual may return to campus and end isolation once the following are met: 

● 10 days isolation from the start of symptoms, AND 

● Fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication, AND 

● Symptoms have improved 

Additional Guidelines include: 

● Stay home. Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care. Do not leave your home, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas. 

● Take care of yourself. Get rest and stay hydrated. 

● Stay in touch with your doctor. Call before you get medical care. Be sure to get care if you have trouble breathing, or have any other emergency warning signs, or if you think it is an emergency. 

Procedures for Anyone in Contact with Someone who is Positive for COVID-19 

All students and employees should isolate at home and contact their doctor for medical guidance, if they have had close contact with a person with COVID-19. CDC currently defines https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/principles-contact-tracing.html “close contact” as “someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.” 

Employees and parents/guardians are asked to self-report to the school nurse, continue to monitor for signs/symptoms, and follow the below guidelines for quarantine: There are three options after having a direct exposure if the individual and all members of the home remain asymptomatic. 

● Option one - You may return on day eight after completing a full 7-day quarantine period with proof of a negative PCR test completed on day 5 or later of their quarantine period. Negative test results must be uploaded/submitted by 2:00 pm the day before their intended return date and must be approved by FSA administration prior to their return. 

● Option two - Your child may complete a 10-day quarantine period returning to school/activities on the 11th day. No negative testing required. 

● Option three - Choose to quarantine for the full 14 days quarantine period as per CDC recommendation. 

*Fully vaccinated individuals are not required to quarantine after exposure, but should follow basic prevention measures: 

● Social distance 

● Avoid crowds 

● Wash hands frequently 

Procedures for Anyone Experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms at School 

If a student is sick or experiencing symptoms at school, the student will report to the clinic. If deemed necessary, the student will be moved to the isolation room. In the isolation room, every student will be provided a face covering and social distancing, and the parents will be informed right away. If not deemed necessary, then the student will be taken to the clinic for regular checks and regular clinic procedures will be followed. 

Employees who become sick or experience symptoms while at the school should follow the same procedures as students. 

On-Campus Periodic Screening Process 

First of all, it is very important that each family conduct a self-assessment before leaving home each morning. Periodic health screenings of students, visitors, and employees may be conducted including routine morning temperature checks and random temperature checks throughout the day. Students and employees with COVID-19 symptoms or a temperature of 100.4 and above will be immediately isolated and sent home. 

Protecting Yourself and Others 

To maintain a safe environment for everyone on campus, the school is implementing basic infection prevention measures for everyone to follow. These include, but are not limited to, the promotion of handwashing and respiratory etiquette, use of social distancing and optional face coverings. 

Handwashing. Frequent handwashing is critical in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. The school will provide and maintain touchless soap and/or sanitizer stations. Hand sanitizer dispensers (that use sanitizers of greater than 60 percent alcohol) will be at entrances and other locations throughout the school. All students and school employees are instructed to frequently wash their hands throughout the day for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, but especially at the beginning and end of their work day, before and after mealtimes, and after using the restroom. The use of soap and water is the best option, especially if hands are visibly dirty. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. 

Respiratory etiquette. Employees, parents, students, and visitors should cover their mouth and nose with their sleeve or a tissue when coughing or sneezing and to avoid touching their face, in particular their mouth, nose, and eyes, with their hands. They should dispose of tissues in provided trash receptacles and immediately hand sanitizer, and or wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Respiratory etiquette signage will be displayed throughout the school. 

Social distancing. Following the CDC guidelines, 3 ft. social distancing requirements will be communicated with school community members based on the current phase of the Federal School Opening Guidelines at the time of school opening in August. 

Face coverings. Anyone on campus who is not fully vaccinated will be required to wear proper fitting face coverings. Individuals who are fully vaccinated and have shared a copy of their vaccination documentation with our school nurse, Mrs. Aybree Pugliese (apugliese@fultonscienceacademy.org) will have optional face coverings. CDC guidelines also provide general considerations for wearing and maintaining a face covering, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/cloth-face-coverings-information.pdf 

including the following: 

● The mouth and nose are fully covered 

● The covering fits snugly against the sides of the face so there are no gaps 

● The wearer does not have any difficulty breathing while wearing the covering 

● The face covering can be tied or otherwise secured to prevent slipping 

Please refer to the student-parent handbook on the school website for our attendance policy and procedures. Since we returned to on-campus learning, there will no longer be an online option available for absent students.