d. Facilities Guidance

In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection in the school, facilities operations will be geared toward meeting social distancing requirements and cleaning frequently touched spaces regularly. In carrying out projects or tasks supporting infection control, requirements will be met for changes associated with building spaces. Plans for changes or additions to facilities will be submitted to comply with the requirements of the 2020 New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (BC) and the State Energy Conservation Code.

The function, position and operation of stairs and corridor doors, which have closers with automatic hold opens (and are automatically released by the fire alarm system), will remain unchanged.

The school plans to meet the deadline for submission of Building Condition Survey or Occupational Safety Inspections on time.

Upon reopening, the school plans to increase ventilation, to the greatest extent possible. Water systems will be flushed in buildings that have been unoccupied.

The school will revisit Emergency Response Plans, protocols, and procedures and make modifications in light of COVID-19.

Describe the facilities reopening plan and activities, which will occur including:

• Doorways: Corridor doors have closers with automatic hold opens. These doors are normally held in the open position and are automatically released by the fire alarm system. The function, position, and operation of those doors must remain unchanged. Fortunately, they need not be touched during normal use.
• Time Management: School leaders will manage time and schedules to reduce student use of the corridors. The traditional practice of changing classes between periods results in congested hallways and may make social distance challenging. Special area teachers in the areas of Spanish, Library and Art will travel to grade-level classrooms for instruction. Music instruction will occur in grade level classroom when singing is not part of the lesson and will occur in the school gymnasium when singing is involved allowing for 12 foot social distancing. Physical Education instruction will take place in the school gymnasium allowing for the required 12 foot distancing. Teachers will be required to check school hallways before exiting classrooms with students to ensure that only one cohort is in the hallway at a time.
• Leave Doors Open: To reduce the spread of the virus from touching door levers and knobs, classroom doors will be fixed in the open position. This is only permitted at doors without door closers and doors which are not fire rated.
• Alcohol-Based Hand Rub Dispensers: Alcohol-based Hand-Rub Dispensers will be installed in all classrooms and in shared spaces such as hallways, entrance points, and the gymnasium/cafeteria.
• Grade levels with a student population exceeding 17 will be provided with an additional classroom space to use in providing additional space for 6 foot distancing among students.
• Drinking Water Facilities: Mouth pieces on water fountains will be covered and removed from use. Students will be allowed to use water fountain filling stations to fill water bottles that all students will be required to bring from home.
• Maintain adequate, Code required ventilation (natural or mechanical) as designed. Teachers will be required to open classroom windows whenever possible throughout the day, but at a minimum of 15 minutes prior to student arrival and after student dismissal.