Returning to School
Please note that this information may change based on updates, guidance, and mandates from, including but not limited to, the CDC and Allegheny County Health Department.
The District is dedicated to offering a fully in-person academic and student experience this fall. As always, the safety of students, faculty, and staff will continue to be an important guiding factor.
The District recognizes that while a fully in-person option is beneficial for most of our students, it will not meet the needs of all families. Therefore, to accommodate these families, the District offers students remote learning options. If your family is interested in remote learning options, contact Mr. Marc Hubert (mhubert@cvsd.net).
Masks
Per the CDC’s most recent recommendations, CVSD is expecting that masks be worn indoors in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and keep students, faculty, and staff in school. As masks are not mandated by county, state, or federal governing agencies, masks will not be required in schools.
Per a federal mandate, masks are required on all public transportation, including school buses and vans. All students and staff are required to wear a mask while traveling in school transportation vehicles.
Contact Tracing
Per the Allegheny County Health Department, individuals who do not wear a mask and are identified as having been in close contact with a positive COVID-19 case must do the following, regardless of their vaccination status:
- quarantine for 10 days and not return to school until asymptomatic for 24+ hours, or
- produce a negative COVID-19 test taken 5 days after exposure
Individuals who do wear a mask and are asymptomatic are not required to quarantine, regardless of their vaccination status.
Seating charts and seat assignments will be required on buses and in classrooms to assist in contact tracing when necessary.
The District will continue to partner with the Allegheny County Department of Health for expertise, recommendations, and guidance as it pertains to public education. Adjustments will be made as necessary with changing guidelines, mandates, and requirements.
CVSD will resume regular COVID-19 updates through a dashboard on the COVID-19 Updates page on the District website.
Cleaning and Mitigation Procedures
The District will continue to clean and disinfect using products on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s list, which reduces germs on surfaces and objects by removing contaminants and may also weaken or damage some of the virus particles, which decreases the risk of infection from surfaces, according to the CDC.
An important preventive action you can take is to regularly clean your hands. Students and staff are encouraged to clean hands at key times with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not readily available.
Personal hygiene practices, including handwashing and sanitizing, will be reinforced with signage posted in various places around the school buildings. Sanitizing stations remain available in classrooms, hallways, stairwells, cafeterias, and other common areas.
Plexiglass barricades will be available for faculty who wish to use them.
Attendance for Remote and In-Person Learning
The District will follow a regular academic calendar, grading scale, and attendance policies. Students in quarantine or out of school should log into Infinite Campus daily to mark their attendance, unless too ill to participate in coursework. Visit the Technology page on the District website for more information.
Students in grades Kindergarten through 8 will utilize Google Classroom as their learning platform, and students in grades 9-12 will utilize Schoology. Classroom teachers will review this information with students and parents during the first days of school in case a student needs to utilize the platform during periods of quarantine or absence.
All students will be issued a technology device and are expected to bring the device, charged, with them daily for instructional purposes.
Student Life
Student organizations can gather but should consider meeting virtually when possible.
Additionally, extracurricular activities and athletics can resume practice and competition without restrictions. It is recommended that general meetings be held virtually when possible. Any practice or conditioning should be held outdoors whenever possible. If a team or group member is diagnosed with COVID-19, unmasked teammates may be required to quarantine upon completion of contact tracing.
Coaches are encouraged to keep players in small groups or pods to reduce exposure and simplify contact tracing.
In-person events have resumed. The District recommends organizers use best practices. It is also recommended events take place outdoors if possible, and plated or pre-packaged meals are preferred if food is served. Hand sanitizer should be made readily available at the event. Audience members are expected to wear masks while attending indoor events.
Transportation
Per federal mandate, all students and staff are required to wear masks while traveling on public transportation, which includes school district vehicles.
Students will sit in assigned seats on buses in order to simplify contact tracing procedures.
Field Trips and Extracurricular Travel
At this time it is strongly encouraged to participate in virtual field trips whenever possible. If travel must occur, the District expects those groups to fully follow mandates, guidelines, and the current District Health and Safety Plan. If restrictions are put into place by the county, state, or other entity, the District may cancel travel for that group. A justification for travel may be required if a virtual attendance option exists.
Per federal mandate, all individuals are required to wear masks while traveling on public transportation, which includes school district vehicles.
Guests, Visitors, and Volunteers
In-person events have resumed. The District recommends organizers use best practices. It is also recommended events take place outdoors if possible, and plated or pre-packaged meals are preferred if food is served. Hand sanitizer should be made readily available at the event. Masks are expected.
All visitors, including vendors and contractors, will need to follow District safety guidelines; visitors are expected to wear a mask while on campus.
Guests and volunteers will be limited for the time being in an attempt to mitigate and limit the number of people in the buildings.
When guests/visitors are present, they should follow CDC recommendations.
Audience members are expected to wear masks while attending indoor events.
Staff and Student Masking and Classrooms
Staff members may request that students wear masks while in their classes and or activities by outlining that expectation in their classroom procedures and or syllabus; however, per the Health and Safety Plan, masks are not required.
Seating charts are required in classes in order to assist with contact tracing when needed.
This information is also available on the COVID-19 Updates page on the District website, under the About CVSD tab.
