Coronavirus Information

Coronavirus Health and Safety Plan

January 3, 2022

Dear Adult & Continuing Education Students, Faculty and Staff,

On December 30, 2021, the Pennsylvania Department of Health updated guidelines regarding Isolation and Quarantine Periods for COVID-19.  As such, the Adult & Continuing Education Center at York County School of Technology has updated the Health and Safety Plan to reflect the following:

  • Persons who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for 5 days. If after 5 days, the patient is asymptomatic or has resolving symptoms, their isolation period is over; however, they should still wear a mask around others until day 10.
  • Persons who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and have received a booster vaccine or are within 6 months of receiving their primary vaccine series should wear a mask around others for 10 days, but do not need to quarantine.
  • Persons who are unvaccinated or who are eligible (i.e., more than 6 months after primary vaccine series) but have not yet received a booster vaccine must quarantine at home for 5 days, and then wear a mask around others until Day 10.
  • All exposed persons regardless of vaccination should test on Day 5 if possible.

Optional face coverings remain in effect within the building at the York County School of Technology.  I encourage everyone to Get Vaccinated! COVID-19 vaccines substantially reduce the risk of becoming seriously ill or spreading the virus to others.

Please note that this is a very fluid situation. We appreciate your continued patience as we work through these changes together.

Best Regards,

Kirk D. Schlotzhauer
Director, Adult & Continuing Education

 

September 1, 2021

Dear Adult & Continuing Education Students, Faculty and Staff,

Governor Wolf and the PA Secretary of Health have issued an Order requiring face coverings to be worn in all school entities, effective Tuesday, September 7, 2021. All Students, Faculty, Staff and visitors will be required to wear a mask indoors, regardless of their vaccination status.

Appropriate use of face masks or coverings is critical in minimizing risks to others near you. You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick. The mask or cloth face covering is not a substitute for social distancing. Masks should meet CDC guidelines.

Employees and students are expected to provide their own face mask or face covering. However, disposable masks will be provided by the school, if needed. Disposable masks may only be worn for one day and then must be placed in the trash. The fabric design or pattern for cloth face coverings should be appropriate for the wear in the school, in accordance with appropriate attire addressed in the student handbook. Cloth face coverings must only be worn for one day at a time, and must be properly laundered before use again. Having a week supply of cloth face coverings can help reduce the need for daily laundering.

Tips for safely wearing face coverings:

  • A mask is NOT a substitute for social distancing. Masks should still be worn in addition to staying at least 3 feet apart.
  • Masks should completely cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly against the sides of face without gaps.
  • Wear a mask inside your home if someone you live with is sick with symptoms of COVID-19 or has tested positive for COVID-19.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol after touching or removing your mask.
  • Masks may not be necessary when you are outside by yourself away from others, or with people who live in your household.

Masks may be removed under certain circumstances, including:

  • When you are alone at a workstation. A workstation can be a cubicle with walls seven feet or higher, a personal office or when working alone and isolated from interaction with other people with little or no expectation of in-person interaction.
  • When you are eating or drinking during breaks and lunch periods; however, at those times, physical distancing must be practiced.
  • When it impedes vision, if you have a medical condition or if it would create an unsafe condition in which to operate equipment or execute a task.
  • Outdoors.

The Adult & Continuing Education Center will continue to follow the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Pennsylvania Department of Education administrative orders requiring face coverings in schools. Plans will continue to be adjusted, based on the status of the pandemic, and in accordance with CDC recommendations and state and local orders and guidelines.

Get Vaccinated! COVID-19 vaccines substantially reduce the risk of becoming seriously ill or spreading the virus to others. Wearing a mask will provide an added layer of protection against the virus, including the Delta variant.

We thank you for your continued support and understanding as we continue to stay safe to stay open for the remainder of the academic year.

Sincerely,

Kirk D. Schlotzhauer
Director, Adult & Continuing Education

 

August 10, 2021

Introduction

The Adult & Continuing Education Center at York County School of Technology provides lifelong learning opportunities to adult students through traditional classroom didactics and comprehensive skills training. The Adult & Continuing Education Center’s goal is to continue in its mission to provide adult learners with technical and basic skills to prepare them for customer- centered professions that foster continuous learning and contribute to workforce development.

The Adult & Continuing Education Center at York County School of Technology (YCST) will continue to implement COVID-19 prevention strategies and recommendations provided by local, state, and federal health officials and agencies. YCST will continue to monitor and review guidance from the CDC and work with collaboratively with the PA Dept. of Health and Pennsylvania Department of Education to safely deliver in-person instruction throughout the 2021-2022 school year. Due to the fact that the COVID-19 Pandemic is ever-changing, the administration reserves the right to adjust and make modifications to this plan based on COVID- 19 preventative guidance from local, state, and federal health officials and agencies.

Pandemic Coordinator/Team

Individual(s)

Stakeholder Group Represented

Pandemic Team Roles and Responsibilities (Options Above)

Kirk D Schlotzhauer

Administrator

Plan Development & Response Team

Vance Miller

Administrator

Pandemic Response Coordinator

Frances Bietsch

Administrator

Healthcare Professional (MSN)

Guiding Principles

The policies and protocols of the Adult & Continuing Education Center at York County School of Technology in response to the COVID-19 pandemic are rooted in safety for our local healthcare providers, safety for our staff, safety for our faculty, safety for our students and for the

safety of the public that we interact with. In the absence of legal requirements, YCST continues to believe that individuals are best positioned to make decisions regarding their COVID- 19 mitigation efforts. In accordance with the Federal Public Transportation Mandate, all students and drivers must wear masks during school sponsored travel (i.e. School Busses, School Vans, Drivers Education vehicles, etc.) to and from school and school events. Drivers do not have to wear masks when driving alone.

Our primary goals for the Adult & Continuing Education Center’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic are to protect public health while continuing our school’s vital mission of providing quality adult vocational, technical and basic skills education, training and services in a professional, customer-focused atmosphere that fosters continuous learning and promotes workforce development.

The Adult & Continuing Education Center’s plans will be aligned and consistent with local orders and ordinances of York County, as well as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the published guidelines of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), PA Department of Health (DOH), Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), and the Joint Operating Committee and Administration of the York County School of Technology.

Return to the Workplace, Classrooms and Labs

All staff, faculty and students are expected to fully comply with the policies, protocols and guidelines outlined in this Coronavirus Health and Safety Plan. Failure to do so may result in corrective action.

In preparation for in person instruction, all Classrooms, labs, workspaces and common areas have been cleaned and sanitized to ensure our facility is a safe environment for all faculty, staff and students.

Technical Programs & Training Limitations/Requirements for all:

In all instances, training programs must operate in the manner best designed to prevent or mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of the communities in which they are located and the communities they serve.

Personal Safety Practices

    • Face Masks/Cloth Face Coverings: Beginning with the fall start of classes on August 26, 2021, Face coverings will be optional for those who choose to wear them on YCST property, facilities and events. This is consistent with the expiration of the Governor’s Universal Face Covering Order.
    • Cover the mouth and nose when sneezing.
    • Use the nearest waste receptacle to dispose of tissue after use.
    • Wash hands regularly throughout the day and evening.

Symptom Monitoring Requirement:

Staff, faculty and students returning to the workplace, classroom or labs must conduct symptom monitoring every day before reporting to school. It is everyone’s responsibility to comply and it is a shared duty as a community to act responsibly. You must be free of ANY symptoms potentially related to COVID-19 or have had evaluation and clearance by a Healthcare Provider to be eligible to report to campus.

The CDC Self-Checker tool shall be used by individuals to assist in making decisions to attend in-person instruction or seek medical care.

For those programs that work in a higher-risk environment for infection with COVID-19 (e.g., medical professions, etc.), your program may require temperature monitoring upon arrival to school and symptom assessment. Instructors will advise their students on this requirement, if applicable, prior to their return to campus, and on where to report when you arrive for screening.

According to the CDC, symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. At this time, these symptoms include one or more of the following:

    • Cough
    • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
    • Fever
    • Chills
    • Repeated shaking with chills
    • Runny nose or new sinus congestion
    • Muscle pain
    • Headache
    • Sore throat
    • Fatigue
    • New GI symptoms

New loss of taste or smellFaculty, staff or students who have any symptoms, including fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or greater should stay at home and notify the school that you will not be into work or class. Call your health care provider. If it is an emergency, call 911. You should self-isolate until cleared by your health care provider to return to work or school.

Faculty, staff and students who believe that they fall into the high-risk category may seek ADA accommodations related to returning to campus by contacting the Compliance Officer and requesting accommodation.

Mitigating, Containing, and Voluntary reporting

    • Individuals who demonstrate symptoms of COVID-19 shall self-report and be asked to self-quarantine at home and follow the guidelines provided by the PA-DOH and CDC.
    • The PA-DOH shall be notified of the details of the event, guidelines provided during that time shall be followed.
    • Campus facilities, classrooms, skills labs, and training sites shall be cleaned and disinfected using cleaning and disinfection methods approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and CDC.
    • Staff, faculty, and students shall be made aware of the exposure incident and individuals who were in close contact with the infected individual shall be asked to follow PA-DOH and CDC guidelines.
    • Individuals exposed that are unvaccinated or who demonstrate symptoms of COVID-19 shall not participate in in-person instruction and on-campus activities; instead, these individuals should follow guidelines provided by their healthcare provider, PA-DOH, and CDC before returning to work or in-person instruction.
    • Vaccinated students and employees who are exposed to a Covid-19 positive individual, will not need to quarantine, providing they do not show any Covid-19 symptoms.
    • If it is feasible, hybrid methods of instruction shall be provided to assist the student in meeting course/ program objectives.
    • The decision to suspend and resume in-person instruction shall be guided by the PA- DOH and CDC guidelines and recommendations.

Immunizations

Routine vaccination prevents illnesses that lead to unnecessary medical visits, additional outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases, hospitalizations, and further strain on schools, families and health care systems. Staff, faculty, students, and families are encouraged to get the Covid-19 vaccination.

Students and faculty in programs that include a clinical component will be required to adhere to the health and safety requirements of respective affiliated clinical agencies (WellSpan, UPMC, etc.) as well as State and Federal regulatory agencies including, but not limited to: physical examinations, immunizations (including history of or immunization against Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, Hepatitis B, and Influenza) and health screening requirements (including drug screening and annual tuberculin test or proof of previous positive reaction or documentation of completion of adequate preventive therapy or adequate treatment for active disease). Proof of compliance must be provided prior to commencement of a clinical experience.

Communication with Local Public Health Officials and Voluntary Reporting

    • Individuals shall utilize the Self-Checker tool provided by the CDC to assist in the decision making process to attend in-person instruction or seek medical advice.
    • Individuals shall be asked to self-report if they experience symptoms of COVID-19.
    • The PA-DOH shall be notified of the details of an exposure, guidelines provided during that time shall be followed.

Communication with Students, Faculty, Staff, and the Community

    • Students, faculty, and staff who have symptoms, including fever of 100.4 degrees or greater should stay at home and notify the school that they will not be into work or class. They should call their health care provider, and if it is an emergency, call 911.
    • Students, faculty, and staff with symptoms should self-isolate until cleared by their health care provider to return to work or school.
    • The Director of Adult and Continuing Education Center reports operational changes and situations to the Administrative Director of the school and is accountable to the Joint Operating Committee.
    • Vocational and Clinical affiliates communicate guidelines with the school to ensure that students enter a safe and healthy learning environment. These guidelines are shared with students, faculty, and staff.

Strategy to reinforce best practices related to hygiene, sanitation, and face coverings on campus.

    • Signage on social distancing is posted outside the campus building to reinforce the PA- DOH and CDC guidelines.
    • Additional signage on social distancing, sanitation and hygiene is posted inside the Adult and Continuing Education Center classrooms, facilities, and training labs to reinforce the PA-DOH and CDC guidelines.
    • Hand sanitation stations are placed at entrances, exits, classrooms, and skills labs.
    • Physical barriers, such as sneeze guards and partitions, are placed at lobby reception desks.
    • Each classroom and lab has the following available: Clorox disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, nitrile examination gloves, tissues, and COVID-19 signage.

Summary

The Adult and Continuing Education Center at York County School of Technology is committed to delivering an active and engaging in-person hands-on learning experience to students. For the 2021-2022 school year, YCST will return to full-time in-person instruction to address all students’ academic and technical learning needs. YCST has a dedicated faculty and staff who are committed to student success and their social and emotional well-being.

The Adult and Continuing Education Center at York County School of Technology has implemented priority measures to ensure a healthy and safe learning environment for employees and students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Health and Safety Plan was developed to assist in managing and mitigating the infectious spread of the COVID-19 virus while students resume in-class instruction. Development of the Health and Safety Plan is based on guidance

from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Implementing and communicating strategies and best practices to students, faculty, and staff is key to ensuring everyone’s health and safety. The Adult and Continuing Education Center will continue in its efforts to ensure adult student success and employability in the workforce.

COVID-19 SCREENING