The purpose of the procedures below is to mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19.  While it is not possible to eliminate all risk, Ranch Academy is providing the following document which outlines our minimum standards, plan, and procedures to reduce the risks to students, teachers, staff, and their families.  These procedures are developed using the current guidelines provided by TEA at https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/covid/SY-20-21-Public-Health-Guidance.pdf  Parents may view a document provided by TEA which outlines your rights and responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic here https://tea.texas.gov/coronavirus The overarching theme of this document is to provide student-specific educational opportunities, group separation to prevent spread, and sanitation. 

Student Population Considerations

• Residential Students are required to be onsite 5 days per week and will not be using the same physical classrooms or hallways as our Day Student Population.
• Day Students are offered a Remote Method of Learning, Onsite Method of Learning, and a Hybrid Method only being on-site a few days per week. 
• All Day Students work remotely on Fridays unless requested (by staff or student) for onsite tutorials or attendance remediation; allowing for six feet social distancing.
• Day Students will be using classrooms with exterior doors except for one room.  This allows for social distancing even during passing periods and most transitions happen outdoors.

Sanitation Practices

• Students and Staff are required to wear masks when unable to maintain six feet of social distance. 
  • Exceptions: Activities held outdoors including P.E., Horticulture, or any other class working outdoors that provide for adequate social distancing.
  • Exceptions: Students must provide a doctor’s note if they have a physical condition that prevents them from wearing a mask.
• Regularly scheduled hand-washing for all staff and students.
• Staff sanitizes shared items, desktops, and touch surfaces between class changes and end of the day.
• Hand sanitizer stations are installed next to the door in all classrooms.
• Weekly deep cleaning of all surfaces and common areas including cafeteria and restrooms.

Food and Drink

• Students are required to bring their own lunch until further notice.
• Water fountains are NOT available for use.
  • Disposable Cups are being provided for individual use.
  • Students may bring sealed disposable bottles of water.
    (Refillable Cups, Mugs, or other liquid vesicles are NOT Permitted)
• Cafeteria has been reconfigured to provide six feet of space between students.

On Campus Requirements

• All staff, students, and visitors are screened daily prior to entering the campus for symptoms, exposure, and temperatures. 
• Students must not exit their vehicle until having been scanned and answered the screening questions.
• Access to the Main Building office area is limited to Staff Only.
• Parents and Visitors park in the back parking lot. Call 903.939.8000 upon arrival for instructions.
  • Parents and Visitors will be screened and escorted by a staff member while on campus.
• All day students are to be dropped off and/or picked up in the rear parking area.
  • Arrive between 7:30am and 7:45am daily; report directly to the cafeteria. 
    • DO NOT arrive earlier than 7:30, you must wait in your vehicle otherwise.
  • Arrivals after 7:45 report to the indicated EXTERIOR OFFICE.
  • Tardy bell rings at 7:50
  • Early Pickups, parent must pull around to the rear parking lot, call the school and wait for a staff member to escort the student to your vehicle.
• All day student classrooms utilized have exterior doors and passageways are open air. 
  • Exception: one classroom utilized must travel through a hallway.

In classroom practices include:

• Classrooms are assigned on average 5-8 students.
• Student desks are spaced six feet apart.
• Assigned seating and charts are required in each classroom.
• Students are only permitted to leave the assigned classroom during passing periods.
  • Exception: Unless being escorted by a staff member.
• All Classrooms being utilized have a private bathroom. 
  • Exception: Two classrooms without bathrooms are to utilize two shared gender-specific bathrooms.

Requirements and Response to a COVID-19 Infection

• The following are the two COVID-19 Screening Questions required by TEA to be answered daily.
  • Have you recently begun experiencing any of the COVID-19 Symptoms in a way that is not normal for you?  (symptoms are listed below)
  • Have you been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID the past two days?
  • Individuals that answer Yes to either Screening Question must follow the remediation procedures listed below as if they were symptomatic.
• Individuals Diagnosed or Symptomatic with COVID-19 must stay home through the infection period.
  • No entry to the campus will be permitted until all three of the following are met:
    • Symptoms have improved
    • 24hrs with No Fever (without Medications)
    • 10 days have passed since symptoms appeared
  • Individuals may return early if they provide either a) Dr’s Note clearing them for return with an alternative diagnosis or b) negative results test for COVID-19
  • Note: Ranch Academy will and must notify via email all Parents, Students, Staff, and Health Authorities of any reported TEST-CONFIRMED positive COVID-19 cases.  Personal identifying information will NOT be released per HIPPA, ADA, and FERPA standards.

• Individual becoming symptomatic while at school.
  • Student(s) will immediately be isolated until they can be picked up.  (Must be within 1hr)
  • School Staff will immediately clean areas at school used by the individual.
  • Re-entry will be permitted following the procedures above.
  • Note: Student(s) scanned with a no-contact thermometer and results read in excess of 100 degrees, will have their temperate taken again using a 2^nd traditional contact thermometer.

* Individuals that regularly experience items on the list of COVID-19 symptoms below must notify the school as soon as possible, to be taken into account during regular screenings.
** Also note that this document is ever-changing as our guidance changes from TEA and the Local Health Authorities.