Coastline Christian Academy // 2020-2021 School Year COVID-19 Mitigation Policies

Coastline Christian Academy will begin our school year on August 24th, 2020.  We will begin with remote instruction, with the hope of transitioning to onsite instruction as soon as possible. The health and safety of our staff, families, and the community is our top priority. Throughout the school year we will continue to monitor these guidelines to ensure that the protocol is followed. We will follow the key principles as outlined by the American Academy of Pediatrics:

·      School policies must be flexible and nimble in responding to new information, and administrators must be willing to refine approaches when specific policies are not working.

·      It is critically important to develop strategies that can be revised and adapted depending on the level of viral transmission in the school and throughout the community, and done with close monitoring of the state and/or local public health officials, while recognizing the differences between school districts.

·      Policies should be practical, feasible and appropriate for children’s various developmental stages.

·      Special considerations and accommodations will be made to account for the diversity of students and staff, especially for our vulnerable populations.

·      School policies should be guided by the goal of supporting the overall health and well-being of all children, their families, and their communities. These policies should be consistently communicated and modified as appropriate.

The Family’s Responsibility

While medical experts agree that the risk to the individual child is very low as long as reasonable and thorough precautions are being taken, there is a risk that a child could become infected when in contact with others, including while attending Coastline Christian Academy. No one knows the interactions of their child better than the parents. We are asking that parents make the decision and accept the responsibility of enrolling their child at Coastline. We ask that families closely monitor the health of their children and keep them home if they are experiencing any possible symptoms of COVID-19. These symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. We also ask that families keep their children at home if ANY member of the household has contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or is suspected to have COVID-19. This self-monitoring will be the first basis of protection for the students, staff, and families at Coastline.

Plan for Reopening

Our new protocols are subject to change with additional or adjusted guidance from government agencies. Please contact Deedee Underwood with any questions (principal@coastlinechristianacademy.com). The following summarizes our current plan for school re-opening based on the available evidence, as well as guidelines set out by the Center for Disease Control and the California Department of Public Health:

•      Health screening to prevent symptomatic individuals from entering school

•      Practicing hand washing hygiene

•      Physical distancing and face coverings

•      Shared spaces

•      Environment (cleaning and ventilation)

•      Class or school closure

Health Screening

In order to prevent the spread of infection, students, teachers and other employees who have signs/symptoms of COVID-19 should stay home. Decisions about testing and returning to school should be guided by the CDC and California Department of Public Health in consultation with local Public Health officials. In addition, decisions to return to school for those who have had exposure to COVID-19 should be in accordance with local public health recommendations. Coastline Christian Academy implements a strict exclusion policy for symptomatic students and employees. Parents and caregivers are ultimately responsible for the daily screening of their children at home prior to entering campus 

On campus, the following procedures will be set in place:

•      Staff will take temperatures of all students at drop-off with a no-touch forehead thermometer. Students with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will not be admitted to the facility. Students who have had a fever and have taken Tylenol or other fever reducers will not be admitted to the facility.

•      If a student is not feeling well during the day or has a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, he or she will be immediately relocated to an isolated area away from other students and sent home immediately. Per current policy, the student must be free of a fever for 24 hours before returning to school. Because of the special circumstances during this pandemic, we encourage families to get a COVID-19 test if they feel their child has been exposed to the virus.

Practicing Hand Hygiene

SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses are almost exclusively spread by respiratory droplet transmission. As a result, and because virus shedding may occur prior to symptom onset or in the absence of symptoms, routine, frequent and proper hand hygiene (soap and water preferred or hand sanitizer) is critical to limit transmission. In fact, proper hand hygiene is one of the most effective strategies to prevent the spread of most respiratory viruses including COVID-19, particularly during the pre-symptomatic phase of illness.

Coastline will require frequent hand washing on a regular schedule:

•      Before and after meals

•      After using the bathroom

•      After sneezing or coughing

•      Between transitions of outdoor and indoor play.

Physical Distancing

The objective of physical distancing is to reduce the likelihood of contact that may lead to transmission. It has been a widely-used strategy during the pandemic. Strict physical distancing is not always possible; however, we will be limiting the contact of children to their own grade level “quaranteam.”

At this time, our large group events will be amended or cancelled. Please refer to the all-school calendar. As we move closer toward each event date, you will be notified of any changes or cancellations based on our ability to gather safely. 

•      Student Drop-off:

  • Make drop-offs as brief as possible. Parents must wait for temperature clearance before proceeding out of the parking lot.

  • Parents must wear masks at drop-off.  We ask that parents/caregivers wash their own hands and assist in washing the hands of the children before drop-off.

  • As part of the new drop-off procedures, students will be checked into school between 7:40 am and 8:00 am each day and go directly to class following the “one-way” path from the front to the back of the school. Students are to wear a face covering, in accordance with the CDPH guidelines.  Students arriving after that time may not be admitted unless parents have previously cleared a late arrival with the office staff so that a staff member can meet them in a designated drop-off space and complete drop-off procedures.

•      Student Pick-up:

  • Pick-up will be a drive through with students in socially distanced “quaranteams” outside by the parking lot. Students will exit their classroom and follow the “one-way” path from the back to the front of the school.

  • Parents/caregivers must wear face coverings at pick-up if they are getting out of their cars. We ask that parents/caregivers wash their own hands prior to coming for pick-up.

  • When students are in the classroom, Coastline will arrange the classroom furniture to leave as much space as possible between students, but please note that in some cases a distance of 6 feet between desks is not possible. Additionally, each desk will have a desk shield to remain in place throughout the school day.  We will be creative about encouraging social distancing with children by moving activities outdoors when possible, having assigned seats at tables, and creating socially distanced lines.

  • Any shared spaces will be disinfected between use by each class group (i.e., bathrooms, playground equipment, computer keyboards, etc.).

Face Coverings

•      Face coverings must be used in accordance with CDPH guidelines, unless a person is exempt as explained in the guidelines.

•      Exemptions must be documented by a medical note stating reason for exemption in accordance with CDPH guidelines.  Parents must provide the medical note to the school before the exemption is recognized.

•      At this time, it is required for students 3rd grade and up to wear face coverings while at school. Students in kindergarten through 2nd grade are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering. At the beginning of the school year, all students will be given a Coastline gaiter to wear each day.

•      Coastline staff will wear face shields when interacting with students.   As required, face coverings will be worn outside of the classroom

Shared Spaces

Though students will be kept in their class groups throughout the day, there are areas of campus that will be shared between classes. Those areas, like the bathrooms and playground, require additional mitigation strategies.

•      Bathrooms will be cleaned at the end of each school day.

  • Stall handles, toilet-flushing handles, and faucets will be cleaned multiple times per day.

  • Students will wash their hands immediately after using the bathroom.

•      Meal times

  • Children will bring all their own food (morning snack and lunch) and keep it in their own personal space. This year it will be particularly important to respect the “no sharing food” rule meant to protect students.

  • Most mealtimes will be outside at designated “quaranteam” tables. If eating in the classroom or chapel, students will be separated as much as possible.

•     Playground

  • We intend to give our students the use of the playground.

  • We will be scheduling a rotational system for students to play in specific areas of the playground with their “quaranteam” in order to limit interaction with other students.

  • Materials like hula hoops, balls and jump ropes, etc., will be cleaned between use by the various classrooms.

  • Toys/shared materials will be cleaned daily.

Staff Health Policies

Beyond our typical staff training, our staff will receive additional training in how to assess if they or their students have signs and symptoms, proper disinfecting procedures, proper hygiene for bathrooms and mealtimes, and how to create environments with social distancing in mind.

•      Staff will complete daily temperature checks and health assessments upon arrival to work.  Records will be kept with the administration.

•      In accordance with state regulations, we will be requiring Coastline staff to wear face coverings at all times. Face shields will be worn when interacting with students, for pedagogical and/or developmental reasons.

Environment (in addition to our previous policies)

A regular cleaning schedule will be used throughout the school year with additional emphasis on high touch surfaces.

•      When inside the classroom, all windows will be open to increase ventilation (weather permitting). Teachers will consider moving activities outside when possible.

•      When possible, one door of each classroom will be propped open for ventilation and to reduce the need to touch the door knob.

•      Frequently-touched items will be cleaned between transitions each day.

•      Students will have an individual supply of items such as markers, crayons, and other writing utensils and books.

•      The drinking fountain will be used for personal reusable bottle refilling only.

Class or School Closure

(Protocol for positive COVID test in our school community)

If at any time Santa Barbara County transitions back to quarantine, or requires us by law to close, Coastline Christian Academy will immediately resume online learning until we are free to open our doors and resume scheduled classes. If Santa Barbara Public Health recommends that we change protocol or deems it necessary to temporarily close our school, we will work closely and comply with the department to ensure community safety. The well-being of our Coastline family is our top priority. This includes the academic, spiritual and social/emotional needs of our students. Coastline will ensure that communication with our Coastline family will maintain health privacy but include necessary health information.  Coastline will be communicating with our local health office in accordance with the CDPH guidelines.

In the event a Coastline student has confirmed exposure* to COVID-19:

If a Coastline student has been exposed to a person with COVID-19 who has symptoms (in the period from 2 days before symptom onset until they meet criteria for discontinuing home isolation; can be laboratory-confirmed or a clinically compatible illness), or if a Coastline student has been exposed to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 (laboratory confirmed) but has not had any symptoms (in the 2 days before the date of specimen collection until they meet criteria for discontinuing home isolation) – the student must stay home until 14 days after last exposure and maintain social distance.

*The CDC’s definition of exposure can be located at:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/public-health-recommendations

 In the event of a confirmed case of COVID-19:

•      If a Coastline student tests positive for COVID-19, the student, siblings, teacher and entire class will be quarantined at home for a total of 14 days, during which the class will transition to remote learning. A COVID test for other students in the class will be encouraged. Coastline will require the teacher to undergo a COVID test and the teacher must receive a negative test result before returning to school. Regular (in-person) class time will resume once the quarantine period has passed.

•      If a Coastline parent tests positive for COVID-19, the students in the family must quarantine with the parent at home for 14 days or until a negative COVID test for the student is provided.

•      If a Coastline staff member tests positive for COVID-19, the school will close for a 3-day recess (without remote learning) during which all staff members must be tested and receive a negative test result before returning to work. In the event that tests are more quickly available or readable as testing develops, we reserve the right to resume school more quickly than 3 days. AFTER the recess, all healthy staff and students will resume classes as usual on campus. If the staff member is a teacher, his/her class must continue in online learning for the remainder of the 14-day quarantine period under the instruction of the teacher or an appointed substitute teacher. The affected staff member must quarantine at home for the 14-day period. All staff will be required to be tested for COVID with a single staff case and the tests will be paid for by Coastline Christian Academy.

If your child is currently enrolled at Coastline and needs to be excluded from on-campus learning, we are required to offer an alternative educational opportunity.  This will be in the form of a non-virtual, independent study program which the parent will facilitate.  All tuition rates still apply.

Becca Eliasen