Cincinnati Public Schools

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Update

Emergency Preparations, Response, Recovery
(Revision March 2020)

This plan is based on the Cincinnati Public Schools District Pandemic Plan developed in 2009, and revised /updated for the COVID-19 emerging situation.

What is coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The
virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an
outbreak in Wuhan, China.

COVID-19:

Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19) cases.

The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

Cases of coronavirus have been identified in most countries around the world and most states and
regions throughout the United States – and more cases are expected. This document describes the
District's measures and approach to minimize the impact to the health and safety of staff, students and
the community.

__________

This plan is based on the Cincinnati Public Schools District Pandemic Plan developed in 2009, and revised /updated for the COVID-19 emerging situation. This plan is
intended to augment existing school and department emergency response plans.

CPS COVID-19 PLAN - CORONAVIRUS 3-13-2020 CONTACT: EHS/EGHBALNIA

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MITIGATION AND PREVENTION:
The Performance Leadership Team (PLT) has reviewed the District's existing Control of Casual-Contact
Communicable Disease Policy (Policy 8450) and determined that the policy would apply to the COVID-19
event.

To mitigate the effects of the emerging situation with COVID-19, the following actions will be taken:

Communications:
Different forms of communication will be used to keep staff, students and parents informed of announcements
and plans from the Cincinnati Health Department, and plans for the district’s response to the COVID-19 events
as they may potentially affect Cincinnati Public School District.

The district has in place the following communication procedures:

Public Notification:
Staff notification:
District Website
District Website
Local radio and TV announcements for school
District email
closures
Hardcopies distributed to employee mailboxes
School Newsletters
Robocall
Robocall
Parent Newsletter

The District will take proactive procedures to educate staff and students regarding means to prevent
transmission of the disease and to “stop the spread of germs.”

COMPLETED TASK
1. Posters, illustrating the proper procedures for “covering your cough”
and “washing your hands” will be posted at schools. School Nurses or
School Health Assistants (SHA) will also be available to demonstrate
proper hand-washing techniques.

2. For the purpose of training staff as role models for students, a reminder
to wash your hands before eating will be placed in each staff lounge.

3. Flyers, “Stop the Spread of Germs” (as updated from CDC) will be
distributed to each school and are available on the district website.
One flyer will be placed in each classroom as a reminder of means of
preventing germs from spreading and proper hand washing techniques.

4. Distribution of updated informational flyers from the health

department on COVID-19 and preparedness will be distributed
electronically, as available. Copies may also be sent home with each
student, as deemed necessary.

5. Soap, water and paper towels will be available (and regularly checked
and refilled) in each restroom and hand sanitizer will be provided as
available.
6. Information will be disseminated via email and website regarding
CPS COVID-19 PLAN - CORONAVIRUS 3-13-2020 CONTACT: EHS/EGHBALNIA
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 signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and healthy habits techniques.
Healthy habits include frequent and proper hand washing, covering
your cough with a tissue or into your arm, and staying home when you
are sick.

7. During New Hire Orientation, healthy habits procedures will be

discussed with staff. Healthy habits include frequent and proper hand
washing, covering your cough with a tissue or into your arm and
staying home when you are sick.

8. Building administrators should designate ample time at staff meetings

for the School Nurse or SHA (or appropriate designee) to address
healthy habits and provide COVID-19 updates.

9. Information and healthy habits procedures – and COVID-19 updates –

will be posted on the district website.

Add School or
Department Specific
Action Steps:

PREPAREDNESS
It is anticipated that the Cincinnati Health Department will work closely with PLT and collectively make the
determination when to close CPS schools based on established criteria and input from the Ohio Department of
Health (ODH). COVID-19 updates from the Cincinnati Health Department will be distributed to the PLT on a
daily basis, or as available.

Procedures for the schools up to the time of closure will include:

COMPLETED Responsible Staff Area Description of Responsibility

1. Communications
and Engagement
2. Principal working
with Cincinnati
Health Department
CPS COVID-19 PLAN - CORONAVIRUS 3-13-2020 CONTACT: EHS/EGHBALNIA
Distribution of The District will continue to post
Information flyers and posters as reminders of
healthy habits. Information will be
posted on the district website.
Schools will also be encouraged to
post reminders or information in the
school newsletter.
School Office or Because space is limited in most
Nurse’s Room health rooms, schools should
identify an alternative location to
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 accommodate temporarily a student
who starts exhibiting symptoms at
school and who needs to be
isolated. Students suspected of
having COVID-19 should be kept
separate from other students using
the health room for medication
distribution, etc.

The Facilities Department is

working to distribute additional
cleaning supplies and gloves.
Surgical masks and N95 are
distributed from Cincinnati Health
Department, specifically for School
Health Nurses and School Health
Assistants, as needed.

3. Director of Human Administrative District Office and schools will

Resources Absence work with Human Resources and
PLT to fill administrative positions
due to illness.

4. Chief Administrative Information will be sent out to staff

Communications Training to review symptoms of COVID-19
Officer and symptoms to identify ill
students and staff.

5. Principal & Staff illness All schools and departments should

Directors update emergency contact lists.
Staff should identify someone that
will check on them in case of an
illness.

6. Director of Student Review of available Review and identify resources

Services services available for trauma services
including the district crisis team.

7. Human Resources Staff Assistance Review and identify needs and the
capability to modify work roles,
environments, and responsibilities;
be prepared to add volunteer or
support staff as needed.
8. Curriculum Continuity of Learning Prepares age-appropriate materials
Director for remote learning via work
packets and Schoology.

9. Principal & Plan Use and incorporate the COVID-19

Directors Completion/Update plan (this plan) for their school and
departments by identifying
responsible parties and creating any
CPS COVID-19 PLAN - CORONAVIRUS 3-13-2020 CONTACT: EHS/EGHBALNIA
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 specialized tasks specific to their
school and department.
10. Principals & Staff Training Ensures that all staff is trained on
Directors COVID-19 plan/procedures.
Add School or
Department
Specific Action
Steps:

RESPONSE
COMPLETED Responsible Staff Area Description of Responsibility
1. School Nurse or Identification of Students exhibiting symptoms
SHA students with fever, consistent with COVID-19 will be
dry cough, difficulty kept in a separate location away from
breathing other health room users.

Parents or emergency contact will be

called immediately.

Cincinnati Health Department will be

contacted for additional resources
and personnel.

Area or bed that student occupied

will be cleaned after each use as per
current procedure.

2. School Nurse or Reporting of Illness School Nurse or SHA (or designee)

SHA will keep a record of students and
COVID-19 symptoms: staff exhibiting symptoms consistent
• Fever with COVID-19 who are sent home.
• Dry Cough When absences are called in, office
• Difficulty staff will note those that are home
Breathing because of symptoms consistent with
COVID-19. Report will be called
into Cincinnati Health Department.
3. Director of Human Reporting of absences Absence reports will be generated by
Resources and of staff and students HR (staff absences) and PBIS
Director of (student absences) and will be sent to
Positive School the EHS Office by 9 AM daily. EHS
Culture will forward on to CHD (School
CPS COVID-19 PLAN - CORONAVIRUS 3-13-2020 CONTACT: EHS/EGHBALNIA
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 Health) as appropriate.
4. Human Resources Staff Assistance Modify work roles and
responsibilities or add volunteer or
support Staff as needed.

5. Chief Communications to Will provide information to parents

Communications Parents on prevention procedures, and
Officer working provide information regarding the
with PLT and school status – open or closed and if
Cincinnati Health closed when reopening.
Department
Check with the ESL Office for
translations on information.

Work with all forms of media (radio,

TV, newspapers) to reach parents and
community at large.

6. PLT Debriefings PLT will conduct daily debriefings to

identify lessons learned and make
necessary changes to the response
plan.

Add School and

Department
Specific Action
Steps:

CPS COVID-19 PLAN - CORONAVIRUS 3-13-2020 CONTACT: EHS/EGHBALNIA

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RECOVERY

COMPLETED Responsible Staff Area Description of Responsibility

1. Director of Crisis Team If necessary, the building administrator
Student Services will contact the Crisis Team for
assistance in trauma counseling.

2. Chief General Information Provide information on extent of

Communications COVID-19 in the community and
Officer working activities that may assist student. Also
with Director of announce counseling support services
Human Resources available to faculty and staff.
and Director of
Student Services
3. Chief Families and Staff Make educational materials available to
Communications Information families and staff on topics such as how
Officer working to support your student with their
with Director of recovery from COVID-19, common
Human Resources symptoms of loss and trauma, and
and Director of constructive ways to cope with stress.
Student Services
Urge staff to use Employee Assistance
Program for assistance with coping
with loss and stress.

4. Principal & Staff well-being Monitor the effects of cumulative stress

Directors and loss on staff.

Work with Human Resources and the

Crisis Team to provide support.

5. Human Resources Staff Assistance Modify work roles and responsibilities

or add volunteer or support staff as
needed.

6. School Student Follow-up Follow-up with student referrals made

Psychologist to community agencies.

7. PLT Incident de-briefing Conduct debriefing meeting(s) to

document “lessons learned” and
incorporate them into revisions and
trainings.

8. Director of Cleaning Will thoroughly clean school for one

Facilities / day prior to re-opening. Director of
Environmental Facilities / EHS will report when the
Safety and Health building can safely be reopened for
staff and students.
Add School
CPS COVID-19 PLAN - CORONAVIRUS 3-13-2020 CONTACT: EHS/EGHBALNIA
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Specific Action
Steps:

CPS COVID-19 PLAN - CORONAVIRUS 3-13-2020 CONTACT: EHS/EGHBALNIA

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