COVID Safety

• Monitor your symptoms and stay home if you are sick. 
• Use hand sanitizer and wash your hands when your teacher asks you to.
• Sit away from other students on the bus as much as possible, unless they live with you.
• Stay three feet apart as much as possible.

Students, children, and staff will have the choice to wear a mask in most school settings, with the expectation that others’ choices will be respected. Some may need to wear a mask because they or a member of their household is at high risk for severe COVID-19 disease. Students, children, and staff who are immunocompromised, medically fragile, and/or otherwise high risk for severe disease should consult their health care provider about whether or not to continue wearing well-fitted masks.

While masks are no longer required universally in schools, PPE is required in health care rooms and nurse clinics. Well-fitting masks may be temporarily required for individuals by the state Department of Health and/or Public Health-Seattle & King County. Masks may also be required during clusters and/or outbreaks in classrooms or with groups of students (e.g., a choir class or a sports team) .

Extra-Curricular and Performing Arts Activities 

PPE will continue to be used for activities with increased exhalation: 

• Aerosol-producing musicians, e.g., singers, woodwinds and brass, speech/debate, and theater performers are required to wear appropriate masks/face coverings and/or use appropriate bell covers while performing. Woodwinds and brass performers may remove their face coverings/masks when performing on their instrument and must replace their face covering/mask during non-performance time. Face coverings/masks with slits are recommended but not required. 
• Universal masking with appropriate material – MERV13 or 3-layer medical face mask or similar material – is required in general music and elementary classrooms when singing is performed. Teachers should provide students with District-provided singers’ masks to replace their cloth masks in these settings. When not singing, students are not required to follow universal masking guidelines.
• Bell covers with appropriate material – MERV 13 or 3-layer medical face mask or similar material – are required for brass and woodwind instruments when indoors. Bell covers are recommended when playing outdoors but not required. 
• Practice good hygiene collecting water condensation from brass instruments. Consider using “puppy pads” for students to empty spit valves rather than emptying directly on the floor.

Sports: 

In general, masks will not universally be required during activities such as PE and/or sports. While masks are no longer required universally in schools, there will be situations when the use of well-fitting masks may be temporarily required.

Person-to-Person Distancing

• We maintain three-foot distancing between individuals to the greatest extent possible.

Classrooms & Instructional Spaces

• Desks in classrooms allow for three-foot social distancing for elementary and secondary grade levels to the greatest extent possible.  
• Three to six feet physical distance in classrooms between students to the greatest extent possible. 
• Physical distancing recommendations should not prevent a school from offering full-time, in-person learning to all students/families.

Larger Community Spaces, Including Cafeterias

Highline continues to encourage schools to maximize distance between students to the degree possible for the following circumstances: 

• For all staff and students in common areas and community settings outside of the classroom, such as school lobbies and auditoriums. 
• In cafeterias:Schools may use alternative strategies/accommodations to maximize spacing:
  • Permanent outdoor covered area where lunchtime can occur while minimizing interfering with recess or other outdoor activities.. 
  • Other large community spaces where lunchtime can occur without interfering with other activities and academic schedules; taking into consideration supervisory capacity.
  • Adding additional lunch periods to assist in hosting smaller groups of students in the cafeteria; taking into consideration budget and staffing impact(s). Such provisions can include layered prevention strategies such as additional HEPA filters.
• Breakfast:  To the extent possible, students should be socially distanced when eating breakfast. Breakfast in the classroom is a viable option (grab and go) if necessitated by school safety plans and in consideration of potential labor implications (schools should work with ILED’s + HR)
• Elementary: Schools should implement a table assignment system for students during mealtimes. When not eating or drinking, students should remain socially distanced to the extent possible. Students should be staggered at the table in a way that prevents students from directly facing/sitting in front of each other.
• Secondary: Schools should label lunch tables and encourage social distancing to the extent possible. Students should be staggered in a way that prevents students from directly facing/sitting in front of each other.

Sporting Events 

• Audience members should be seated in “family units” and those small groups should be spaced at least 3 feet apart.

While masks are no longer universally required, additional strategies to reduce risk of COVID-19 transmission during bus routes and transportation can include keeping riders as far apart as possible on the bus and maximizing ventilation on the bus by keeping at least 2 front and 2 rear windows open a few inches to the extent possible. Staff are also encouraged to leave windows open to air out the bus after runs and clean as needed.. Students and staff are encouraged to maintain strong hand washing/sanitizing  etiquette  both before and after boarding a bus.

• Six feet of physical distance is the goal for all staff and students during activities when increased exhalation occurs, such as PE, exercise, or shouting, regardless of vaccination status. These activities should be moved outdoors or to large, well ventilated spaces whenever possible. 

  • Recess: In both indoor and outdoor scenarios, all students are, to the degree possible, remain at least three-feet apart. 

Updated August 20, 2021

Governor Inslee has mandated that all school employees be vaccinated by October 18. The state has not mandated that students be vaccinated; however, we strongly encourage all eligible students (over the age of 12) be vaccinated for everyone's safety.

COVID-19 vaccines are not mandated for students.

Each school has a customized safety plan addressing entrance and exit points, traffic flow, distancing and other recommended safety measures. 

Customized plans for each school are based on the school safety plan below. Each school's safety plan was developed for its unique facility by a team that includes the principal, a teacher representative, a support staff representative and a school nurse. The district-level safety team reviews each plan to ensure it complies with Washington State Department of Health and CDC standards.

School safety plans will be updated continually, as needed. To obtain a copy of your school's customized safety plan, please contact your school office.

SAFETY PLAN

Increased cleaning and disinfection is conducted by custodial staff. Custodial staff will continue to use electrostatic machine/targeted spraying, as an electrostatic sprayer adds an electric charge to the spray droplets so they are naturally attracted to the surfaces being sprayed and occupancy delays are short with spraying, as you only need to wait until surfaces are dry. The team will clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces each night after students leave and when someone is sick in the room (vomit, blood, feces, urine). As of Monday, March 14th, cleaning will resume on the standard, non-pandemic schedules.

• For classroom bathroom:

  • Social distancing should be in place for students/staff along with optional PPE (signage and email reminders are encouraged!)

• Students and staff should not gather in shared spaces without taking into consideration social distancing. 

• Materials can be shared, but the sanitization of shared materials is always encouraged.

Schools will post signage in classrooms and bathrooms about proper handwashing and respiratory etiquette.

Schools will post signage in hallways, classrooms, and entrances to communicate how to stop the spread of COVID-19 (symptoms, preventative measures, good hygiene, proper respiratory etiquette, school/district specific protocols, etc.)

By October 18, only vaccinated volunteers from community partners with partnership agreements will be the primary form of volunteering in schools while following current district and Department of Health protocols.

Family members may volunteer if they are approved by the school, have completed a short safety training on the health and safety protocols for the building, and meet the current Covid-19 vaccination requirements. Interns (teacher, social worker) will follow Human Resources procedures and must also meet the current Covid-19 vaccination requirements.

As of January 2021, HPS replaced all the filters, and the air handling units are set to industry standards. Air units allow four complete air exchanges in the building every hour, which is in compliance with industry standards. In efforts to go beyond this standard, HPS started the process of reprogramming the air handling systems to increase the airflow to five exchanges per hour, which will allow outside air to enter the building every 8-10 minutes, rather than every 15 minutes.  The operable windows are opened for additional circulation; however, all doors leading into a hallway are to remain closed, as per fire and life safety code. While our HVAC/filtration systems currently meet the standards set forth by the CDC and DOH, Highline Public Schools continue to test airflow and filtration systems regularly. 

In addition, Highline Public Schools has worked with McKinstry to develop a detailed Investment Grade Audit (IGA) of HVAC upgrades. The purpose and goal of the HVAC upgrades is to improve ventilation airflow and Indoor Air Quality of the classrooms at the selected school. The following schools have been selected to be part of the HVAC Upgrade Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund(ESSER) Funding Project:  

1. Beverly Park Elementary School

2. Big Picture (Manhattan) High School

3. New Start (Salmon Creek) High School

4. Sylvester Middle School

5. Valley View Early learning Center

Highline Public Schools has been meeting or exceeding the guidance from the Washington State Department of Health since hybrid return, and we will build on these basic requirements. Highline Public Schools will continue to: 

• Change filters as needed (clogged filters decrease HVAC operation, stress the fan motors, and decrease ability to improve indoor air quality). Visually check the filter for a tight fit within the frame and ensure there are no rips or tears. 
• Inspect and clean the entire system at least as often as recommended by the manufacturer or installer. Make repairs quickly to prevent more serious issues. 
• Reduce recirculation of air; increase/maximize outside air. 
• Increase filtration to the highest level possible. MERV 13 is recommended, if possible. 
• Bring in outside air continuously two hours prior to occupancy and for two hours after occupancy, including while cleaning and disinfection is occurring. 
• Inspect and maintain local exhaust ventilation in restrooms, kitchens, cooking areas, labs, etc. Increase exhaust ventilation from restrooms above code minimums. 
• Work with a building engineer or HVAC specialist to generate air movement that goes from clean-to-less-clean air. 
• Refrain from using ozone generators, electrostatic precipitators and ionizers, or negative ion air purifiers because they can produce harmful by-products. Portable HEPA air cleaners can supplement ventilation and are most critical in rooms with poorer ventilation or in isolation areas.

We value our Highline employees, and the safety of our staff is a priority.  We follow public health guidelines for everyone’s health and safety.

Staff who have a health condition or other risk factor that limits their ability to return to their worksite may be eligible for a remote assignment, an accommodation or a leave.

Staff will have the choice to wear a mask at school and/or at provider settings, with the expectation that others’ choices will be respected. Some may need to wear a mask because they or a member of their household is at high risk for severe COVID-19 disease. Students, children, and staff who are immunocompromised, medically fragile, and/or otherwise high risk for severe disease should consult their health care provider about whether or not to continue wearing well-fitted masks.

While masks are no longer required universally in schools or provider settings, PPE is required in care rooms and nurse clinics at HSD. Additionally, there will be situations when the use of well-fitting masks may be temporarily required for individuals by DOH and/or local public health. Masks may also be required universally during clusters and/or outbreaks in classrooms or with groups of students (e.g., a choir class or a sports team) to limit disease transmission and ensure in-person instruction and care.

An effective mask:

• Has two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric
• Completely covers your nose and mouth
• Fits snugly against the sides of your face and doesn’t have gaps
• Has a nose wire to prevent air from leaking out of the top of the mask
• Gaiters, bandanas, scarves and ski masks are not an acceptable substitute for masks. Anyone with an inadequate or ill-filling masks will be provided one at school.

All staff will receive training in COVID safety protocols and use of PPE. All required PPE will be provided to staff, based on their specific duties. 

School employees must be vaccinated against COVID-19. This directive from Governor Inslee legally requires Highline Public Schools staff to show proof of vaccination or a medical or religious exemption by October 18.

More on Vaccination Requirement