Coronavirus Update - Simsbury Public Schools

Last updated July 1, 2020.

The health and well-being of our students and staff are of utmost importance to us. We have created this designated coronavirus webpage to provide information about our preparations and a variety of resources we hope you find helpful.

Latest Announcements

Grab-and-Go breakfast and lunch distribution ended on June 15th. If you need assistance throughout the summer months, please contact Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services Sue Lemke.

Preparing for Reopening

SPS Reopening Task Forces

Lifting Restrictions

COVID-19 Testing

How Our School District Is Prepared

The Simsbury school district continues to monitor the outbreak of coronavirus this situation very closely. We are tracking daily illness trends for both students and staff. We are also in regular contact with the Farmington Valley Health District (FVHD), the CT Department of Public Health (DPH) and the CT Department of Education. We also monitor guidance and updates from the CDC on a daily basis.

Person-to-person spread of the virus is thought to occur mainly via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Take these everyday preventative actions to help stop the spread of germs. Teachers reinforce the following with students and we ask that you discuss these precautionary steps with your children as well:

Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

Please keep us informed when you, your child or a family member in your household:

Becomes aware of exposure to an individual with confirmed COVID-19. Please call your child’s school and please also call your physician. We will call the FVHD for guidance in collaboration with the DPH.
If you experience symptoms of illness. Please also call your physician. Again, we will call the FVHD for guidance in collaboration with the DPH.
Students should be symptom and fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-reducing medications before they return to school. If you have questions about whether your child should return to school, please contact your child’s physician.

School Cleaning Procedures

Regarding the cleaning of our buildings, our custodial crews are concentrating on disinfecting surfaces that are most commonly touched (door handles, table and desk tops, railings, etc.). While it is not physically possible to get to every surface every day in addition to their normal routines, please know our custodians have experience with targeted cleaning during times such as seasonal flu outbreaks. We have authorized additional hours for the weekend of March 14-15 so that our custodians can continue with a deep clean of the schools using bleach solutions, peroxide cleaners, and disinfecting wipes. Hand sanitizing dispensers are available throughout the schools, and teachers at all grade levels continue to stress the importance of frequent and proper hand washing. In addition, Salter’s Express has implemented protocols for daily cleaning of buses and vans between runs as well as more comprehensive cleaning on an ongoing basis.

District Listserv Communications

Letter from Superintendent (July 1, 2020) Details on specific mitigation strategies
Letter from Superintendent (June 25, 2020) Fall school reopening
Letter from Superintendent (June 15, 2020) End of school year message
Letter from Superintendent (June 1, 2020) Equity Council work
Letter from Superintendent (May 29. 2020) Information on Return to Simsbury Schools Task Force and Reopen Simsbury Teaching and Learning Team
Letter from Superintendent (May 15, 2020) How schools might look in the fall
Letter from Superintendent (May 5, 2020) Announcing schools closed through end of school year
Letter from Superintendent (April 9, 2020) Announcing extension of school closure to May 20th
Letter from Superintendent (March 27, 2020)
COVID-19 Update (March 24, 2020)
Closure of All School Outdoor Recreation Areas (March 23,2020)
Letter from Superintendent about Distance Learning (March 20, 2020)
Update on Distance Learning Plan (March 17, 2020)
Meals to Go (March 16, 2020)
Letter from Superintendent about Coronavirus (March 13, 2020)
Letter from Superintendent about Coronavirus (March 12, 2020)
Letter from Superintendent about Coronavirus (March 10, 2020)
Letter from Superintendent about Coronavirus (March 6, 2020)
Letter from Superintendent about Coronavirus (February 28, 2020)

Distance Learning

Other Resources

Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) Provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.

FHVD Update (March 25, 2020)

Due to the rapid escalation of COVID-19 cases across the country, in our state and our District and the proportionately small number of individuals that are actually being tested in CT, we need to move to a model that assumes that anyone suffering fever, cough or difficulty breathing has COVID-19. Please study this simple chart to help you determine what actions you and your family need to take to protect yourselves and slow the spread of this virus in our communities.

For more information about what self-quarantine means, please see the CDC website.

15 Days to Slow the Spread (Guidelines from the President of the United States)

CDC website

FVHD guidelines to protect yourself, your family and your community from COVID-19

CDC Fact Sheet (pdf)

Protect yourself and your family

Talking to your child about coronavirus:

Frequently Asked Questions

Travel

CT Department of Health

Farmington Valley Health District

Governor Lamont Restrictions/Recommendations

Travel Restrictions (June 24, 2020)

Governor Lamont’s Executive Orders enact the following provisions:

posted June 8, 2020

Safety Rules for Drive-in Graduations. Drive-in graduation ceremonies at which all attendees remain in vehicles except for graduates briefly leaving vehicles to receive diplomas may be held with no limitations on capacity if either: (a) vehicle windows remain closed or (b) vehicles remain at least six feet apart and all attendees wear masks or cloth face coverings. The Commissioner of Education may issue mandatory guidance for the safe conduct of such ceremonies.

posted June 2, 2020

Executive Order 7TT: Amended Prohibitions on Large Gatherings.

a. Except as otherwise prohibited or otherwise addressed by law, including other executive orders or agency orders or rules issued pursuant thereto, indoor social and recreational gatherings as described in Executive Order No. 7D, Section 1 are permitted for up to and including ten (10) people. Except as otherwise prohibited or otherwise addressed by law, including other Executive Orders or agency orders or rules issued pursuant thereto, outdoor gatherings as described in Executive Order No. 7D, Section 1 are permitted for up to and including 25 people, provided that any such large outdoor public gatherings shall comply with the following restrictions and all other relevant and applicable executive orders governing conduct in public places:

i. No contact sports or sports that include shared handling of objects such as balls or frisbees are allowed.

ii. Attendees shall remain six feet apart, excluding immediate family members, caretakers, and household members, and, except when dining, masks shall be worn when within six feet of those not in the same household.

iii. If the event is an organized gathering, the organizer shall demarcate six feet of spacing in the area of the gathering to demonstrate appropriate spacing for social distancing.

b. Sector Rules and Essential Business guidance imposing a 5-person limit on outdoor activities are superseded by this order and shall be updated accordingly, but all other restrictions in Sector Rules, Essential Business guidance, or any other executive order or agency order, as amended from time to time, shall remain in effect.

c. Effective immediately, the 49-person limit on religious, spiritual and worship gatherings is raised for indoor gatherings to 25% of capacity of the indoor space or a maximum of 100 people, whichever is smaller, and to 150 people for outdoor gatherings, provided in each case that appropriate safety and social distancing measures shall be employed. For any such gathering where participants remain in vehicles with windows closed and at least six (6) feet of space between vehicles, there shall no numerical attendance limit, provided all other laws are complied with.

posted May 19, 2020

Limitation on the Operation of Day Camps. To limit the spread of COVID-19 and promote and secure the health and safety of children and staff in day camps, all operations of day camps, as defined by Section 19a-420 (3) of the Connecticut General Statutes, which were not operating as of May 5, 2020 shall not begin operations until June 22, 2020. This order shall apply to all day camps without regard to what entity operates the day camp or whether the day camp is exempt from licensing requirements pursuant to Section 19a-420 of the Connecticut General Statutes, including camps operated by municipal agencies.

Enhanced Health Procedures for All Day Camps. All day camps, as defined by Section 19a-420 (3) of the Connecticut General Statutes, and day camp programs that are exempt from licensing requirements pursuant to Section 19a-420 without regard to what entity operates the day camp shall comply with the limitations on child group sizes and enhanced health procedure requirements placed on child care programs by Executive Order No. 7Q, and orders of the Commissioner of Early Childhood related to additional health and sanitation practices. The Commissioner of Early Childhood, in consultation with public health experts and the Reopen Connecticut Subcommittee on Education, shall issue guidance on the safe operation of day camps, and any implementing order she deems necessary consistent with this order.

Cancellation of Resident Camp Operations. To limit the spread of COVID-19 and secure the health and safety of children and staff of resident camps, all operations of resident camps, as defined by Section 19a-420 (2) of the Connecticut General Statutes are prohibited.

Limitation on the Operation of Summer Educational Programs Operated by Local or Regional Boards of Education. To limit the spread of COVID-19 and promote and secure the health and safety of children and staff in summer school (summer educational programs), all summer school programs operated by local or regional boards of education shall not begin operations until July 6, 2020. The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with public health experts and the Reopen Connecticut Subcommittee on PreK-12 Education, shall issue guidance on the limited operation of summer school programs that are permitted to engage in-person classes after that date, and may issue any implementing order he deems necessary consistent with this order and with his associated guidance document. Any private schools and other non-public schools that operate summer school programs and are not otherwise covered under sections 6 through 10 of this order are encouraged to follow the same schedule and guidance.

posted May 6, 2020

Executive Order 7II: Extension of School Class Cancellations for Remainder of School Year. To promote and secure the safety and protection of children in schools related to the risks of COVID-19, cancellation of public-school classes as ordered in Section 1 of Executive Order No. 7C, and as modified by Section 1 of Executive Order No. 7L and Section 2 of Executive Order No. 7X, is continued through the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Private schools and other non-public schools are encouraged to follow the same schedule. Connecticut Unified School District 1, established pursuant to Section 18-99a of the Connecticut General Statutes, Unified School District 2, established pursuant to Section 17a-37, and Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services inpatient facilities providing school classes or programs are exempt from this section, but shall take such measures as are necessary to protect the health and safety of students and staff.

posted May 4, 2020

Executive Order 7HH: Clarification of Executive Order No. 7I, Section 13 - Mandatory Suspension of In-Person Voting Requirements by Members of the Public on Municipal Budgets. Executive Order No. 7I, Section 13 shall be deemed to require the budget-making authority of every municipality to adopt a budget for the July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021 fiscal year and to set a mill rate sufficient, in addition to the other estimated yearly income of such town and in addition to such revenue surplus, if any, as may be appropriated, not only to pay the expenses of the municipality for said fiscal year, but also to absorb the revenue deficit of such town, if any, at the beginning of said fiscal year using the procedures set forth therein, and to suspend any requirement for a vote on such budgets or mill rates by residents, electors, or property owners, including, but not limited to, any vote by annual town meeting or referendum. All conditions precedent to any such adoption, including without limitation, public notices, hearings, or presentations, shall proceed in a manner as closely consistent with the applicable statutes, special acts, town charters, municipal ordinances, resolutions or procedures as possible, and in compliance with the open meeting provisions set forth in Executive Order No. 7B. Nothing in this order shall invalidate or repeal the results of any vote on a budget or tax rate held by annual town meeting or referendum before the effective date of this order.

posted April 20, 2020

Cloth Face Coverings or Higher Level of Protection Required in Public Wherever Close Contact is Unavoidable. Effective at 8:00 p.m. on Monday, April 20, 2020, any person in a public place in Connecticut who is unable to or does not maintain a safe social distance of approximately six feet from every other person shall cover their mouth and nose with a mask or cloth face-covering. In addition, individuals shall use a mask or cloth face covering when using the services of any taxi, car, livery, ride-sharing or similar service or means of mass public transit, or while within any semi-enclosed transit stop or waiting area. Nothing in this order shall require the use of a mask or cloth face covering by anyone for whom doing so would be contrary to his or her health or safety because of a medical condition, a child in a child care setting, anyone under the age of 2 years, or an older child if the parent, guardian or person responsible for the child is unable to place the mask safely on the child’s face. If a person declines to wear a mask or face covering because of a medical condition as described above, such person shall not be required to produce medical documentation verifying the stated condition.

Further Postponement of Presidential Preference Primary to August 11. To protect the health and safety of voters, poll workers, and the most vulnerable members of our population, I hereby further modify Section 9-464 of the Connecticut General Statutes to provide that on August 11, 2020, each party shall conduct a primary in each town if the names of two or more candidates for President of the United States remain on such party's ballot in accordance with the provisions of chapter 154 of the General Statutes.

posted April 13, 2020

Continued Cancellation of School Classes Through May 20, 2020. To promote and secure the safety and protection of children in schools related to the risks of COVID-19, cancellation of public-school classes as ordered in Section 1 of Executive Order No. 7C, and as modified by Section 1 of my Executive Order No. 7L, is continued through May 20, 2020, unless earlier extended, modified, or terminated by me. Private schools and other non-public schools are encouraged to follow the same schedule. Connecticut Unified School District 1, established pursuant to Section 18-99a of the Connecticut General Statutes, Unified School District 2, established pursuant to Section 17a37, and Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services inpatient facilities providing school classes or programs are exempt from this section, but shall take such measures as are necessary to protect the health and safety of students and staff.

posted April 1, 2020

Restrictions on Entrance to State Parks, Forests, and Other Lands. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 23-4 of the Connecticut General Statutes or any related regulations, rules, policies or procedures, in order to limit close person-to-person contact and the formation of crowds, and thereby reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may issue any orders she deems necessary to restrict or prohibit entrance into state parks and other lands under her control, and may prohibit for the duration of this public health and civil preparedness emergency the entrance to such parks or lands by anyone who violates any such an order.

posted March 23, 2020

Pharmacist Discretion in Refilling Certain Prescriptions for Longer Periods. Section 20-616(b) of the Connecticut General Statutes are modified to permit a pharmacist to exercise his or her professional judgment in refilling a prescription that is not for a controlled drug, as defined in section 2la-240, for a quantity of drug not to exceed a thirty-day supply based on the same criteria set forth in such section for a refill that was not to exceed a seventy-two hour supply.

Restrictions on Workplaces for Non-Essential Businesses. Effective on March 23, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. and through April 22, 2020, unless earlier modified, extended, or terminated by me, all businesses and not-for-profit entities in the state shall employ, to the maximum extent possible, any telecommuting or work from home procedures that they can safely employ. Non-essential businesses or not-for-profit entities shall reduce their in-person workforces at any workplace locations by 100% not later than March 23, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. Any essential business or entity providing essential goods, services or functions shall not be subject to these in-person restrictions. Not later than 8 p.m. on March 22, 2020, the Department of Economic and Community Development ("DECD") shall issue lawfully binding guidance about which businesses are essential. Those business shall include, but not be limited to, the 16 critical infrastructure sectors as defined by the Department of Homeland Security and available at CISA.gov, essential health care operations including hospitals, clinics, dentists, pharmacies, elder care and home health care workers, companies and institutions involved in the research and development, manufacture, distribution, warehousing, and supplying of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology therapies, health care data, consumer health products, medical devices, diagnostics, equipment, services and any other healthcare related supplies or services; essential infrastructure, including utilities, wastewater and drinking water, telecommunications, airports and transportation infrastructure; manufacturing, including food processing, pharmaceuticals, and industries supp011ing the essential services required to meet national security commitments to the federal government and U.S. Military; the defense industrial base, including aerospace, mechanical and software engineers, manufacturing/production workers, aircraft and weapon system mechanics and maintainers; essential retail, including grocery stores and big-box stores or wholesale clubs, provided they also sell groceries; pharmacies, gas stations and convenience stores; food and beverage retailers (including liquor/package stores and manufacturer permittees) and restaurants, provided they comply with previous and future executive orders issued during the existing declared public health and civil preparedness emergency; essential services including trash and recycling collection, hauling, and processing, mail and shipping services; news media; legal and accounting services; banks, insurance companies, check cashing services, and other financial institutions; providers of basic necessities to economically disadvantaged populations; construction; vendors of essential services and goods necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operations of residences or other essential businesses, including pest control and landscaping services; vendors that provide essential services or products, including logistics and technology support, child care and services needed to ensure the continuing operation of government agencies and the provision of goods, services or functions necessary for the health, safety and welfare of the public. Any other business may be deemed essential after requesting an opinion from DECD, which shall review and grant such request, should it determine that it is in the best interest of the state to have the workforce continue at full capacity to properly respond to this emergency.

Business Exemptions for Coronavirus

posted March 20, 2020

Postponement of Presidential Primary to June 2. Under my sole authority pursuant to the declaration of public health and civil preparedness emergency, and to protect the health and safety of voters, poll workers, and the most vulnerable members of our population, I hereby modify Section 9-464 of the Connecticut General Statutes to provide that on June 2, 2020 each party shall conduct a primary in each town if the names of two or more candidates for President of the United States are to be placed on such party's ballot in accordance with the provisions of chapter 154 of the General Statutes.

Restriction on Operation of Barbershops, Hair Salons, Tattoo or Piercing Parlors and Related Public Businesses. Throughout the State, effective at 8:00 p.m. on March 20, 2020, the rendering of services by barbers, hairdressers and cosmeticians, nail technicians, electrologists, estheticians, eyelash technicians, and tattoo and piercing providers is prohibited in all public settings including, but not limited to, barbershops, beauty shops, hairdressing salons, nail salons, spas, kiosks, and tattoo or piercing establishments.

Further Clarification of Limits on Restaurants, Bars and Private Clubs. Effective at 12:00 p.m. on March 20, 2020, Executive Order 70, which, among other things, restricted sales of alcoholic beverages by certain licensees, is modified as follows: Any business with an active restaurant, cafe or tavern liquor permit issued by the Department of Consumer Protection shall be permitted to sell sealed containers of alcoholic liquor for pick up at such restaurant, cafe or tavern under the following conditions: (i) the sale shall accompany a pick-up order of food prepared on the premises; (ii) the type of alcoholic liquor sold for off-premise consumption shall be the same as what the permit type would have permitted for on-premise consumption prior to Executive Order 70, and (iii) the hours of such sales that include alcoholic liquor as part of the take-out order shall be the same as those for a package store.

Delivery of alcoholic liquor by licensees with these permit types is not permitted. In addition, any business whose liquor permit allows for the manufacture of alcoholic liquor, in addition to sales for on-premise and off-premise consumption, shall be permitted to sell sealed bottles of alcoholic liquor for off-premise consumption in a manner consistent with their manufacturer permit. Delivery of alcoholic liquor by these permit types is not permitted.

posted March 19, 2020

Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 7D enacts the following provisions:

● Further reduces large crowds: Effective immediately, the order amends a previous directive prohibiting large social and recreational gatherings of 250 or more and modifies that capacity to no more than 50 people. In addition, the order adds religious, spiritual, and worship gatherings to the list of activities for which this prohibition applies.

● Limits restaurants and bars to take-out and delivery services only: Effective at 8:00 p.m. on March 16, the order requires restaurants, eating establishments, and bars that serve food to temporarily move to take-out and delivery services only, and prohibits the sales of alcohol at these establishments.

● Restriction on gyms, fitness studios, and movie theaters: Effective at 8:00 p.m. on March 16, the order directs the closure of any indoor gym, fitness center, or similar facility or studio offering fitness, sporting, or recreational opportunities or instructions, and all movie theaters.

All of the restrictions are enacted through April 30 unless otherwise amended by future order.

Indoor portions of large retail shopping malls, amusement parks, and bowling alleys will close by 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2020 and remain closed through April 30, 2020. Also, all places of public amusement, whether indoors or outdoors, such as locations with amusement rides, carnivals, amusement parks, water parks, aquariums, zoos, arcades, fairs, children’s play centers, funplexes, theme parks, bowling alleys, and other family and children’s attractions shall be closed to the public. This directive does not apply to public parks and open recreation areas.

The Department of Public Health urges all hair and nail salons and other businesses that provide services that require direct contact with customers to cease operations for the time being. This is due to the fact that COVID 19 is spread mainly from person-to-person contact between people who are in close contact with one another, and the nature of hair and nail salons puts the people working there in direct contact with their clients and customers. Farmers’ markets and farm stands in Connecticut can remain open during the civic preparedness and

The state of Connecticut Office of Early Childhood is not instructing or requiring any program to close. Unless ordered by government officials, programs may remain open by their own determination which may be made considering guidance from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Public Health and/or your local health department or district. Please be in direct touch with your childcare provider regarding plans to stay open or to close.

Town public meetings: Governor Lamont has suspended in-person open meeting requirements for the time being and in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. Any public agency may meet and take necessary actions without permitting in-person, public access or to hold such meetings remotely by conference call or video teleconferencing provided that (1) the public has the ability to view or listen to each meeting or proceeding in real time, by telephone, video, or other technology; 3/18/20 16 (2) any such meeting or proceeding is recorded or transcribed, and such recording or transcript shall be posted on the agency's website within seven days of the meeting or proceeding, and made available within a reasonable time in the agency's office; (3) the required notice and agenda for each meeting or proceeding is posted on the agency's website and shall include information about how the meeting will be conducted and how the public can access it; (4) any materials relevant to matters on the agenda, including but not limited to materials related to specific applications, if applicable, shall be submitted to the agency a minimum of twenty four (24) hours prior and posted to the agency's website for public inspection prior to, during, and after the meeting, and any exhibits to be submitted by members of the public shall, to the extent feasible, also be submitted to the agency a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting and posted to the agency's website for public inspection prior to, during, and after the meeting; and (5) all speakers taking part in any such meeting or proceeding shall clearly state their name and title, if applicable, before speaking on each occasion that they speak.